Reserva 2008

Facts

The top of the range, made only in exceptional years.  Complex layers of fruit, long on the palate with solid tannins.

This is the star of our range, only produced in limited quantities and in exceptional years. A full bodied blend of Aragonez, Syrah and other Portuguese varieties, barrel aged for 12 months in new oak barrels. The wine is finely structured, with a feeling of restrained power.

Previous vintages have always scored +90 Parker Points.

Current Vintage: 2008

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Click here for PDFs of past vintages: 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008

Vintage 2008

Winter and spring were cold and wet, resulting in delayed budbreak, uneven pollination, fewer bunches and smaller berries, in especially the Aragonez and Touriga Nacional. Summer was kick started with a mini-hot spell in June, but followed by 2 steady months of dry, warm days and cool nights, optimal growing conditions.

With the exception of a short rainy spell which quickly passed, the harvest weather was the finest in memory, of dry, warm sunny days, affording us the luxury of fine tuning the harvest tempo according to the ripeness of a particular grape variety, a particular vineyard parcel, and even a particular row of vines.

Vinification

Made exclusively from selected 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 14 months in French oak (80%) and American oak (20%) barrels, and then blended to give balanced varietal fruit and oak components. Bottled, unfined and filtered in April 2010.

Tasting Notes

A complex wine with a bouquet of spicy, red berry fruit, showing notes of tobacco and leather. The palate is both creamy and elegant with extremely fine tannins, good intensity and a firm persistent finish. Very stylish, will continue to improve in the bottle for up to 10 years.

Appellation: Vinho Regional Alentejano

Varieties: 44% Aragonez, 24% Touriga Nacional, 20% Syrah, 12% Petit Verdot

Total Acids: 5.4

Final pH: 3.56

Residual Sugars: 3.1

Alcohol: 14,5%

Barrel Ageing:14 months in FO (80%) and AO (20%)

Grown, produced and bottled at the family estate.

Bottled unfined and filtered in: Abril 2010

Total production: 6.240 (75cl)

Release date: November 2011

Unique Code: AVIN6309705092544 [?]

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Awards

Silver Medal (BEST IN CLASS) – Intl Wine & Spirit Competition – UK 2011

Silver Medal – International Wine Challenge – London 2011

Silver Medal – Vinalies International 2011 Silver Medal – Challenge International du Vin 2011

Reviews

92 – Wine Enthusiast – “The top of the range at Cortes de Cima and deservedly so. The wine is finely structured, with a feeling of restrained power. It has all the right elements of red plum, dry, dark tannins and prominent acidity, all in balance.”

90 ‐ Robert Parker – “It is a lovely wine, seductive and caressing on the palate, graceful, focused and lingering, with reasonably ripe tannins. This is usually Cortes de Cima’s best wine, the most likely wine to be distinguished, and it is again this year. A touch smokey, it is nonetheless a pleasure to drink, a wine that slithers over the mid-palate and seems quite enticing, elegant and ethereal. The wines of Alentejo do not stereotypically have a reputation for elegance, but this manages to provide some, while remaining flavorful. Drink now-2021.”

89 – Wine Spectator – “This delivers aromas and flavors of black currant and cassis, with accents of rich tobacco and mineral. Ripe and spicy on the finish, with chocolate notes.”

Track Record

2004 Vintage – 91 Parker Points

2003 Vintage – 92 Parker Points

2001 Vintage – 91 Parker Points

1998 Vintage – 93 Parker Points