This red's a real easy-drinker. Straight away, you're getting those juicy red and black cherries, a bit of red plum, and some tangy raspberry action - super fresh and lively! The fruit is nicely balanced with a peppery edge, and those silky, delicate tannins just glide along. A solid, easy-drinking Castelão!

Origin: Portugal. Mainly Grown In: All over Portugal, the best examples from from the Setubal peninsula. Key Facts: Castelão is a grape variety that is planted all over Portugal which and lends itself to red, rose and fortified styles of wine. It is a versatile wine in the sense that it ripens well in both warm and cool climates, making it a reliable grape of choice for many winemakers. By far the finest examples come from the Sebutal Peninsula in southern Portugal, where it is often treated as a single varietal wine and, when it is raised in oak, it can make for some very rich, tannic and robust styles of red. It is often blended with two of Portugal’s more famous grape varieties, Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), where it offers deeper colour and body to a blended wine. Fun Fact: Like so many grape varieties in Portugal, Castelão goes by more than one name. Depending on where you are, it may also be called Castelão Frances or Bastardo Castico amongst other names.