Mouchao

Learn More About This Wine

The estate’s flagship wine in all its typicity. First made in 1949, it reflects the expression of Alicante Bouschet, terroir and tradition. In the blend you can also find a small amount of Trincadeira. 

Hand-picked grapes are transported to the winery in small baskets, foot-trodden and whole bunch fermented in open stone lagares. The wine is aged in the ancient 5000L barrels, made of Portuguese oak and mahogany, for at least four years. Once bottled it is cellared for a further 18 months. The resulting wine clearly reflects its origin, the Alicante Bouschet character, respect for tradition and slow ageing process. 

Mouchao is deep coloured and concentrated. Full, complex but equally fresh and elegant. The very fine tannin structure enhances its cellar potential. It can improve significantly if kept for up to two decades, or longer.

Responsible husbandry and care in the vineyard is critical for harvesting the best fruit and sustaining the healthy bee population (for Mouchao honey!). Vineyard plots and varieties are harvested separately. The Alicante Bouschet and Trincadeira were sourced from 27-year-old vines grown on the well-drained alluvial loams of the Carrapatos vineyard. A low yielding vineyard block, contributing significantly to concentration, overall quality, and expression. The 19-year-old Dourada Vineyard, characterised by Mediterranean red loams and an underlayer of chalk, contributes a riper, plummier, Alicante Bouschet. 

The 2016 vintage followed a second consecutive dry winter, mid to end of season growing temperatures were unrelenting and the harvest arrived some 10 days early. Diligent winemaking ensured that quality expectations were exceeded. 

Intense garnet colour and aromas of spicy black fruit, plum jam, ripe olives with the underlying stemmy-minty hallmark. Wonderfully fresh and structured yet balanced and with exuberant tannins that guarantee its longevity. 

Decant or open 12 to 24 hours beforehand, particularly before 2036. Best served at 17 degrees, alongside roasts, game, or hearty casseroles.