Casal da Coelheira, Private Collection Alicante Bouschet, 2020
Casal da Coelheira, Private Collection Alicante Bouschet, 2020
- 75cl
- 14.5%
- Red Still
- Alicante Bouschet
- Organic
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
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Optimal drinking window: 2026 - 2032
Casal da Coelheira is a family-owned estate located in the Tejo wine region, is recognised for its dedication to quality and innovation. The Private Collection Alicante Bouschet 2020 is a powerful, rich, and expressive wine that captures the intensity of the Alicante Bouschet grape. With deep black fruit flavours, firm tannins, and a long, spicy finish, this wine is perfect for lovers of bold reds.
Pair this full-bodied wine with robust dishes, including grilled or roasted red meats, lamb, game, or braised beef. It also works well with hearty stews, barbecue, or charcuterie. The wine’s bold flavours and structure also complement aged cheeses, such as Manchego or Parmesan.
Right now, in 2026, the wine is in a muscular, primary phase — the fruit is vivid and the tannins are still working themselves out, but there's enough generosity to enjoy it with food. By 2027-2028, we'd expect the structure to soften and secondary complexity — dried fruit, leather, subtle earth — to start emerging more clearly. The plateau is likely around 2028-2030, where fruit and structure will be in their best balance. Beyond 2032, the wine may start to lose freshness and the fruit could dry out, so we wouldn't push patience too far on this one.
Tasting Notes
AppearanceInky, near-opaque deep purple with a tight, youthful rim — exactly what you'd expect from a grape with pigment in its flesh.
NoseConcentrated dark plum, blackberry, and a whisper of dried violets, with warm spice and a hint of dark chocolate underneath. There's a herbal edge — dried thyme and scrub — that lifts it out of simple fruit-forward territory. Oak is present but integrated, adding structure rather than flavour.
PalateFull-bodied and generous, with the kind of ripe, chewy tannins that coat the mouth without catching harshly. Dark fruit dominates — blackcurrant, damson — with a mid-palate warmth from the alcohol and spice that feels appropriate to the vintage rather than excessive. Acidity is moderate, which keeps it open and giving rather than austere.
FinishLong and savoury, with a lingering pulse of dark fruit, dried herbs, and a faint mineral dryness that encourages the next sip.
Overall impressionA serious, full-throttle red that earns its weight through balance — Alicante Bouschet at its most confidently Portuguese.
Food Pairings
In the Tejo and wider Ribatejo tradition, hearty meat dishes are the natural companions to wines like this. Think slow-braised lamb with garlic and rosemary, or a rich caldeirada de borrego — a lamb stew cooked with tomato, peppers, and white wine. Grilled black Iberian pork, served simply with roasted potatoes and pickled vegetables, would be equally at home. Locals might also reach for a wedge of aged Serpa or Évora cheese, the sheep's milk sharpness cutting through the wine's density. A bowl of warming migas — bread fried in pork fat with coriander — alongside would round things out perfectly.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at around 17-18°C — much cooler and the tannins will feel harsh; much warmer and the alcohol starts to dominate. Decanting is strongly recommended: give it at least 45 minutes to an hour, and you'll find the fruit opens up considerably and the spice integrates. A large-bowled Bordeaux-style glass gives the wine room to breathe and lets the nose develop properly.
The Tejo sits inland from Lisbon along the broad Tagus river valley, where the climate is markedly warmer and drier than the Atlantic-influenced coast. Soils in the region tend to be a mix of sandy alluvials closer to the river and heavier clay-limestone further inland, the latter giving wines more grip and structure. The continental heat of the 2020 vintage pushed ripeness high, contributing to the density and concentration that defines this bottling.
Tejo DOC covers a large swathe of central Portugal following the Tagus river eastward from Lisbon toward the Spanish border. It permits a wide range of grape varieties — both Portuguese natives like Castelão and Touriga Nacional, and international ones like Alicante Bouschet and Syrah — which gives producers considerable flexibility in style. Compared to the more structured, mountainous Douro or the prestige of Alentejo to the south, Tejo tends to produce wines that are riper and more immediately approachable, though the best estates are increasingly proving the region's age-worthiness.
The 2020 vintage in Tejo arrived with the sort of drama that keeps winemakers awake at night, then rewards them handsomely for their persistence. After a relatively mild winter, spring brought welcome rainfall that recharged the region's sandy and clay soils, setting the vines up beautifully for the growing season ahead. Summer heat arrived early and stayed longer than usual, concentrating flavours whilst the Atlantic influence still provided enough cooling relief to preserve that crucial freshness we love in Tejo wines.
What emerged from this vintage is a collection of wines with real backbone and personality. The reds, particularly those from Touriga Nacional and Castelão, show impressive concentration without losing their typical Portuguese vibrancy, whilst the whites from Fernão Pires and Arinto display that lovely tension between ripe fruit and mineral precision that makes Tejo such compelling value. Most 2020s are drinking beautifully now, offering immediate pleasure whilst having enough structure to reward those patient enough to cellar them for another three to five years.
FAQs
What does this wine taste like?
Dense and full-bodied, with dark plum, blackberry, warm spice, and a savoury, herbal edge. The tannins are firm and chewy, and the finish is long. It's a big wine, but it's balanced rather than blowsy.
When is the best time to drink this?
It's drinking well now, particularly alongside food, and will continue to develop until around 2030-2032. We wouldn't sit on it much beyond that — this is a wine built for medium-term pleasure, not decades in the cellar.
What food should I pair it with?
Anything with some weight and savouriness: slow-braised lamb, grilled Iberian pork, a rich beef stew, or aged hard cheeses. It's not a wine for delicate dishes — lean into the boldness.
Do I need to decant it?
Yes, and don't skip it. Give this at least 45 minutes to an hour in a decanter before serving. The fruit opens up noticeably and the tannins settle. It makes a real difference.
What makes Alicante Bouschet unusual?
It's one of the very few red grape varieties that has red flesh as well as red skin — most red grapes actually have clear flesh inside. That's why Alicante Bouschet produces wines of such deep colour and concentration. Portugal, particularly the south and centre, has become one of its spiritual homes.
Is this a good wine to give as a gift?
It's a strong choice for anyone who enjoys bold, structured reds — the kind of person who reaches for a Malbec or a Douro blend. The Private Collection label signals quality, and Portuguese wine at this price point consistently punches above its weight.
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