Herdade do Rocim Cabernet Blend

Warm, ripe, savoury. A different angle on the grape — Portugal isn't usually Cab country.

Rocim sits on the Vidigueira fault, the escarpment that divides the Upper and Lower Alentejo. That ridge runs east to west for about 50 kilometres and shelters the vineyards below it. It is why Vidigueira is one of the most temperate corners of a hot region, with Atlantic breezes reaching the estate. The vines grow on a mix of clay loam and sandy soils.

The Vieira family bought the property in 2000 and replanted it almost from scratch. Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez and Trincadeira went in first, with Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon added among the international grapes. Catarina Vieira, the founder's daughter, trained in agronomy. Pedro Ribeiro runs the estate. He studied at UTAD in the Douro and worked a stint at Hardys in Australia.

Open it with roast lamb, grilled steak or a plate of Portuguese sausage. It is a red for a cool evening and a heavy pan.