Dom Rafael Red 2020
9,95€ VAT included
A contemporary and versatile blend of classic Alentejo varieties from old vines of Aragonêz, Trincadeira, Castelão, and Alicante Bouschet.
Crafted using the winery’s signature production methods that have been used for over 100 years – grapes are handpicked, foot trodden and fermented in open stone troughs, or lagares.
This traditional approach to a modern style wine is what makes Dom Rafael so distinctive. Aged in Portuguese and French oak barrels for at least 12 months, with a further 6 months in bottle.
DOM RAFAEL RED 2020 – TECHNICAL INFORMATION
VINIFICATION
At Mouchão, all red wines are vinified in open stone troughs, known as lagares. Whole bunches, including stems, are included in the maceration process making harvest timing especially critical. The handpicked bunches are foot-trodden twice daily and allowed to ferment for roughly 4-7 days. The young, fermented wine then undergoes malo-lactic fermentation in large 5000L wooden tonéis and, up to 25% of the final blend, in small new and used oak barrels. It is racked off its coarse lees in mid-winter and then remains undisturbed for a further 12-15 months. Once bottled, the wine is matured for a further 6-9 months before being released.
VITICULTURE
Responsible husbandry in the vineyard is critical for harvesting the best Mouchão fruit and sustaining the estate’s healthy bee population. The Aragonêz, Trincadeira, Castelão, and Alicante Bouschet grapes are sourced from several different vineyard sites: The Adega, Ponte das Canas, Varzea Estreita, and Carapetos which are composed of well-drained alluvial loams; the Barragem and Mouchão Velho vineyards soils which are made up of skeletal flintstone clay loams; and the Dourada vineyard which sits on Mediterranean red loams underlain with chalk.
GROWING SEASON 2020
The 2020 year was marked by a notably rainy winter and an exceptionally hot July.
TASTING NOTES
Youthful and fresh, this wine reveals notes of red berries, ripe dark fruit with dark chocolate and subtle peppermint undertones. Its soft and light texture is complemented by rich complexity from limited aging in new and used oak, and a long and persistent finish.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
A perfect companion to a wide variety of gastronomic dishes, such as meat dishes, hearty casseroles, appetizers, bacalhau dishes and rich fish stews. Best enjoyed in its youth but will keep up to 10 years.