Pegos Claros Reserva

This is a wonderful red that comes from an historic estate in the region of Palmela, on the Setubal peninsula, immediately south-east of Lisbon.

Made only from the Castelão grape variety this is a dry and structured red that is full on the palate and clean on the finish with delicious red fruit flavours and perfectly integrated oak.

The winery was first established in the 1920s and ran as a cooperative under the dictatorship years of Salazar. Now in private hands it is interesting to see that there is an acknowledgement of heritage and a great sense that what came before is to be cherished.

They still make a Grande Escolha, which by today's standards is an old fashioned version of Portuguese wine-making, but in their hands is broad and dense and structured, but also carried with it the lovely red berry fruits that you get from Castelão when it is handled with care and when the vines are as old as they are here.

It's a great winery and this, its flagship has done a huge amount for the Lisbon wine region.

Featured by Aoife Carrigy in The Irish Independent on Friday, 24th October 2025.