Cartuxa Winery, Alentejano (Portugal) 2020

 The Cartuxa Winery, translated Charterhouse Winery, is part of the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation which both provides the vineyards from which the wine is made but also stimulates cultural, educational, spiritual, and social programs.  The winery produces both wines and olive oils which helps to stimulate the local economy.  Portuguese reds see an abundance of sunshine which can translate into rich tannic structures in their wines, and Cartuxa’s red blend shares this tendency, but balances the tannic structure with bright red and black fruit that bursts in the mouth with each sip.  It is comprised of 35% Aragonez, 20% Trincadeira, 20% Alicante Bouschet, 20% Syrah, and 10% Castelão.  A wisp of smoke provides an undercurrent that helps tie the whole wine together from the nose through the finish.  This is a really easy wine to enjoy and it will go well with red fruit dishes and is suitable for drinking on a warmer day — I recommend serving it with a light chill.