Aragonez
Known as Tempranillo in Spain, and Tinta Roriz in the north of Portugal. Always an elegant wine, it has richness with structure and outstanding tannins, which impart a good ageing ability.
Current Vintage: 2009
Click here for PDFs of past vintages: 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 , 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009
Vintage 2009
An exceptionally cold winter, one of the coldest in 19 years, and a rare snowfall in January! Rainfall was normal at 500mm, mostly concentrated in the winter months, followed by a dry and warm spring and summer. Budbreak on 26th February was an early record. Unstable weather during flowering in May resulted in uneven pollination and low fruit set in some varieties. A very hot period in early August when temperatures averaged 25º kick-started the exceptionally early harvest date.
Vinification
Made exclusively from selected Aragonez (Tempranillo) grapes hand-picked at optimum maturity from chosen sites in our own vineyards. Fermented without stems under temperature control, frequent delestage, followed by extended skin maceration to enhance varietal fruit characters, and to provide tannin structure and balance. Aged for 7 months in French Oak (80%) and American Oak (20%), and then blended to give balanced varietal fruit and oak components.
Tasting Notes
Attractive spicy red berry fruit aromas with some toasty oak complexity. Solid, intense palate with vibrant, juicy fruit, some savoury notes, and a good balancing acidity. Drinks well now and will improve in bottle over the next 5 years.
- Appellation:
- Vinho Regional Alentejano
- Varieties:
- 100% Aragonez
- Total Acids:
- 5.5
- Final pH:
- 3.70
- Residual Sugars:
- 3.2
- Alcohol:
- 14 %
- Barrel aging:
- 7 months in French Oak (80%) and American Oak (20%)
- Grown, produced and bottled at the family estate
- Bottled filtered but unfined in:
- June 2010
- Total production:
- 4.000 bottles (75 cl)
- Release date:
- October 2011
Awards
- Silver Medal –
- Intl Wine & Spirit Competition – UK 2012
- Bronze Medal –
- International Wine Challenge – London 2012
- Bronze Medal –
- Decanter World Wine Awards – UK 2012
Ratings
- 90
- - Wine Enthusiast
- 88
- - Wine Spectator
- 88
- - (Mark Squires) Robert Parker
Reviews
Good power and intensity to focused flavors of wild plum, red berry and spiced cherry. Luscious black licorice and dark chocolate notes on the crisp finish. – Wine Spectator
Aragonez, aka Tempranillo, is the Tinta Roriz of the Alentejo—just to make things simple. Whatever the name, the smooth, rich character of this wine is characteristic of the grape. It has weight, ripe damson fruit and a core of powerful tannins. – Wine Enthusiast
The 2009 Aragonez is a nicely constructed wine this year. Elegant in the mid-palate, a touch oak-tinged in its youth, it seems graceful generally speaking and well focused, with just a little bit of tannin for seriousness and tasty flavors. It does fade a bit with air, but it seems full in the mouth on first attack with some tannic intensity. As it airs out, it becomes a bit meatier and earthier, which some will like and some won’t. – Robert Parker
Track Record
- 2008 Vintage
- - Gold Medal – Vinalies International – France 2011
- 2008 Vintage
- - Silver Medal – Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2011
- 2008 Vintage
- - Silver Medal – Intl Wine & Spirit Competition – UK 2011
- 2007 Vintage
- - Gold Medal – Challenge Intl. du Vin – Bordeaux 2010
- 2007 Vintage
- - Silver Medal (Best In Class) – Intl Wine & Spirit Competition – UK 2010
- 2005 Vintage
- - Silver Medal – Vinalies Internationales 2009
- 2005 Vintage
- - Silver Medal – Challenge International du Vin 2009
- 2004 Vintage
- - Trophy Prestige – Citadelles du Vin – Bordeaux 2006
- 2004 Vintage
- - Silver Medal (BEST IN CLASS) – Intl Wine & Spirit Competition – UK 2008
- 2004 Vintage
- - Silver Medal – Vinalies Internationales – France 2007
- 2004 Vintage
- - Silver Medal – International Wine Challenge – London 2006
- 2004 Vintage
- - Silver Medal – S.F. Intl Wine Competition – California 2007
- 2004 Vintage
- - Silver Medal – Concours Mondial du Vin – Bruxelles 2006
- 2003 Vintage
- - Silver Medal – Vinalies Internationales – France 2007
- 2003 Vintage
- - Silver Medal – Mundus Vini – Germany 2006
- 2003 Vintage
- - Silver Medal – Concours Mondial du Vin – Bruxelles 2006
- 2002 Vintage
- - Silver Medal – Mundus Vini – Germany 2005
- 2002 Vintage
- - Silver Medal – Concours Mondial du Vin – Bruxelles 2005
- 2002 Vintage
- - Silver Medal – Vinalies Internationales – France 2005
- 2002 Vintage
- - Silver Medal – S.F. Intl Wine Competition – California 2004
- 2002 Vintage
- - Silver Medal – Japan Wine Challenge 2004
- 2002 Vintage
- - Silver Medal – Challenge Intl. du Vin – Bordeaux 2004
- 2000 Vintage
- - Gold Medal– Intl. Wine & Spirits Challenge, London 2002
- 2000 Vintage
- - Gold Medal– Mundus Vini, Germany 2002
- 2000 Vintage
- - Silver Medal– Vinalies Internationales, France 2003
- 2000 Vintage
- - Silver Medal– Concours Mondial du Vin, Bruxelles 2002
- 2000 Vintage
- - Silver Medal– Intl. Wine Challenge, London 2002
- 1998 Vintage
- - Silver Medal– Intl Wine Challenge, London 2000
Aragonez
Terms & Conditions
- All orders will be confirmed by return e-mail.
- The value for the minimum order is 100.00 Eur.
- Payment must be made by advance check, bank transfer, or paypal upon delivery.
- Prices are inclusive of sales tax (IVA), and delivery charges within Continental Portugal only.
- We only accept orders for Continental Portugal and Portuguese Islands.
- We reserve the right to refuse any order due to availability of stock, or for any other reason, and customers must be over 18 years of age.
Find a store
In 1988, a Danish-American couple set out in a sailboat to find a place to start a family, plant a vineyard, and make wine... and thus begins our story of Cortes de Cima Family Vineyards, one of Portugal`s leading wineries. Capturing the abundant Alentejan sunshine in the vineyard, our wines are packed full of rich, concentrated fruit, and balanced by soft, ripe, tannins.
