Portugal — wine

Palmela

The Setubal Peninsula's most significant wine DO, south of Lisbon on the south bank of the Tagus. Palmela is the home territory of the Castelao grape (formerly Periquita) and produces wines of remarkable earthy, cherry-fruited character alongside Moscatel de Setubal — one of Portugal's great fortified wine traditions. The sandy soils of the peninsula give wines a distinctive light elegance unusual in Portuguese reds.

Year Rating Notes
2023 Good Setubal Peninsula season; reliable Castelao character and Moscatel concentration
2022 Excellent vintage; finest Palmela Castelao in recent years with good structure for aging
2021 Solid vintage with the characteristic earthy, cherry fruit of the peninsula's sandy soils
2020 Hot season; concentrated Castelao and richly sweet Moscatel fortified wines
2019 Benchmark vintage; complex, age-worthy Palmela reds and exceptional Moscatel