2019 Rui Reguinga - Tinto Terrenus

Rui Reguinga spent years searching for the right piece of land before finally acquiring old vineyards in Portalegre, in the remote northeastern corner of Alentejo, in 2004. The plots he found in the Serra de São Mamede sit at altitudes up to 850 meters and are enclosed by traditional dry stone walls, giving them a character closer to a French clos than the sprawling estates typical of southern Alentejo. Many of the vines are more than a century old and include a mix of a dozen different local varieties. Reguinga named the project Terrenus, a nod to the earth itself, and has since become a leading figure in reviving this once-forgotten mountain wine region.

Terrenus Tinto is a field blend built mainly around Aragonez, Trincadeira, and Alicante Bouschet from old bush vines grown on granite and schist soils at roughly 600 meters. The grapes are hand harvested and fermented in cement lagares at controlled temperatures, a traditional method that helps preserve the fruit's natural freshness. The wine is then transferred to French oak barrels, where it ages for about a year before bottling, gaining structure without masking the vineyard's high-altitude character.

The 2019 shows a deep, concentrated color and an expressive nose of dark fruit layered with soft cocoa notes. On the palate it is rich and vibrant, with silky tannins, real freshness, and a long, refined finish that reflects both the wine's complexity and its old vine origins. It pairs especially well with black pork, wild boar stew, or aged sheep's cheese.