J Portugal Ramos Vila Santa Reserva

Wine Description

Vila Santa was João Portugal Ramos's first wine. The name means “Holy Village,” referring to the nearby ancient city of Estremoz where the famed Miracle of the Roses occurred. In the 13th century, Estremoz was ruled by King Diniz and his wife, Queen Isabel. Isabel was dedicated to helping the poor, but had to hide her generosity from her husband. One day, as Isabel was leaving the castle with an apron full of bread, Diniz appeared and asked to see what she was carrying. Isabel opened her apron, where the bread had miraculously been transformed into roses. Isabel continued her work free from suspicion and was canonized in 1625.

The Vila Santa red blend marries Aragonês, Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. After harvest, part of the yield is foot trodden in marble troughs, known as lagares, and the remainder is fermented in stainless steel tanks following a long post-fermentation maceration. The blend is aged for nine months in French oak barrels.

Joao Portugal Ramos
J Portugal Ramos Winery
J Portugal Ramos Vineyard
Estremoz Castle
Winery Exterior
Marble Stone Lagares
Winery Aging Room
Winery
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Acclaim
“The 2019 Vila Santa Reserva is a blend of 30% Alicante Bouschet, 20% Aragonez, 20% Syrah, plus Touriga Nacional and Cabernet Sauvignon dividing the rest, aged for 12 months in an equal mixture of French and American oak (40% new). It comes in at 14.3% alcohol. Typically, this is one of the best values in Alentejo. So, too, again. It's a relatively inexpensive wine that often performs a level or two above its price category. This year, it seems tightly wound, concentrated and still beautifully structured. The tannins are always ripe, never hard, but they are there and provide support. For the first time, this is now sourced solely from Quinta da Viçosa. There is no problem holding this, as it ages well, but it can be drunk now too.”
— Wine Advocate, Aug 2022
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
The Monte de Caldiera, Sao Lazaro, Serrado Pinhiero and Herdade das Romieras vineyards
Vineyard size
1,250 acres
Soil composition
Schist and limestone clay
Training method
Guyot Double-Guyot
Elevation:
990-1320 feet
Vines/acre:
1,200-1,600
Yield/acre:
2.4-2.8 tons
Exposure:
Various
Year vineyard planted:
1993
Harvest time:
September-October
First vintage of this wine:
1992
Bottles produced of this wine:
75,000
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Winemaking & Aging
Maceration length:
15
Varietal composition:
25% Aragonez, 25% Alicante Bouschet, 20% Touriga Nacional, 20% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Fermentation container:
Barrels and Stainless steel tanks
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
8 days
Fermentation temperature:
77 °F
Maceration technique:
Racking
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Size of aging container:
250 L
Type of oak:
French and American
Length of aging before bottling:
12 months
Age of Aging Container:
New
Total SO2
124
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.42
Acidity:
5.5 g/L
Alcohol:
14 %
Dry extract:
32.3 g/L
Total SO2
124
Residual sugar:
<4 g/L