Text José Silva | Translation Jani Dunne

Herdade do Perdigão, consisting of 173 acres of land, of which 99 acres are vineyards with varieties such as Antão Vaz, Verdelho and Arinto of white wine, and Trincadeira, Aragonês, Touriga Nacional and Alicante Bouschet of red.

 

But the oldest vine, about 30 years old, mixes many varieties. All these grapes make 800,000 bottles a year, 85% of which hold red wine. But they already produce 10,000 bottles of sparkling wine.

Vines © Blend All About Wine, Lda

Vines © Blend All About Wine, Lda

This project is run by a family and has been growing. It required a few important investments in technology, especially in the stainless steel vats, a Cool Chain and modern presses, in an effort to improve the end product.

Stainless steel vats © Blend All About Wine, Lda

Stainless steel vats © Blend All About Wine, Lda

That goal has come true, with a few wines having been awarded in several contests, even internationally.

Comfy tasting room © Blend All About Wine, Lda

The vineyards stretch out around the facilities, where you find the cellar and a comfy tasting room that is also a shop for the many connoisseurs who visit producers more and more, taste the wines and buy their favourites. Proof that wine tourism works and is evolving.

In this room, we tasted nine wines that gave us a good idea of the profile of what is produced there. We began with Terras de Monforte white 2014. Somewhat exotic in the nose, revealing good acidity straight away. Unostentatious tropical notes, very refreshing. Beautiful acidity, very mineral, dry, with light saline notes, white fruit, very elegant. Then followed Herdade do Perdigão Reserva white 2011, made only from Antão Vaz. Fermented in casks, it proves a little austere in the nose, but very elegant, soft, with a light citrusy touch. Notes of well paired wood, some vanilla, very present acidity, beautiful volume and some complexity in the mouth.

Then came Herdade do Perdigão Reserva white 2010, also made only of Antão Vaz. This wine’s colour immediately reveals some evolution, also evident in the nose with the elegant presence of wood. However, in the mouth it isn’t as fresh, but still elegant and safe, persistent and with a lasting finish, and proving that white wines also age well. After that, we tried Herdade do Perdigão Reserva red 2012, produced with grapes from old vines, its colour an almost opaque, glossy, vivid red. Intense in the nose, full of dark fruits, some notes of vanilla, and evident wood. Good volume in the mouth and fantastic acidity, intense, a great match for the wood. A lot of notes of dark fruits, chocolate, a persistent wine from a very good year, which will still improve while in the bottle. Stepping back a few years, we tasted Herdade do Perdigão Reserva red 2005, presenting a few brown streaks, and glossy. It proved a little evolved in the nose, with very elegant notes of vegetable, well paired wood, you could still taste some fruit, chocolate and a little smoke. Beautiful acidity, intense, the wood was quite evident, but tannins weren’t all that round. An austere wine, very interesting.

Herdade do Perdigão Reserva red 2004 proved slightly lighter in colour, also including some brown streaks to characterise evolution that comes with age. In the nose, evolution is noticeable, but so is elegance; austere yet still alive. In the mouth, it still offers some very mature fruit, intense, with fantastic acidity for balance, soft notes of smoke, dark chocolate, and a very lasting finish.

We go further back in time to taste Herdade do Perdigão red Reserva 1999. An impressive colour, very dark, brownish, very elegant. Great intensity, aromatic, notes of roasting, smokey, exotic, it continues to open up in the glass. Very robust, even austere, it presents notes of smoke with incredible acidity for a wine this old. Revealing light aromas of the left over fruit, very soft vegetable notes, some smoke, needing opening up in the glass; a good surprise.

Then came a very special wine, Herdade do Perdigão red 20 Years, from the 2008 vintage; a celebration wine, a limited special edition. Prepared from grapes coming from old vines and Alicante Bouschet, it proves very dark, opaque. In the nose, it’s all about elegance, more elegance; intense, but silky, a little smoky with light vegetable notes. The elegant persistence continues in the mouth, with intense and superb acidity; soft spicy notes, some ripe fruit, a silky touch of green peppers, it’s still refreshing, with ripe tannins, very well integrated wood for a delicious and very long finish. A great wine!

We ended the tasting with Herdade do Perdigão Sparkling Wine 2012, prepared with grapes of the Arinto and Antão Vaz varieties. In a crystal-clear citrus yellow, persistent little bubbles and an intense bead. It’s soft in the nose, dry, toasty, with notes of hay. Very refreshing in the mouth, of intense acidity, dry, creamy, notes of baked goods, toast, some nuts, complex, suggesting food, and with a persistent finish. A beautiful Alentejo sparkling wine.

With the vineyards for a background, we roam into Alentejo.

Contacts
Apartado 29
7450 – 999 Monforte
Tel: (+351) 245 578 135
Fax: (+351) 245 578 136
Mobile: (+351) 932 312 250
Website: herdadeperdigao.pt