Wine Concept

With a contemporary style and an elegant and intense profile, these wines exhibit the character of selected and well-defined fields on the Estate.

Awards

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Agriculture

A cold, dry winter was followed by a rainy start to the spring, restoring soil moisture levels suitable for the beginning of the growing cycle. The fact that spring temperatures, and even mid-summer temperatures, were milder than in previous years led to the whole cycle being delayed, but allowed good plant development. In early August, a heatwave lasting five consecutive days, which saw temperatures exceed 43 degrees, accompanied by strong gusts of wind, caused severe damage to the varieties more sensitive to these kinds of conditions, leading to losses of production. However, in most of our vineyards, where the grape varieties are better adapted to these climatic events, a slow and regular ripening period developed, ideal for prolonging the freshness and aromatic intensity of the white wines and the texture, concentration, and complexity of the red wines.

SOIL TYPE
Granitic nature, with a transition to schistose, open clay structure.

VINEYARD’S AGE
12 years

Grape Varieties

Touriga Nacional, Syrah

Vinification / Maturation

Separate harvesting of each variety, destemming, crushing, alcoholic fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats (at 22 to 25ºC), pressing followed by malo-lactic fermentation in a stainless steel vat.

More Information

In the 18th century, João de Aboim, a descendent of Egas Moniz and an important figure in the time of King Afonso III, created, from the different lands given by the Monsaraz and Portel municipalities, Defesa do Esporão one of the oldest estates of this type in Southern Portugal.

Defesas were large demarcated estates that were defended against grazing cattle from other areas and directly linked to the founding of Portugal during the Christian reconquest of the south. Examples of agro-forestry and pastoralist systems, defesas had a variety of uses. Deriving from the Mediterranean forest, at the time of the founders, the defesas reclaimed land from forests for the purpose of pasture.

Defesa do Esporão was one of the key examples of this type of estate linked to the founding of Portugal. Its boundaries, which were established in the late-13th century by a charter kept at Torre do Tombo national archive, have remained unchangend until today.

For centuries, the estate has employed agro-forestry and pastoralist methods based on the preservation of biodiversity and a multifunctional system that Esporão considers best practice to protect our ecosystem.

Wine Makers

David Baverstock and Sandra Alves.

Colour

Intense ruby red, clear appearance.

Aroma

Black fruits and cacao, enveloped by some hints of fresh spices.

Palate

In the mouth, it is creamy and rich, with an ardent, fruity texture and a long, balanced finish.

Sizes

750 ml

Bottling

May 2019

Alcohol/Volume

13.7 %

Total Acidity

6.04 g/l

pH

3.66

Reducing Sugar / Baumé

2.1 g/l