# Barroca da Malhada Red (2023)

- **Producer:** Barroca da Malhada
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira
- **Region:** Beira Interior, Portugal
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €17
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blackberry, plum, cedar, forest floor

## About this wine

Quinta de Santo Isidro, also known as Barroca da Malhada, is a historic estate in Tinalhas, facing the Serra da Gardunha mountains in Portugal's DOC Beira Interior. Originally established during the Middle Ages under the ownership of the Viscounts of Tinalhas, the estate was acquired in 2021 by Fernando Teixeira de Camargo and Luciana Teixeira de Camargo. The 17.5-hectare property integrates vineyards with olive groves and cork oak forests, embracing organic and biodynamic protocols to support local biodiversity.

## Interesting facts

- The estate dates back to the Middle Ages when it belonged to the Viscounts of Tinalhas.
- Aged in traditional Portuguese chestnut wood and terracotta amphorae alongside oak.
- Located in high-altitude Beira Interior surrounded by olive groves and cork oak trees.

## Food pairing

The firm tannin structure, full body, and vibrant mountain acidity require hearty dishes rich in fats and savory proteins. Meats like roasted lamb and cured sausages soften the tannins, while the high natural acidity slices through rich stews and creamy sheep cheeses.

## Wine making process

Grapes are harvested entirely by hand from mountain vineyards grown in clay-sandy soils over decomposed granite bedrock. Fermentation is carried out spontaneously using wild native yeasts. Winemaker Fábio Fernandes ages the wine in a distinct combination of vessels, including stainless steel vats, first-fill Portuguese oak barrels, third-fill Portuguese chestnut barrels, and traditional terracotta amphorae.