A wine made out of pure love for Portuguese viticulture. Herdade Pegos Claros is a small and unique winery co-led by the grandmasters of Wines & Winemakers by Saven. Everyone involved in this wine, from winemaker Bernardo Cabral to the grape pickers, has an incredible love for the Palmela wine region in the Setúbal Peninsula. The region is known for its "Pliocenico de Pegoes" soils—sandy soil originating from the Tagus and Sado rivers. Combined with the perfect climate, this creates a unique terroir, and that's reflected in this red Pegos Claros Reserva.
The seventy-year-old vineyard of Pegos Claros
The vineyards, filled with Castelão grapes, are quite old, reaching up to 70 years old. The old, thick trunks don't produce many bunches these days, but they are very rich and full. Therefore, all bunches are carefully harvested by hand and transported in small wooden crates to Pegos Claros. The vineyards are south-facing, ensuring plenty of sunlight and sufficient cooling wind. After arrival, the bunches are pressed the old-fashioned way, using bare feet. Everything for this Pegos Claros Reserva is done according to the old Portuguese traditions. And that's something we don't see very often anymore!
Wood bearing for the Pegos Claros Reserva
The black juice is then aged in oak barrels for a minimum of 12 months. French oak barrels are chosen because they give the wine a better balance. The result is a truly magnificent wine, and it's no wonder this wine has scored so highly at various international wine competitions. It received 93 points from Wine Enthusiast and 90 points from Robert Parker! Yes, we agree! Yes, you can imagine that everything is a magic spell for success, and it is. Upon pouring, all our senses are already stimulated, as we see a dark red color with a light purple rim. It flows from the glass, giving our nose impressions of black fruit, vanilla, and oak, complemented by spices, chocolate, and tobacco. The full aroma continues into the taste, as the palate is first pampered by notes of vanilla, cedar, spices, and of course, black fruit. These are provided as soon as it rolls fully across the tongue, also giving us nuances of pepper, biscuit, plums, dates, and vanilla. What a fantastic wine!
2019
