This is the latest wine from Portugal’s very own Spanish winemaker Susana Esteban. At her winery in the very northern reaches of the Alentejo, near Portalegre, she has earned a reputation for producing wines of true character, amongst them the Aventura, Cabriolet, Sidecar and Sem Vergonha (‘without shame’) labels.
Her focus has always been mostly on red wines with just two whites in the portfolio and, until now, no rosé.
One of Susana’s better-known labels is Procura (meaning ‘search’) and when I discovered this bottle new in at Apolónia last week, I was keen to see what interpretation of a rosé this talented and innovative winemaker would offer.
I was confident that it would not be another one of those boring and undistinguishable salmon pink rosés that taste of very little, and I was not disappointed.
This is a very different rosé, a wine full of flavour with good body, a blend of 85% Aragonês (Tempranillo) with the interesting addition of 15% Moscatel Roxo (Purple Muscat).
On the nose, there are rich notes of orange peel and orange blossom from the Muscat mingling with fresh red berry fruits. In the mouth, the wine is firm and dry with excellent acidity leading to a fresh and fruity finish.
All in all, a topflight rosé and good value for money at €14.99 in Apolónia.
