Quinta das Cerejeiras Grande Reserva Tinto, Obidos, Portugal

Description

A warm mix of ripe fruit, spice, and slow-developing complexity rises from the glass as 2019 Quinta das Cerejeiras Grande Reserva Tinto reveals its deeply traditional character. This long-aged, classically structured wine reflects nearly a century of craftsmanship, shaped by Mediterranean climate, meticulous vinification, and patient maturation in barrel and bottle.

Product Details:

• Winemaker: Eng. Miguel Môto
• Grapes: Castelão 40%, Touriga Nacional 30%, Aragonez 30%
• Climate: Mediterranean
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Total Acidity: 5.60 g/L (tartaric acid)
• pH: 3.63
• Residual Sugar: 2.6 g/L
• Bottle Size: 750 ml
• Fermentation: Stainless-steel vats; partial destemming; gentle maceration; 15-day slow fermentation
• Aging:
  • 24 months total in French & American oak
  • Initial aging in new 250 L French oak
  • Additional aging in 300 L used barrels
  • Bottle aging 2–3 years before release
• Special Notes: Produced only in good years; first release in 1926
• Allergens: Contains sulfites

Sensory Description:

Ruby in tone with subtle brownish reflections, the wine delivers expressive aromas of ripe fruit, cherry compote, plum, fig, vanilla, toast, and warm spice. The palate is rounded, dense, and velvety, supported by refined tannins and mild, balanced acidity. Though aged, it retains youthful firmness, contributing freshness to its full-bodied structure. The finish is long and persistent, echoing red fruit, spice, and subtle oak evolution.

Awards & Accolades:

• Gold — Berlin Wine Trophy (2022), 2019 Vintage
• Bronze — International Wine & Spirit Competition (2022), 2019 Vintage
• Vivino Score — 4.1 
• 17/20 — Wine Magazine (Producer note, 2023)

Winemaker’s Background:

Founded in the 1920s by Abel Pereira da Fonseca, Companhia Agrícola do Sanguinhal revolutionized local viticulture with innovations such as aligned trellised vines and single-variety plots. Today, the estate comprises Quinta do Sanguinhal, Quinta das Cerejeiras, and Quinta de São Francisco, properties benefiting from the cooling Serra de Montejunto and the Atlantic. Winemaking and bottling have continued to modernize while maintaining traditional wood aging in both French and American oak, preserving the estate’s historic style across generations.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F). Decanting is recommended due to its prolonged aging, allowing the wine to fully express its aromatics and structure. A natural match for cheeses, stews, game dishes, and fatty fish, this cellar-worthy red also shines alongside richly seasoned casseroles, roasted meats, and dishes featuring earthy or smoky elements. Suitable for enjoyment now or over the next 10 years.

Long-aged, powerful yet refined, and rooted in tradition, 2019 Quinta das Cerejeiras Grande Reserva Tinto stands as a classic expression of Portuguese craftsmanship, full-bodied, elegant, and built for longevity.