Herdade do Mouchão Alicante Bouschet

Alentejo, Portugal

Portugal's most distinctive single-variety red wine from ancient Alicante Bouschet vines — rare teinturier variety with naturally red flesh producing wines of extraordinary, almost opaque color. Blackberry jam, dried figs, leather, and an unusual sweetness of fruit balanced by robust tannins. A true Portuguese original.

Pairing intelligence

• main: Ancient Portuguese goat dish and ancient Alentejo wine — the wine's dark fruit and tannins handle the intense braising; garlic and bay mirror the wine's herbal warmth
• cheese: The wine's intense fruit and leather character matches the hard sheep's cheese; quince provides acidity to bridge the wine's sweetness; almonds echo the wine's earthy depth