Monte Velho is the budget label from Portugal's Esporão and it always overdelivers for the money. It's a blend of classic Portuguese varieties aragonez, trincadeira, and touriga nacional with a little syrah, and bottled with no oak, to accentuate the fresh fruit character. A great all-rounder this would be particularly good with tomato dishes.
Intense nose, dark fruit, sloes, grape skins, smells really young and vibrant. Really juicy on the palate with cherries, plums, fennel and a savoury leathery note on the finish.
