Luddite Wine - Saboteur 2016

I love Portuguese wines, but that's not all I drink. 

Saboteur 2016 is a great example why you should always adventure into new experiences. On Sunday, that you feel extremely lazy, to the point that you skip Sunday lunch, a much needed ritual in this household, you know you need to pull something out of the bag to brighten your evening. 

All we have in the fridge is leftover lamb from the previous Sunday (don't ask!) and a jamon de bellota that thankfully I felt generous enough to buy on an impulse, the day before. 

Right, red wine it is!

 

Look at that bright red colour. You just know that that wine is going to make you feel gooood. A blend of 54% Shiraz, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Mouvedre, the wine is big and bold. 2016 was an extremely hot year which resulted in very ripe fruit allowing the cabernet to really show its tannins. 

Winemaking process: "The cabernet sauvignon and mouvedre were fermented in small batches in open bins with regular hand punch downs. The larger shiraz batches were fermented in stainless-steel tanks with regular pump-overs. All the components were pressed directly into barrel and allowed to mature with some fermentation lees. Some of the batches did malolactic fermentation in barrel which gives a fuller mouth feel and structure. This vintage was only in barrel for 12 months with 30% new French oak. All the components were ages separately. During the blending process, great care was taken to follow the house style of Sabouteur, which is increasingly building up a huge following."

Aromas: A vibrant red fruit fruit character. Red currants, red plums, cherry, blackcurrants and blackberries. Plenty of black and white pepper, hints of liquorice and good herbaceous notes. The cabernet sauvignon really shows in this blend by giving a great tannic structure and light cedar oak notes. The finish is long yet refreshing. 

Food pairing: Well, as mentioned, I had it with the jamon de bellota (cured ham from pigs that were fed acorns), which as you can imagine is just the bees knees. Its nutty, salty, intense and it melts in your mouth, which paired with this wine is just divine! 

Now that was one sexy wine and you can get it here.

Chat soon,

Vanessa