Azamor, `Selected Vines` Vinho Regional Alentejano

In 1998, Alison and Joaquim Luiz Gomes bought the Azamor estate in the Alentejo and planted their first vineyard in 2001. Known as the ‘breadbasket’ of Portugal, the Alentejo has staked a claim as one of the country’s most important red wine regions and is renowned for producing fruit-driven wines of consistent quality and excellent value.

Situated relatively far south, the Alentejo is known for its dry, hot summers, with temperatures often rising to 45°C. Azamor’s 27-hectare estate is moderated by cooler temperatures in their vineyards planted 350 metres above sea level. Planted on low vigour, clay, and schist slopes, these are some of the most densely planted vineyards in the region and produce low yields of very concentrated fruit. The resulting wines have great elegance, concentration, and depth of flavour.

Azamor use a combination of indigenous Portuguese varieties (Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Trincadeira) and international varieties (Syrah, Alicante Bouschet, Petit Verdot and Merlot) in the Vinho Regional Alentejano blend to produce a bold yet refined red, packed with juicy fruit and ripe tannins. The 100% Petit Verdot is well structured with intense black fruit flavours and a subtle smoky character from 12 months of ageing in French oak, 35% of which is new. Made using grapes from the best plots on the vineyard, the ‘Selected Vines’ is an intriguing blend of Syrah, Touriga Franca and Alicante Bouchet, aged for 12 months in a mixture of French and American oak. This is a stunning wine from the Alentejo, with vibrant fruit and velvety tannins.