Quinta da Fonte Souto Florão Red 2022, Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal

Florão Red is the younger, fruit-led red from Quinta da Fonte Souto, the Symington family’s estate on the slopes of the Serra de São Mamede in Portalegre. At around 500 metres this is one of the coolest, freshest sites in the Alentejo. The blend typically includes Alicante Bouschet, Syrah, Aragonez and Alfrocheiro, with a dash of old mixed vines. The grapes are hand-picked into small boxes, sorted and gently crushed, and most of the wine is aged for around six months in older 400-litre French oak barrels, which softens the texture without masking the fruit.

Quinta da Fonte Souto Florão Red is smooth and ripe, with a floral nose of roses, cherry and raspberry. The palate is supple and balanced, with ripe red and dark fruit, soft tannins, well-judged acidity and a touch of pine resin from the mountain freshness, leading to an elegant finish.

This is an easy-going red for grilled meats, pork, burgers, pizza, pasta or a midweek casserole. Serve at around 16°C. It is ready to drink now and will develop nicely for 3–4 years.

Quinta da Fonte Souto is the Alentejo estate of the Symington family, best known for their Douro Port houses. Bought in 2017, it was the family’s first vineyard outside the Douro. The 207-hectare property sits in the Portalegre sub-region on the slopes of the Serra de São Mamede, at around 500 metres, one of the highest vineyard sites in Portugal south of the Tagus. Granite and schist soils and a meeting of Atlantic and Mediterranean influences make it much cooler and wetter than the Alentejo plains, so the wines have freshness and finesse. The estate has a collection of mature, low-yielding vines, and the family is replanting part of the land with native trees. Florão is its younger, fruit-driven label.