2005 Red Reserva
The Pohl family Estate, Herdade dos Grous, is located near the tiny village of Albernoa, in the Beja District, south of Portugal. Vineyard operations are specifically suited to each variety planted within the 170 acres of vines. Production per vine is limited to produce low volumes of the best possible fruit. For the Herdade dos Grous Reserva, we selected our very best lagar-fermented Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouschet, and Syrah, aged for 12 months in our cellars, in new French oak casks. Enjoy it with steak au poivre, duck magret or ossobucco milanese.
Serve at 16-18 C, decanted
Wine Advocate # 174, Dec 2007, Mark Squires, 91 Points, Drink 2009 - 2019
Alicante Bouschet (50%), Syrah (30%), Touriga Nacional (20%)
Grapes are hand-selected on a selection table and destemmed and crushed, falling by gravity into steel vats. Musts are cold-soaked for 2 days and prolonged fermentation is performed in tanks for several days
The wine is aged in new French oak barriques for 12 months.
The 2005 RESERVA was my pick of this litter. Blended similarly to the 2004 (Alicante Bouschet, Syrah and Touriga Nacional), it also has some of the same, fine structural components of the 2004, and that same elegant mid-palate, along with underlying power. The fruit is more flavorful, or at least more open, and the texture more seductive, however. Perhaps when the 2004 opens up, there will be parity here, but at the moment, the 2005 would be my pick of the two. Drink 2009-2019. This winery near Beja includes a beautiful resort facility. It also features, more pertinently, Luis Duarte, the well regarded winemaker/consultant who also works with Quinta do Mouro and Malhadinha Nova. Although at most wineries the 2004s shine, here the 2005s seem to be the pick of the litter to me. Mark Squires