Spanish and Portuguese Wine Month Sampler #3 - Next Level Reds

M.O.B. 2023 Lote 3 (Dão, Portugal)
The "Mob" here is a dynamic collaboration between three of Portugal’s top winemakers—Jorge Moreira, Francisco Olazabal, and Jorge Serôdio Borges (M.O.B.) —who combined their talents to showcase the cool-climate elegance of the high-altitude Dão region. Crafted as a nod to old-school winemaking, this traditional blend of Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro, and Jaen bursts with crushed wild berries, dark cherries, and subtle floral hints, carrying a vibrant acidity and smooth texture that make every sip balanced and lively. 

Paulo Laureano 2018 Vidigueira Antiga (Alentejo, Portugal)
Driven by a passion for preserving native Portuguese grape varieties, master enologist Paulo Laureano crafts authentic, terroir-focused wines from his estate in the warm heart of Vidigueira. This classic Alentejo blend of Aragonez, Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet, and Touriga Nacional opens with rich aromas of plum jam, dark winter fruits, and warm baking spices, layered over subtle tobacco leaf and polished oak notes that lead into a plush, harmonious finish.

Javier Sanz 2022 Paraje La Encina Bruñal (Castilla y León, Spain)
A fifth-generation family winery in La Seca, Javier Sanz is renowned for resurrecting rare, near-extinct indigenous grapes to preserve Spain’s viticultural heritage. Made entirely from 100% Bruñal, this deeply expressive red delivers intense red cherry and blackberry flavors interwoven with subtle toasted oak and a cool mineral backbone, offering a fleshy, mouthwatering palate that keeps you coming back for more.

Bodegas Portia 2021 "Prima La Encina" (Ribera del Duero, Spain)
Housed in an iconic, avant-garde winery designed by architect Norman Foster, Bodegas Portia crafts powerful, modern expressions from high-elevation vineyards in the heart of Ribera del Duero. Made from 100% Tempranillo and aged in French oak, this rich red showcases layers of ripe blackberries, blueberry compote, cocoa, and sweet toffee, underpinned by fine-grained tannins and a vibrant acidity that gives it magnificent depth and structure.

López de Heredia 2015 "Viña Bosconia" Rioja Reserva (Rioja, Spain)
Founded in 1877, La Rioja Alta’s legendary R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia remains one of the ultimate guardians of traditional winemaking, famous for extended barrel aging and unwavering artisanal standards. This classic Rioja blend, dominated by Tempranillo with Garnacho, Graciano, and Mazuelo, is deeply soulful, offering a seductive bouquet of dried red plums, forest floor, orange peel, and subtle leather, wrapped in a silky texture with bright, enduring acidity. 

Bodegas Mas Alta 2020 La Vilella Alta "Black Slate" Priorat (Priorat, Spain)
Nestled in the rugged, high-altitude village of La Vilella Alta, Bodegas Mas Alta utilizes organic farming and expert guidance from French consulting enologists to harness the power of Priorat's famed slate soils. Composed of traditional Garnacha and Cariñena, this concentrated red delivers intense blackberry and dark plum fruit interwoven with crushed stone mineral notes, sweet Mediterranean herbs, and a hint of warm mocha on a velvety, full-bodied frame.