Mouchão
HERDADE DO MOUCHÃO 7470 - 158 CASA BRANCA, PORTUGAL
One of Portugal’s most respected wineries. Built in 1901, the layout and operation have remained practically unchanged since its inception. At Mouchao, all aspects of winemaking are still conducted using age old traditional methods from that time. Grapes are still handpicked and foot-trodden. Red musts are manually pressed in low yielding, century old basket presses.
Mouchão 2016
Viticulture and Winemaking
One of Portugal’s truly iconic red wines, this is the flagship wine of the estate. After being harvested separately, Alicante Bouschet (85%) and Trincadeira (15%) from 25-year-old vines make up the composition. The wine was vinified in lagares. Whole bunches, including stems, were used in the maceration process. The hand-picked bunches were foot-trodden twice daily prior to a 4–6-day fermentation. Malolactic fermentation followed in Autumn in huge 5,000 litre vats. After lees racking the wine lay undisturbed for a remarkable 3 years. Once in bottle, they were held back from sale and matured for another 2-3 years.
Tasting and Serving
An intense garnet colour with intoxicating aromas of juicy black fruits, spices, plum and ripe olives couple with the underlying Mouchao stem and mint hallmark. The wine dances on the palate with a rich elegance. Cassis, plum, dark cherry and black pepper blend with dusty tannins that ripple over the tongue. Bold and complete, it is unforgettable. A Portuguese masterpiece.
Drinking window: Now – 2040+
96 points – Wine Enthusiast
Alicante Bouschet forms the backbone of this seriously impressive wine. Mushroom and fresh black cherry aromas show its poise between youth and maturity. Rich black plum flavors give the wine its weight and power. Drink from 2025. — Roger Voss
Ponte Mouchão Tinto 2020
Viticulture and Winemaking
A blend of Touriga Franca (45%), Touriga Nacional (30%) and Syrah (25%) from 16 - 20-year-old vineyards, Ponte was vinified in open stone lagares (troughs) without separating stems. Hand-picked whole bunches were foot-trodden and fermented for 5 – 7 days. Malo took place in giant 5000 litre vats. With racking in mid-Winter, the wine remained undisturbed for 3 years. Once bottled, it was matured for a further 10 months before release.
Tasting and Serving
Vibrant garnet in colour, Ponte is aromatic and elegant, with black fruit, raw tobacco leaf, spearmint spices and nuances of leather, presenting in harmony, with the Touriga Nacional adding a floral upnote. Balanced and rich on the palate, it is firm, fine and polished, the black fruits and spices in a fine marriage with a concentrated, immaculate tannin structure. Lovers of bold reds will be in seventh heaven.
Drinking window: Now – 2030+
92 pts Robert Parker
Intense grenade colour and aromas of black fruit, plum, mint, spices and typical floral notes of violets and white flowers from Touriga Nacional. Very balanced and rich, reveals a surprising freshness, good structure, lush, firm tannins, which ensures its longevity. Despite its great ageing potential, it is delicious now.
Dom Rafael Branco 2023
Viticulture and Winemaking
A delicious 50/50 blend of two important native white varietals, Antao Vaz and Arinto, both harvested separately from relatively old vineyards. Hand-picked and cold fermented in stainless steel vats for up to a month, after racking the new wine was left on its fine lees for 5 – 6 months before bottling. The wine was lightly filtered and bottled in 2019. The Dom Bianco presents a freshness, complexity and concentration common to few white wines of the region. Arinto provides citric freshness whilst Antao Vaz brings a deeper fruit character.
Tasting and Serving
Vibrant gold/yellow, this beautiful, dry white wine shows fresh tropical fruit “secondary” aromas at youth due to the cold fermentation temperatures. Clean citrus and floral aromas lead to full flavours of honey and ripe lemon on the palate, with crisp delicate notes of herbal citrus and lemongrass with a pure minerality. The upfront freshness is due to a perfect combination of soil, microclimate and very old vines. A great allrounder all year, try this with lightly spiced fish and poultry dishes.
Drinking window: Now – 2027
Dom Rafael Tinto 2021
Viticulture and Winemaking
A hand-picked blend of Aragonez (40%), Trincadeira (30%), Alicante Bouschet (20%) and Castelao (10%). Made in the same fashion as all the Mouchao reds, Dom ages for 12 – 15 months and after bottling, it is matured for a further 6 – 9 months before release.
Tasting and Serving
Rich notes of ripe black fruits, interwoven with subtle hints of liquorice, with some dark chocolate create an enticing bouquet. On the palate, it is velvety and full-bodied, brimming with dark, luscious fruit complemented by soft, well-integrated tannins. The multi-layered flavours of juicy berries and exotic spices coupled with a fine texture lead to a long, persistent finish. This is a beautiful, classically made wine with remarkable ageing potential. Delicious with veal and oven baked leg of lamb or Portugal’s famed bacalhau.
Drinking window: Now – 2034+
