Júlio B. Bastos Alicante Bouschet is a premium red wine produced by Dona Maria in Portugal’s Alentejo region, made exclusively from the Alicante Bouschet grape variety.

The wine is dedicated to Júlio Bandeira Bastos, father of winemaker Júlio T. Bastos, honoring the family’s long tradition in viticulture.

The grapes come from carefully selected vineyards and are hand-harvested before fermentation takes place in traditional marble lagares with temperature control and gentle extraction. After fermentation, the wine ages for about 14 months in new French oak barrels, allowing it to develop additional structure and complexity.

In the glass it shows an intense, almost opaque ruby color and aromas dominated by ripe dark fruits such as blackberry, plum, and black cherry, complemented by notes of cocoa, spice, and subtle balsamic nuances. On the palate it is rich and concentrated, with a velvety texture, ripe tannins, and balanced acidity.

The flavor profile reveals layers of dark fruit and well-integrated oak, leading to a long and persistent finish. Júlio B.

Bastos Alicante Bouschet is considered one of the notable monovarietal expressions of this grape in Alentejo and shows good potential for aging.