Cabernet Sauvignon
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2029
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted lamb, grilled ribeye steak, aged hard cheeses
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the historic Peninsula de Setúbal, Bacalhôa's Cabernet Sauvignon is deeply tied to the pioneering spirit of the estate, which introduced this classic French variety to Portuguese soils in the 1970s. Grown on the clay-limestone slopes of the Arrábida hills, the vines benefit from a unique microclimate tempered by cool Atlantic breezes. This terroir imparts a distinctive mineral edge and structured elegance to the wine. Historically, the estate itself dates back to the 15th century, once serving as a royal leisure estate, and this sense of heritage is reflected in the wine's classic, age-worthy profile, which is traditionally matured in French oak barrels to develop complex notes of dark berries, cedar, and spice.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1922 under the name João Pires & Filhos, Bacalhôa Vinhos de Portugal has grown into one of Portugal's most significant and pioneering wine enterprises. Modernized in the 1970s and subsequently acquired by arts patron Comendador José Berardo in 1998, the group encompasses historic estates such as Quinta da Bacalhôa, Quinta do Carmo, and Caves Aliança. Spanning roughly 1,200 hectares across the Setúbal Peninsula, Alentejo, Bairrada, Dão, Douro, and Vinho Verde, the group cultivates indigenous and international varieties on diverse terroirs ranging from Setúbal's clay-limestone slopes and sandy maritime soils to Alentejo's schist-strewn plains. Viticulture is practiced sustainably under certifications like the Wines of Alentejo Sustainability Programme (WASP). Led enologically by Francisco Antunes, Bacalhôa balances classical heritage and cellar innovation, renowned for historic benchmark cuvées including the barrel-fermented Catarina, age-worthy Quinta da Bacalhôa Cabernet Sauvignon blends, Quinta do Carmo reds and whites, traditional-method Aliança sparkling wines, and rare, concentrated Moscatel de Setúbal.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon