Albarrada Tinto 2016

Packed with juicy summer berries and soft spice, Albarrada is totally moreish. It’s from Alentejo, which produces some of Portugal’s most exciting, modern, fruity wines. They compete easily with similarly priced New World wines. We found this gem at a small cellar, Adega de Redondo, where up to the minute winery equipment and the talent of winemaker Pedro Hipólito unleash the full potential of the region’s fascinating grape varieties. This wine is made entirely from one of the country’s top grapes, Castelão, known locally as Periquita or ‘little parrot’. Happily, you don’t need to be a grape scholar to appreciate its rich, velvety, black fruit. It’s just great on its own or with grilled meats or a warming casserole, or at a summer barbecue.