"Made from an intriguing combination of Aragonez (AKA Tempranillo, for structure and fruit) and Trincadeira (an indigenous variety that brings lovely freshness and acidity), 2019 Pera Manca Tinto is a deep, brooding wine, deep and complex. Showing intense notes of dried fruits and fresh herbs on the nose, the palate is rich and mouth-filling, with dark berries, sweet plum and spice, a note of tobacco leaf, espresso, dark chocolate, tea leaf and some dried herbs - it is extremely complex and intensely concentrated, and whilst still full-bodied, it has a joyously silky texture on the palate, and this is a softer, more approachable wine than the 2018, with a lovely finish that gently develops with each sip. Whilst this has the structure for long ageing, its not a complete mistake to try one now, as it is already superb on its own! Even better with a sumptuous meal, especially with grilled meat or game, but this will only improve over the long term - if you can leav it for 5, 10, or 20 years, you will be very pleased you waited!"

The wines of Cartuxa are produced within the Alentejo sub-region of Évora and have long been the stuff of legends. Indeed, Pêra-Manca has a long pedigree that is intertwined with Portuguese history. Not only were the wines from the “Pêra-Manca region” first mentioned in a letter from Évora Town Council to King João II in 1488, but they were also aboard Pedro Álvares Cabral’s ship when he discovered Brazil in 1500.

More recently, in 2021, Vivino, the world's largest online wine market, asked its 54 million users which was the Number 1 wine in the world, and it was not DRC or Rousseau, or a 1st Growth Bordeaux, but Pera Manca Tinto!

One of the oldest wineries in Portugal, vineyards have been on the same Quinta de Valbom site in Évora since 1517 when the Jesuits came to the region to establish the second oldest university in Portugal. The name Cartuxa comes from the Cartuxa monastery that was built by the Carthusians between 1587 and 1598. The monastery was saved from ruin in 1871 by the Eugénio de Almeida family, and over the years they have developed the vineyard holding to some 1,050 hectares across four sites (650ha of which they own, and 400ha of which they rent with full control).
 
In 1963, Vasco Maria Eugénio de Almeida created Fundação Eugénio de Almeida, a charitable foundation responsible for developing many important social and cultural organisations across the region, including the Évora University, hospitals, social housing and numerous welfare institutions. The foundation continues its work today, more than 50 years after its foundation.
 
The Pêra-Manca brand was first patented in the 1870s, and the wines gathered international recognition when the reds were awarded gold medals in Bordeaux soon after. After a series political upheavals in Portugal, the arrival of phylloxera and the death of the vineyard owner in 1920, the Pêra-Manca wines were sadly no more, until 1990 when the label was resurrected. Today the wines celebrate native grape varieties and now have cult status around the world. The label is an iconic image from famous Portuguese artist Alfredo Roque Gameiro.

• First produced in its current form in 1990, and only ever in the best years.
• Iconic label - Roque Gameiro C18^th advert
• DOC Alentejo - Évora
• Made from Trincadeira and Aragonêz grapes
• Grown on granitic soil
• Fermentation in 12,000 l oak vats, then around 30 days maceration on skins
• Aged in 3000/5000 l oak vats 18 months
• Aged in bottle 36 months

Pera-Manca Tinto (Red) is produced from the Aragonez and Trincadeira grape varieties, with each parcel being carefully separated and selected at harvest. The vineyards are over 30 years old, and selection depends on the grapes developing slowly without excess stress, drawing out the best characteristics of the varieties. In the best years, the grapes are harvested, de-stalked, lightly crushed and fermented in 12000L oak vats. This is followed by a long period of maceration before the wine is matured in 3,000L oak vats for 18 months. The wine is aged in bottle for a further 36 months in the Cartuxa Monastery cellars prior to release.

N.B This wine is due to arrive soon - until it arrives and ABV can be confirmed, it is only available for purchase In Bond (For Storage).