Serradayres Reserva 2012 (DOC Tejo): crossing Portugal through a mature and delicious blending

During my holiday in Portugal I can taste several wines (reflected in the menu on the right and preceded by the prefix DOC or Vinho Regional). DOC Tejo is located in center of Portugal, with average temperatures of 16º C, 2800 hours of sunshine per year, 750 mm³of annual rainfall, 1900 hectares of crops, different soil conditions and 3 sub-regions : O Campo, O Bairro y A Charneca

O Campo : Common area and flood plains, this terroir gives good white wines whose queen is the grape Fernão Pires.

O Bairro : It has calcareous clay soils on the Tejo river right bank , ideal for red varieties such as Castelão or Trincadeira.

A Charneca : Located on the left bank of the Tejo river, it is characterized by sandy soils related to both white and red grape varieties

This 40 % Touriga Nacional - 30% Castelão - 30 % Trincadeira have a middle ruby deep color. A first nose for red fruit. After oxygenate it comes a mineral, balsamic, spicy and point of leather hints. In mouth a sweet and spicy entry ( 6 months aging in French oak barrel necessary for the Castelão / 'Periquita' tannins), that reminded me some Ribera del Duero wines. Very positive. A sweet and alcoholic mouthfeel (13% in ethanol) typical in a southern Europe wine. Also a good freshness developement and persistence with a long finish. Aftertaste in returning this beautiful fruit.

It's necessary a service temperature of 13º C for this Caves Velhas red wine. You can save this bottle during 4 years without problems. The corresponding pairing are bushmeat, red meats, roasts and a very structured cheeses. A good wine for everyday cause its low price (3 euros aproximatly) allows drinking red that if he were Spanish would be more expensive and from grapes very met.