Herdade do Esporão, DOC Alentejo Reserva Red, 2012, is an excellent start for discovering the delightful nature of Portuguese wine. It is a blend of Aragonez (40%), Alicante Bouschet (30%), Trincadeiro (20%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%). Each variety is fermented separately in stainless steel tanks. As a Reserva, the finished wine is matured in a combination of 70% American oak and 30% French oak for a minimum of 12 months, then held for 8 months in bottle for further integration prior to release.
The 2012 Reserva is a cornucopia of fresh, lively berry fruits comingled with dried herbs, spice, and sweet vanilla oak. It is a rich rounded mouthful of exuberance, with plenty of vibrant acids holding it together in careful restraint, along with some moderately scratchy tannins for contrast and longevity. Finishing up with the spicy/herbal, generous, but not overdone ripeness, and enhanced rather than drenched in oak, this is an impressive and immensely satisfying red table wine suited to a wide range of dishes.