Description

Susana Esteban Aventura Tinto 2024

This vibrant Portuguese red is a thoughtfully crafted blend of 40% Aragonês, 40% Touriga Nacional, and 20% traditional old-vine field blend varieties hailing from the Vinho Regional Alentejano. The 2024 vintage was shaped by a warm, dry growing season with moderate winter rainfall that prompted a slightly early harvest, though high-elevation, dry-farmed vineyards in the Serra de São Mamede subregion provided crucial cool nights for the granite and schist soils to preserve brilliant natural acidity. Committed to sustainable and organic farming, Susana Esteban hand-harvests the fruit and employs minimal intervention in the cellar, fermenting the wine with native yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with brief lees contact and zero oak aging to maintain absolute fruit purity.

In the glass, the wine displays a brilliant, clear, medium ruby-purple color with moderate viscosity and slow-falling tears. The nose is highly aromatic, bursting with primary fruit notes of crushed blackberries and juicy black cherry, seamlessly woven with secondary aromas of crushed violets, lavender, and white pepper, while remaining free of tertiary aging characteristics. On the palate, this is a decidedly dry, medium-bodied wine that balances vibrant acidity and soft, polished tannins with flavors of brambly dark berries, subtle graphite, and savory wild herbs that drive a refreshing, silky finish. This versatile profile pairs beautifully with a classic American smash burger, where the wine's juicy acidity cuts through the rich beef and melted cheese; it also matches wonderfully with slow-cooked pulled pork sandwiches, as the floral and spice notes perfectly complement a smoky BBQ sauce, or alongside grilled portobello mushrooms to highlight the wine's earthy undertones. While the 2024 vintage is still awaiting formal reviews from publications like the Wine Advocate, previous iterations have consistently earned 90-91 point scores from critics, making this $25 bottle an exceptional value and a benchmark of relative affordability in its class.