The Tamara Estate
Joao Portugal Ramos has been connected to Portuguese wines for more than 20 years, first as a consultant oenologist of well known wines, and since 1992, as a producer.
Alentejo was the region elected to produce his first wines, such as the Marques de Borba, Vila Santa, various Single Varieties, Quinta da Viçosa and Loios.
Afterwards, Ribatejo came along and the main objective was to highlight the wines from this region and make them better known worldwide.
The facility was renovated in 2004 with new wine making and bottling premises in Almeirim (Ribatejo) using the most sophisticated and modern equipment that now allows Falua to produce 1.5 million bottles of red, white and rosé wines of high quality.
The new striking metallic edifice enhances the modernity of the winery and makes Falua stand out from the other more traditional wineries of the area.
The oenologist for Tamara Red is Antonina Barbosa.
The Tamara Vineyard
The grapes come from Ribatejo, in East Central Portugal, along the Tajus river and are grown in sandy soil.
Ribatejo (called Tejo since 2009) is located in the north of Lisbon, with low hills surrounding the Tagus River. Ribatejo is divided into three sub-regions with different characteristics:
- “Campo”: marshy land alongside the river
- “Bairro”: on the right bank of the Tagus River, slightly higher elevation
- “Charneca”: stretches from the Tagus right bank to the Alentejo region.
Vines are grown in all three regions. Falua vines come mainly from “Charneca” that provides with the most favorable soils.
The three different regions “Charneca”, “Bairro” and “Campo” have specific characteristics in the composition of their soils that vary between alluvial, clay and sandy.
They own 100 hectares of vineyards planted with the following varieties: Arinto, Castelão, Trincadeira, Aragonês, Syrah, Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Fernão Pires and Chardonnay.
The climate is mild Mediterranean, and thanks to the proximity of the river, it is characterized by winters with compacted rainfall and dry warm summers.
The average summer temperature runs between 20 and 35ºC.
The insulation varies between 2700 and 2900 hours per year and the rainfall between 600 and 800 mm.
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Philippe Milan Bourgogne Blanc is made from 100% Chardonnay
The wine is produced from vines planted in the commune of Chassey le Camp at high elevation, which brings freshness to this Chardonnay. Ripe fruit is nicely balanced with delicate notes of oak and a hint of citrus on the finish. Full flavored and complex.
Fayolle Crozes-Hermitage Rouge La Rochette is made from 25-year-old vines planted on loess and red granitic soils. 100% Syrah.
Deep ruby red color.
The wine has plenty to offer with red and black fruit aromas, as well as a good minerality.
The finish is long, clean and juicy and offers some white pepper spiciness typical of the best Crozes-Hermitage.
Soil type is red brittle granite and white soil.
Hand harvested in small crates. The grapes are then pumped into tanks (full cluster, not destemmed).
It will stay in this tank for 15 days for the skin contact maceration and the Alcoholic fermentation.
They will also use the "rack and return" technique (delestage).
Then the wine is transfered into neutral French Oak barrels where the wine will complete the Malo-Lactic fermentation.
Review:
"The 2022 Crozes-Hermitage La Rochette comes from a single lieu-dit and was aged 15 months entirely in French oak barrels averaging 20 years old. Ripe blackberries, black olive, iron, leather, and pepper all define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied, with a supple, elegant mouthfeel and a great finish. It's going to have a solid decade of longevity."
- Jeb Dunnuck (Importer Highlight: Fran Kysela ; July 2024), 91 pts