Montes Claros Reserva Red 2010 and Reserva White 2011
Montes Claros: new image for a historical brand
This week Adega de Borba has launched new vintages for its range Montes Claros – Reserva Red 2010 and Reserva White 2011 – having taken the opportunity to invest in the modernisation of this historical brand without in any way pinching its prestigious and traditional values.
With a younger and more appealing image the new vintages from Montes Claros Reserva, both signed by the wine maker Óscar Gato, maintain the main characteristics of the Montes Claros brand – one of the oldest and most famous in Portugal thanks to the consistency of its quality since 1945, when it appeared in the market symbolising the evocation of the Montes Claros Pillar, a homage to the important Portuguese victory over the Spanish army during the battle of Montes Claros fought in 1655*.
“Being it such an old brand name in the market, we didn’t want to move away from its historical and traditional sides. By maintaining the graphical association with the Pillar of the Battle of Montes Claros we’ve created a distinct and elegant graphics granting it a sober and contemporary design”, explains Márcia Farinha, Adega de Borba’s Marketing and External relations Director.
A soft red…
Montes Claros Reserva Red 2010 is an Alentejo DOC produced from selected grapes that grew in 30-year-old vines. The grapes are Aragonez, Trincadeira, Touriga Nacional, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. After performing the malolactic fermentation (partly in stainless steel vats and the other part in wooden barrels), the final batch gained complexity, structure and richness after a 12-month ageing process in French and American oak barrels and a 6-month period in the bottle.
This red has a deep grenade colour and the aroma is rich and plentiful with notes of jam, jelly and cocoa. The flavour is soft, full-bodied and complex with notes of ripened black fruits and robust persistent tannins which ensure a very good ageing potential.
With an alcohol content of 14 %, Montes Claros Reserva Red 2010 may be consumed after bottling or stored for 5 to 6 years. It pairs well with meat dishes and semi-hard cheeses.
…and an elegant white
Montes Claros Reserva White 2011 is an Alentejo DOC produced from the best batches of the different grapes – Roupeiro, Antão Vaz, Arinto and Verdelho. The grapes were monitored individually during a slight and partial ageing process in French oak barrels with batônnage sur lies. Before that an alcoholic fermentation was performed at a temperature of 15 o C. The wine then aged for three months in the bottle.
With an alcohol content of 13.5 %, this white has a crystal appearance and a greenish golden colour. The aroma is intense, complex and elegant with notes of tropical fruits, pineapple, a slight hint of vanilla and a subtle presence of French oak. It has a balanced soft and refreshing acidity with notes of citrus and tropical fruits in the long finish. This wine can be consumed after bottling or it can be stored for another 3 to 4 years. It goes well with fish dishes, seafood and grilled meat.
Recommended retail price: 5.99€ for Montes Claros Reserva Red and 4.99€ for Montes Claros Reserva White.
Adega de Borba’s new website and online shop: www.adegaborba.pt
* The Montes Claros Pillar is located in Rio de Moinhos. The Regent Prince D. Pedro, who was governing Portugal in the name of his brother D. Afonso had it built in the village of Rio de Moinhos. The column made of marble simbolises the place where the Battle of Montes Claros, one of the most important battles in the History of Portugal, took place on the 17th of June 1665.
The Marquis of Caracena tried to stop the Portuguese troops from helping Vila Viçosa where the Spanish intended to destroy the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, the symbol of the new dynasty. Commanded by the Marquis of Marialva and the Count of Galveias the Portuguese troops were able to defeat the most powerful army in Europe, thus forcing the signature of a Peace Agreement with Spain in 1668.
About Adega de Borba
Founded in 1955 Adega de Borba is a cooperative of 300 wine growers who cultivate around 2,100 hectares of vine (70% red grapes and 30% white grapes), an annual volume of one million cases of 9 litres. Adega de Borba is one of the 10 biggest wine producers in the country.
Within its portfolio some of the more distinctive wines are Adega de Borba DOC, one of the top selling wines in Portugal within its segment, the iconic Adega de Borba Reserva “Rótulo de Cortiça”, a brand that is over 45 years old and one of the most important hallmarks from the Alentejo region, the historical Montes Claros, a brand which dates back to 1945, one the first names to be distinguished by its unique quality in Portugal, Convento da Vila which is widely known for its value for money, and the most recent range of single varietals under the name Senses. In 2011 Adega de Borba’s wines were awarded with 40 medals from national and international prestigious competitions.
For further information, please contact:
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Marta Dias | marta.dias@updigital.pt | +351 915 193 377