From: Alentejo, Portugal

Varietals: 80% Aragonez (Tempranillo), 15% Alicante Bouschet, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon

Eladio was one of the founders of large-scale Albariño production in Spain with Mar de Frades (est. 1983), but he left it all behind in 2003 when his wife fell ill, selling the winery and keeping only a few prized vineyards. He now dedicates himself to making artisanal, hand-crafted Albariño in the Salnés Valley as well as red wine in Portugal’s Alentejo, where he has a second home with his now-healthy wife. Eladio commissions artists to design his labels, as well as his unique and patented bottle shapes. Everything is bio-dynamic.

Tasting Note: The four years that this wine spent aging in new barrels imbued it with layered traces of old-growth forest trees that dance across the nose and palate. These sumptuous flavors are balanced alongside hints of fresh blackberries, dark plum, and light, musky spice. An additional period of further maturation in stainless steel casks for three years and six months in the bottle before release has allowed for a seamless expression of terroir in the glass. This wine is drinking beautifully now, almost 13 years after the initial harvest.

Pairing: This wine will pair beautifully with roasted vegetables, cured meats, smoked/barbecued meats, or a perfectly cooked steak.