Colossal Reserva, Lisboa Tinto

€16.99

This is perhaps not quite as Colossal as it might promise, but I'll tell you what, it's very impressive!

A dense and concentrated nose with loads of overripe black and red fruit leading to spice, chocolate and more dense fruit. The palate is not over-powering but it is smooth, rich and full, with all those flavours promised on the nose delivered on cue.

If you like big, smooth, rich and juicy, ripe, dark red wines, then this is for you. If you don't then you'll definitively think that this wine is Colossal.

It achieves the balance that it possesses because the grapes are grown in Lisboa (the wine region around Lisbon) which is right beside the cooling Atlantic Ocean. It's another wine from the prolific and very successful Casa Santos Lima, who know a thing or two about the wines people like, and, perhaps more importantly, they know precisely how to make those wines.

Look at this...

This wine is aged in American and French oak berrels, like many other wines, but in this case absolutely everything about the winemaking is controlled. This isn't talking pejoratively it is just fact: the fermentation is temperature controlled (which is not very usual for red wines) so that they can have that intense, amazing perfume; the maceration (skin in contact with the juice) is done twice in order to extract as much colour, flavour and phenolics (that's the juicy smoothness) as they can; and after that it spends 8 months in the oak barrels to get all that toasty, chocolatey, sweetness into the bottle. And though they calk it Colossal, the moderate the alcohol so that it is only 14%, which is not that Colossal, considering that there are numerous other 'non-Colossal' red still wines in Portugal that are regularly up at 15% and more.

It's an impressively honest winemaking process...

If you like LAB and have a yearning for something bigger in all departments, then this is right up your alley! It might not be for everyone, but I know there'd be a home for it when I go on holidays...

Region: Lisboa

Country: Portugal

Grape(s): Touriga Nacional, Tinto Roriz, Syrah, Alicante Bouschet

Style: Smooth, Full, Elegant

Best food matches: Wild Boar, Tapas, Steak, Sausages, Roasts, Ribs, Red Meats, Pork, Pizza, Hard Cheeses, Grills, Charcuterie, Beef, Barbecue

Alcohol: 13.5%

Why buy from us?

When you buy wine from The Allotment Wine Co. you're helping a small Irish company that in turn supports small, sustainable wine producers who grow the grapes and make amazing wines. We only work with partners who share a deep respect and connection with the land and its traditions, witnessed in a firm commitment to quality and sustainability. All of which makes for better wines.

Delivery & Returns

You'll get free delivery when you buy 12 x 75cl bottles of wine online from The Allotment, saving you €7.99.

We charge €7.99 per delivery for quantities less than that.

Our hours for processing orders are between 9am - 6pm Monday to Friday.

We pack your online wine order along the following timelines:

Wine orders for delivery in Dublin, received before 12pm on weekdays are prepared so that delivery should be expected the next working day.

Wine orders for nationwide delivery, received by 12pm on weekdays are prepared so that delivery should be expected two working days later.

Customer reviews

★★★★★
Great choice and excellent service. Received my delivery the next day.
Paul H.
★★★★★
Amazing service from the get go!
I emailed Chris looking for wine recommendations for a birthday gift. Got a really speedy, helpful reply and not only that but he hand delivered it on time to the birthday girl wishing her a happy birthday. Absolutely bowled over by the service. Cannot recommend highly enough.
Michelle McM.
★★★★★
Could not recommend The Allotment enough. The selection is fantastic and each wine that I've drank from them has been utterly phenomenal. Delivery was no hassle and I had the wine at my door in 2 days. Couldn't have asked for a better experience.
Luke B.
★★★★★
Good range of interesting wines. Good personal attention to their orders. Very customer focused. I would be happy to recommend this company to any prospective customer.
Jim D.
★★★★★
A great experience ordering from The Allotment Wine Company. A wide variety of wines to try something new and at good prices with super quick delivery! Really convenient too as opposed to trying to find parking!
N. Dowling
★★★★★
Delicious and interesting range of wines delivered promptly to my door. Not far off that lovely feeling of coming back laden from a good wine store but without any of the traffic or the worry of breaking the wine en route (very impressive travel wrap).
M. Dorman
★★★★★
Chris fields a fine range of excellent, keenly-priced wines. Orders are safely packaged and dispatched efficiently and promptly. Strongly recommended.
David M.
★★★★★
Great selection of wines, hassle free ordering, payment and delivery. Highly recommended.
Patrick H.
Hi, I'm Chris Gifford.

And you're very welcome to The Allotment Wine Co.

When you wine from me, you're supporting a small Irish business which in turn supports small, sustainable wine producers, as well as other small, dedicated Irish wine importers.

When selecting wines, I look for partners who share a deep respect and connection with the land and its traditions, witnessed in a firm commitment to quality and sustainability. All of which makes for better wines.