Estremus 2019 launch limited to 3863 bottles

Produced only when exceptional quality requirements are met, producer João Portugal Ramos has just presented the new harvest of the house’s most emblematic wine, in a limited edition of 3863 bottles. Born and raised in the shadow of the Castle of Estremoz, the name Estremus is not just the result of the desire to pay homage to the origin – it is also a reflection of the extreme quality demanded and achieved by the winemaker who designed it.

Coming from a vineyard planted on the hillside that travels towards the castle, Estremus is defined as a rare, desired and high-quality wine, typical of harvests considered exceptional, which mark eras and elevate references to ever higher flights. The fifth edition of this top of the range Alentejo is no exception, and its history (2011, 2012, 2015 and 2017 harvests) has previously confirmed its status and qualitative positioning.

Made from a single plot, measuring just one and a half hectares, located in a higher area, 375 meters above sea level, Estremus is a field blend of Trincadeira and Alicante Bouschet. The grapes come from a 22-year-old vineyard, located on limestone soil with marble stone on the surface. All factors contribute to this being the ideal terroir to make a careful selection of the best grapes that, in the end, give rise to this red of choice.

The production process of this DOC Alentejo begins with manual harvesting in small boxes, in order to preserve the quality of the fruit. After a careful selection of the berries when they arrive at the winery, the two varieties ferment together for four days in marble presses with foot treading and then transfer to a stainless steel tank where the alcoholic fermentation ends. This is followed by 12 days of post-fermentation maceration. When it comes to aging, this is done in 300 liter French oak barrels, over a period of 18 months.

Designed with the usual expertise of João Portugal Ramos, Estremus reveals itself in tasting with an intense and deep aroma, dominated by ripe black fruits such as cassis and blackberries, complexed by tertiary aromas from its aging in barrels. It has a soft attack, which is followed by an evolution characterized by acidity, volume and structure, in harmony, which gives it a long, persistent and highly elegant finish.