Wine Spectator calls Portugal “the most exciting wine place on the planet”, with its terrific range of native grape varieties and wines that always offer standout value. The rich, mouthfilling Lobo e Falcão fits firmly in that category. It’s made at a 17th century estate owned by the Lobo de Vasconcelos family, once the location of the king’s falconry. Special barrels of wine were kept for the king when he visited. Today, talented winemaker Joana Lopes makes this red specially for us, blending Syrah with Portugal’s exciting native grapes. Previously awarded a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Award, the 2021 has lovely intensity of flavour due to another dry year. Generous wild berry fruit and spice with a velvet texture – a very moreish red.

Today it is famous for breeding Lusitano dressage horses – and, of course, its very fine wine.

Lobo e Falcão Centenário Grande Reserva 2020 comes from José's secret tiny vineyard. It’s his ancient‘illegal’vineyard of 100-year-old – and even older – vines.‘Illegal’because the authorities argue that these old vines should not have the right to the Tejo denomination … simply because the vines are planted amidst equally ancient olive trees. But José refuses to stop making it. One taste will show you why! Just like the old days, the grapes are hand-picked and trodden by foot in the cellar's traditional old‘lagars’(stone troughs). Lavishly dense with velvety black fruits, dark chocolate and spice on a long, sumptuous finish, It’s absolutely spectacular

First we brought you the (far from) standard Lobo e Falcão, with its dense ripe fruit and weight. It went down a storm, so a few years back we also introduced the Reserva edition. The wines are from an historic estate that has been in the same family for over 200 years. In the 17th century, it was the king’s falconry and special barrels of wine were kept aside for royal visits. Today, fourth-generation José Lobo de Vasconcelos (Lobo means wolf) heads up the property, with its expansive vineyards, some of which are over a 100 years old. The cellar remains one of the region’s most innovative, with Joana de Lopes as winemaker. Dark, spicy Syrah along with native varieties and a layer of creamy oak, this is a top choice for slow cooked beef.

Crafted by an award-winning family winery, it hits the spot with its dark, ripe fruit overlaid by spicy oak.