# 1255 Jaen Reserva (2021)

- **Producer:** Taboadella
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Jaen
- **Region:** Dão, Portugal
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €22
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, blackberry, violet, black pepper, cedar, vanilla, toast

## About this wine

Taboadella is a historic wine estate located in Silvã de Cima in the Dão region of Portugal. The name '1255' references the first historical record of the estate's ancestral land rights. Situated on a high-elevation plateau surrounded by pine forests and granite mountain ranges, the estate benefits from a unique microclimate that fosters gentle ripening and high natural acidity. The Jaen grape variety, known elsewhere as Mencía, thrives in these granite soils, producing expressive red wines with distinctive floral and dark fruit characteristics.

## Interesting facts

- The number 1255 refers to the year the Taboadella estate was first documented in medieval land registries.
- Jaen is the Portuguese name for Mencía, famous across the border in Spanish Bierzo and Ribeira Sacra.
- Taboadella features an architecturally acclaimed winery built seamlessly into the surrounding pine forest and granite landscape.

## Food pairing

The dark fruit notes, vibrant acidity, and moderate, refined tannins of Dão Jaen make it exceptionally food-friendly. It balances well with savory roasted meats, duck, and earth-driven dishes like wild mushrooms, while its acidity cuts effortlessly through rich fats and aged cheeses.

## Wine making process

Grapes for the 1255 Reserva are hand-harvested from granite vineyard parcels. Following destemming and gentle crushing, fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and concrete tanks with gentle pump-overs to extract aromatic finesse without harsh tannins. The wine matures in a combination of French oak barrels and concrete vessels to retain fresh fruit identity while developing structured complexity.