Herdade São Miguel Tinto (Portugal)

This big red from Alentejo remains a huge customer favourite at Cork of the North, with a rich, spicy blackcurrant flavour and a hint of vanilla, from six months ageing on oak. Great with pizza!

A full bodied, concentrated, yet fresh and very drinkable Portugueuse red blend from the central Alentejo region - made by our good friend Alexandre Relvas.

The warm and dry region of Alentejo, south and east of Lisbon is, these days, where some of the best value and quality can be found in Portugal. And this meaty number from Herdade de Sao Miguel shows this off well. It's a blend of Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouschet, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon among others - the exact proportions varying from vintage to vintage - which, after fermentation, is aged in large French oak barrels for 4 months before bottling. The dark fruit is beautifully well defined with notes of cassis jumping out. This sits alongside a nice touch of toasty oak, smooth tannins and with enough crunchy minerality and crispness to give it a good balance and lively character.