Origin: Alentejo, Portugal
Retail: $11.95 | Sale: $10.76
Alentejo, in the south of Portugal, is one of the more arid growing areas in Western Europe. The Mourão sub-region has no highways or airports, and its people were determined to continue a rustic, agrarian existence until the finalization of the Alqueva Dam in 2004. The old village of Aldeia da Luz was below the proposed waterline of the planned reservoir, but the benefits that the project would bring were such that the village could not be spared. After consultation with the villagers the authorities rebuilt Luz a couple of kilometers away on higher ground. This relocation included planting both a 200-hectare olive grove and an 83-hectare vineyard that today belong to and are farmed by the 74 permanent denizens of the village. It is from here that the fruit for Aplanta comes. On the nose, lush blueberry, plum and red cherry aromas, overlaid with slate mineral. On the palate, a core of red cherry and blueberry fruit is wrapped with hints of fresh tobacco, black pepper and spice. Plush and refreshing all at once.
70% Aragonez, 30% Alicante Bouschet