Quinta Da Fonte Souto DCC 2017 75 cl.

Wild-growing plants and herbs from the Mediterranean region shape the aroma, accompanied by hints of balsamic and pine needles. Full-bodied and complex with juicy notes of cloves and forest berries. The firm tannins provide structure, balanced by a fine acidity.

Quinta da Fonte Souto is the Symington family’s first estate outside the Douro region. You may have heard of Symington elsewhere, as the family also owns the outstanding port wine producer Graham’s. However, at Quinta da Fonte Souto, the focus is more on classic wines. The winery is located in Portalegre, near the São Mamede mountain range, which provides the vineyards with a cooler climate than one would typically expect in this otherwise very warm region. The estate spans 43 hectares of vineyards, primarily planted with Aragonês, Alfrocheiro, Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. A significant number of chestnut trees also grow here, inspiring the name—‘souto’ refers to a wooded area planted with chestnut trees.

94 POINTS
Wine Enthusiast
Reviewed by Roger Voss
A blend of Syrah and Alicante Bouschet, this is among the first releases from the Alentejo estate bought in 2017 by the Douro’s Symington Family. This flagship wine is densely powerful with massive tannins that are masked by the concentrated black fruits. There is juiciness along with richness and the promise of considerable aging.

93 POINTS
Robert Parker
Reviewed by Mark Squires
The 2017 Tinto Vinho do Souto is a roughly equal blend of Alicante Bouschet and Syrah, aged for 11 months in mostly new French oak. This ups the ante on the regular Tinto in a few ways—there’s more concentration while remaining quite elegant, more oak impact, although that will improve with time, and more power. The intensity of flavor is significantly enhanced, with beefy nuances overlaying the wine and superseding the wood. It displays nuance, restraint, and finesse alongside its structure and concentration. This is a lovely, refined success for a debut vintage.

93 POINTS
Vinbladet
Reviewed by Bjarne Mouridsen
A blend of 52% Alicante Bouschet and 48% Syrah from selected vineyards, aged for 11 months in 80% new oak and 20% used oak. Dark ruby to violet with a purple rim. Expressive nose with black sour cherries, blackberries, and a hint of blackcurrant, coffee notes, and fresh herbs. Full-bodied and delicious on the palate, with ripe fruit, dark berries, a touch of licorice, and some fresh green notes. Beautiful complexity, pronounced but integrated tannins, and a very long finish with quite a bit of dry tannins. A superb and powerful wine that benefits from time or aeration—great potential.