Importer’s notes: Susana Esteban may have been born in Spain, but in her relatively short career she has already established herself as one of Portugal's greatest winemakers. She started working as a winemaker at Quinta do Côtto, Douro, in 1999. In 2002 she moved to the highly regarded Quinta do Crasto, also in the Douro valley, where she worked as winemaker until 2007, when she moved to Alentejo to search for vineyards to begin her own project.
It wasn’t until 2011 that she found what she was looking for, a clutch of old vineyards on the granitic slopes of the Serra de São Mamede in Portalegre. The project, which highlights the potential of this nearly forgotten terroir and its treasure of old vines, won immediate acclaim. In 2012 she was the first woman to ever be awarded “Best winemaker of the Year” by Revista de Vinhos, the country’s premier wine publication. In 2023, she established herself as one of Europe's greatest winemaking talents, making some of the most precise, classically refined, and elegant wines in Europe.
Winemaker’s notes: The Castelão grape variety has always surprised me with its ability to produce structured and highly complex wines maintaining their delicacy and freshness. All these characteristics remind me of Burgundy wines which is why I challenged Dirk Niepoort, a great connoisseur and appreciator of Burgundy wines, to make a “Sem Vergonha” castelão.
Cherry red color. Intense aroma of red fruits, predominantly cherry. Very balanced, soft in tannins, elegant, fresh and structured with a long and delicious finish.
Pair it with Grilled steaks, barbecued ribs, chorizo (spicy sausages), charcuterie boards with dry salami and Manchego cheese.
Region: Alentejo (Portalegre), Portugal
Grape: 100% Castelão
Vintage: 2023
750 ml
Importer’s notes: Susana Esteban may have been born in Spain, but in her relatively short career she has already established herself as one of Portugal's greatest winemakers. She started working as a winemaker at Quinta do Côtto, Douro, in 1999. In 2002 she moved to the highly regarded Quinta do Crasto, also in the Douro valley, where she worked as winemaker until 2007, when she moved to Alentejo to search for vineyards to begin her own project.
It wasn’t until 2011 that she found what she was looking for, a clutch of old vineyards on the granitic slopes of the Serra de São Mamede in Portalegre. The project, which highlights the potential of this nearly forgotten terroir and its treasure of old vines, won immediate acclaim. In 2012 she was the first woman to ever be awarded “Best winemaker of the Year” by Revista de Vinhos, the country’s premier wine publication. In 2023, she established herself as one of Europe's greatest winemaking talents, making some of the most precise, classically refined, and elegant wines in Europe.
Winemaker’s notes: The Castelão grape variety has always surprised me with its ability to produce structured and highly complex wines maintaining their delicacy and freshness. All these characteristics remind me of Burgundy wines which is why I challenged Dirk Niepoort, a great connoisseur and appreciator of Burgundy wines, to make a “Sem Vergonha” castelão.
Cherry red color. Intense aroma of red fruits, predominantly cherry. Very balanced, soft in tannins, elegant, fresh and structured with a long and delicious finish.
Pair it with Grilled steaks, barbecued ribs, chorizo (spicy sausages), charcuterie boards with dry salami and Manchego cheese.
Region: Alentejo (Portalegre), Portugal
Grape: 100% Castelão
Vintage: 2023
750 ml
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