Cortes de Cima "Furnas" Tinto '21

Cortes de Cima "Furnas" Tinto '21Cortes de Cima is based in Vidigueira, in Portugals Alentejo region, an area better known for warmth and generosity than restraint. In recent years, however, the estate has entered a compelling new chapter under the direction of Anna Jrgensen, who took over from her parents five years ago and has guided Cortes de Cima toward a more thoughtful, regenerative future. Since the end of 2019, Anna has shifted the estate away from the more conventional,

Cortes de Cima is based in Vidigueira, in Portugal’s Alentejo region, an area better known for warmth and generosity than restraint. In recent years, however, the estate has entered a compelling new chapter under the direction of Anna Jørgensen, who took over from her parents five years ago and has guided Cortes de Cima toward a more thoughtful, regenerative future.

Since the end of 2019, Anna has shifted the estate away from the more conventional, intensive farming of the past and toward holistic, regenerative, and organic agriculture. The goal is a return to the roots of the old farm, guided by biodynamic principles, old traditions, genetic diversity, and the agricultural heritage of the region. Animals have been brought back to the property, polyculture is encouraged, and the estate is being reshaped into what Anna describes as a “green lung” in the Alentejo.

This philosophy carries directly into the wines. Cortes de Cima is now focused on producing wines that speak clearly of place, with the quality of the fruit established first in the vineyard and then carefully preserved in the cellar. In a warm climate, the goal is freshness and elegance rather than sheer power, an approach that looks back to the pre-1990s Alentejo, before opulence became the dominant style.

Last month, we featured a Cortes de Cima wine from the heart of Alentejo, an area known for its Mediterranean climate. This month, we highlight a red from the beautiful Alentejo coast. “Furnas” Tinto comes from a single vineyard nestled in the foothills of the São Luis Range, where the River Mira meets the ocean. The vineyard lies just three kilometers from the Atlantic, on sandy, silty gravels of volcanic origin.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Franc, 20% Jaen, and 20% Syrah, the grapes are handpicked, transported by refrigerated truck to the winery in Vidigueira, and fermented with natural yeasts, using around 10% whole clusters and a couple weeks of maceration with gentle extraction. The wine is aged in a combination of used French oak barrels and stainless steel tank.

The 2021 Furnas is an incredibly aromatic and lively wine, with striking notes of green peppercorn, herbs, red fruit, and mineral. The palate has weight, but at just 12.5% alcohol remains fresh and balanced. As with Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley, this isn’t a cocktail wine, but rather one that is remarkably versatile at the table. It would be incredible with a lamb tagine with prunes and almonds, but could also work beautifully with something more Portuguese-inspired, like grilled sardines with salsa verde.