Livingston, NJ, October 19, 2022 – Portugal’s Esporão Group is releasing a new vintage of its flagship Torre do Esporão. Made in exceptional years only and in small quantities, the new 2017 becomes available stateside starting October 2022 (SRP $300). It marks the fourth edition of this world-class red from Portugal’s Alentejo region. Prior releases were 2004, 2007 and 2011.
Torre do Esporão is the ultimate expression of the singularities of the harvest year and the expertise of those who make the wine. A testament to the art of the blend, underpinned by a philosophy to neither echo the past nor be bound by vintage style, it represents Esporão’s ambition to make the finest wines that nature can provide, in a responsible, inspiring way.
The 2017 vintage is a blend of four varieties (40% Aragonez, 30% Touriga Franca, 25% Alicante Bouschet, 5% Touriga Nacional) from five vineyards and represents an evolution from power to finesse.
Torre do Esporão is named for a monumental medieval tower (torre in Portuguese) at Herdade do Esporão in Alentejo’s Reguengos de Monsaraz sub-region. Fruit for the 2017 vintage comes from five individual vineyards. Three are located at Herdade do Esporão: Canto de Zé Cruz, planted to Aragonez in 1980; Rochedo, planted to Touriga Franca in 2005; and Badeco, planted to Touriga Nacional in 1988 (likely the oldest extant Touriga Nacional vineyard in Alentejo). The remaining two vineyards, both sources for Alicante Bouschet, are Palmeiras, planted in 1996 at nearby Herdade dos Perdigões (also in Reguengos de Monsaraz), and the Machuguinho Vineyard, planted in 2003 at Propriedade dos Lavradores in Alentejo’s Portalegre sub-region.
“Torre is when everything goes according to plan. It’s our reason for doing what we do. It’s where we start and where, on rare occasions, we end up. We always need to keep in mind that this is what we want to do, to aim as high as we possibly can, to dream and then to chase after that dream,” said João Roquette, president of Esporão Group.
The 2017 vintage started with a hot, dry spring. Summer temperatures began warm, followed by lower August and September temperatures, resulting in perfect fruit for a concentrated red. All grapes, except the Alicante Bouschet, were trodden underfoot in marble lagares, yielding juice with more color, flavor, and finesse. Final blending took place in May 2019, followed by bottling in July 2019. The tradition of late release gives purchasers the benefit of longer aging in perfect cellar conditions ahead of shipment. The result is a wine that stands out for its character, sophistication, aromatic complexity, subtlety, and density. A wine worth waiting for!
Torre do Esporão 2017 / SRP: $300.00 (750 ml) / $600.00 (1.5 L)
NOW Wine Imports
NOW Wine Imports in Livingston, NJ, is the U.S. import arm established by Portuguese powerhouse Esporão in June 2017. Led by industry veteran Frank Paredes, NOW Wine oversees U.S. distribution and marketing for the entire Esporão portfolio, Herdade do Esporão in Portugal’s Alentejo region, Quinta dos Murças in the Douro, and Quinta do Ameal in northern Portugal’s Vinho Verde DOC.
Esporão Group
One of Portugal’s premier wine companies, with wines sold in 50 countries, Esporão is also an eco-wine tourism pioneer, starting with its namesake Herdade do Esporão property in Alentejo. In 2008, Esporão acquired Quinta dos Murças in the Douro, followed by Quinta do Ameal in Vinho Verde in 2019. Tourism opportunities exist at all three. The portfolio also includes estate-produced olive oils and Sovina Craft Beer. https://www.esporao.com/en/
