Bom Malandro Tinto 2022

You can’t just be a bom malandro. It takes time, dedication, and a good eye for an opportunity. Bom Malandro leads by example. Our favourite mischievous squirrel can spot the juiciest grapes from a kilometre away and grab them before anyone else has seen them. He knows how to gather and rouse his gang, ready to cause chaos, and how to reward them properly – with a bottle (or three) of his favourite Douro DOC white. Bom Malandro knows how to behave to get what he wants – especially at the dinner table – and he knows the importance of leading by example. Are you in?

The Wine: Like Bom Malandro himself, Bom Malandro Red is a classic Douro blend. This wine is produced from a combination of several traditional Douro grape varieties sourced from the Symington family’s vineyards in the sub-regions of Cima Corgo and Douro Superior. These grapes come from higher elevation vineyards – typically around 400m in altitude, – which allows for the wine’s fresh and elegant profile with a distinctive fruity character.

Grape Varieties: Viosinho, Gouveio, Rabigato, Arinto, Moscatel Galego Branco.

Tasting Notes: Aromas of red fruits, with highlights of cherries and strawberries, go hand in hand with a floral component of rock rose (a wildflower common in the Douro) and forest floor. On the palate the wine is full yet rounded, revealing succulent plum flavours and just a hint of green pepper. The well-sculpted structure combines polished tannins with a bright freshness, underpinned by acidity that provides focus and balance.

Winemaking: To achieve a smooth and even extraction, we pump over in stainless steel vats. We seek to extract, in a balanced way, the colour and aromatic components of the grapes, suiting the tannin extraction to the wine profile we are aiming for. Lower temperature fermentation (22-24ºC) allows us to create an aromatic wine, appealing and easy to drink.

Ageing and Bottling: Stainless steel vats and used 400L French oak casks.

Winemakers: Charles Symington, Pedro Correia and Hugo Almeida.