Monte Branco Tinto 2019/2020/2021

Monte Branco tinto 2021 is a prestigious DOC Alentejo wine, made by Adega do Monte Branco in Estremoz, signed by winemaker Luís Louro. It's the winery's top wine, recognised for its great structure, precision and longevity.

The Wine Advocate
RP 94

Reviewed by: Mark Squires

The 2019 Monte Branco Adega do Monte Branco is a blend of 80% Alicante Bouschet and 20% Aragonez, aged for 16 months in 85% new French oak. It comes in at 14.2% alcohol. A little tight around the edges, it still caresses the palate with a velvety texture. The tannins aren't harsh but they're there, keeping the wine a bit reined in all round. At the same time, it's starting to show hints of how exceptional it could become with a little more patience. It's far from inaccessible today, but it will certainly be better around 2025. Perhaps then we'll have a clearer idea of its true potential. It's clearly on the rise — refined, elegant and precise, with expressive fruit.

The Wine Advocate
RP 92

Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez

Tasted alongside the 2021, the 2020 Monte Branco Tinto — the house's flagship namesake red blend — was made with 70% Alicante Bouschet, 20% Aragonez and 10% Trincadeira from the same vineyards planted in 2001 on limestone soils. It fermented in lagar and aged in 300- and 500-litre French oak barrels, 80% new, for a year. It reached 14% alcohol but still keeps good freshness. This wine has a darker colour and profile than the 2021, with slightly drier tannins and a touch more rusticity, though it seems a little more polished. 2,500 bottles were produced. It was bottled in August 2022.

Luis Louro is the son of Miguel Louro of Quinta do Mouro. He founded Adega Monte Branco in 2004 in Estremoz, after two years of buying land, planting and acquiring vineyards. He doesn't use herbicides and pays increasing attention to local grapes. He farms a total of 28 hectares in five plots, all in Estremoz, the oldest planted in 1993.

The Wine Advocate
RP 93

Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez

The namesake 2021 Monte Branco Tinto was made with 70% Alicante Bouschet, 20% Aragonez and 10% Trincadeira from dry-farmed vineyards planted in 2001 on limestone soils at 350 metres. It fermented in lagar with foot-treading and aged for 16 months in 300- and 500-litre French oak barrels, 80% new. It's quite oak-marked, ripe without excess and concentrated, with abundant tannins. It has 13.8% alcohol. It needs time. 4,860 bottles, 370 magnums and 30 double magnums were produced. It was bottled in August 2023.

Luis Louro is the son of Miguel Louro of Quinta do Mouro. He founded Adega Monte Branco in 2004 in Estremoz, after two years spent buying land, planting and acquiring vineyards. He doesn't use herbicides and pays increasing attention to local grapes. He farms a total of 28 hectares across five plots, all in Estremoz, the oldest planted in 1993. Average production is 200,000 bottles a year.

Published: 15 May 2025