Herdade do Rocim, Alentejo (Portugal) Alicante Bouschet 2021

 On my first visit to the Alentejo region, I was told by my host winemaker that Alicante Bouchet was one of the best grape varieties for the region.  I had known the red grape, a teinturier, whose juice is red as well as its skin, as part of the field blends in pre-Prohibition California vineyards, but I had never heard it mentioned as anything other than a blending grape.  But then that initial opinion was echoed by others in the region.  This rendition of the variety shows the promise (or perhaps fulfillment) of that sentiment – purple-colored, with lots of fruit fragrance and a note of charcoal as well as flavors of creamy black raspberries and blackberries and a touch of earthiness with lots of tannins.  Price is nice, too.