Quinta de Pancas 2011 Grande Escolha
Quinta de Pancas was founded in 1495 by the Guimarães family and remained under their ownership up until 2006, when Companhia das Quintas acquired it. Located in Estremadura, “Alto Concelho de Alenquer” next to the Pancas Village, the property is noticeable for the architecture of the manor house, especially the entrance arch and its panels with tiles from the 16th Century. Estremadura is a prolific wine region located at the center of Portugal’s Atlantic coast. Despite being one of the country’s most productive vinicultural areas, its name remains relatively obscure, as its wines have traditionally been labeled with the names of the local sub-regions rather than of Estremadura itself. Until 2008, the Estremadura appellation sat in the VR (Vinho Regional) category, which has now been renamed IGP (Indicaciones Geográficas Protegidas) to bring it into line with the rest of Europe’s wine IGPs. When the switchover happened, the Portuguese wine authorities took the opportunity to rename the Estremadura appellation as Lisboa – after the Portugese capital Lisbon, which marks the region’s southern boundary. Thus, the generic, regional wine title is IGP Lisboa, while location-specific wines are produced under several DOC (Denominacao de Origem Controlada) titles.
Quinta de Pancas has a tradition and history of producing quality wines. The microclimate of the hillsides towards the east is ideal for the ripening of noble great varieties, including Touriga Nacional and Cabernet Sauvignon. Sunny days and fresh nights result in very generous wines, of aromatic flavours and balanced structures. It has approximately 50-hectares of vineyards, where white and red wines of national and international notoriety and recognition are produced.
Opening a bottle I noticed a deep ruby color with concentrated aromas of black and red fruits, with hints of spice. The wine is a blend of Touriga Nacional (35%), Petit Verdot (35%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), and spent 20-months ageing in new French oak barrels. The palate showed ripe fruit flavors of blackberries and fresh raspberries with a touch of spice and an earthy mineral tang. The full-bodied wine had good balance, subtle tannins and nice structure for mid-term future ageing, say 5+ years. Enjoyable! This wine was a gift from my colleague, Amandio, a native of Portugal, who brought back this wonderful treasure from one of his trips back home. Muitíssimo obrigado!
Cheers!