I had the honor of tasting this great red wine of Portugal: Já Te Disse Grande Reserva Petit Verdot, from the Alentejo wine region in Portugal.
The wine’s story begins in the Alentejo wine region in Portugal, near Estremoz, a renowned area of great Portuguese wines, with its unique terroir and microclimate.
This is also where the Já Te Disse boutique winery is located. Pedro Patrício, a Portuguese hospital manager, planted a one-hectare vineyard in 2015 after returning from his travel to Burgundy. He chose three grape varieties: Alicante Bouchet, Syrah, and Petit Verdot.
The brand’s name ‘JÁ TE DISSE’ translates to ‘I told you so’. This name refers to a family story whose main figure is a dog. The producer’s grandfather was passionate about hunting, accompanied by his dogs, including a daring mongrel with a split ear. When he showed up at home for the first time with this dog, the grandpa asked Pedro’s mother how he should name him, to which she replied with a mischievous air: JÁ TE DISSE. And so it stayed. Then, whenever someone asked the grandpa what the name of the mongrel was, he replied: JÁ TE DISSE, hiding his smile at what this situation provoked in others: “But what have you said?”
And the wine’s label was designed by Siza Vieira, the greatest architect of all time in Portugal.
This Já Te Disse Grande Reserva wine is a Platinum Edition ONE & ONLY of 877 numbered bottles.
In the words of the producer, “Time is the link between generations. Time is the guiding thread of this unique and unrepeatable wine. Platinum Edition is the legacy we will leave our next generations. And to all the friends who want to celebrate life with us over time. This handcrafted product is a wine of sons, inspired by fathers.”
Pedro highlights that this wine is an ode to life, a tribute to the 75th anniversary of his parents Fernanda and Francisco.
This red wine is 100% of Petit Verdot grape.
Petit Verdot translates close to “little green one,” and this is most likely because this grape is a late-ripening, warm-climate variety. Its defining characteristic is very thick skins, which result in high tannins and deep color in the wines.
This grape adds complexity and depth to wines, making it a standout choice for lovers of robust wines.
Although it originated from Bordeaux, it is also planted in many other warm-climate zones, including Alentejo and Douro in Portugal, where it has gained popularity.
The Petit Verdot grape is rarely produced as a single-varietal wine, however, several producers are making phenomenal Petit Verdot wines. Such as the JÁ TE DISSE winery in the Alentejo.
After the manual harvest in 2021, this wine, aged for 24 months in French oak barrels and then for 12 months in the bottle, stands out for its aging potential and complex array of flavors.
This single-varietal wine is deep, and opaque in color, offering aromas of mostly black fruits, ranging from plum, blackberry, and blueberry to slightly lighter black cherry. Unique and intriguing flavors are herbal and floral notes, such as violet, lilac, sage, and dried herbs. The aging in oak added flavors of vanilla and mocha to the wine. And occasionally, the wine is a bit smoky and rustic.
On the palate, the wine is dry and full-bodied with high tannin, bold fruity flavors and medium-plus acidity. The aging in oak added flavors of vanilla and mocha, as well as a bit of smoky and rustic taste to the wine.
It has a 15% alcohol level.
This wine is suggested to be consumed at a temperature of 16 ºC. It is a good time to drink this wine now, but it has the potential to be stored for many years.
It goes well with lamb stew, barbecue beef, smoked or aged gouda cheese, black olives, Shitake, Truffle, or even a delicious Portuguese stew.
This bold expression of Petit Verdot wines is something that all red wine enthusiasts should have a taste of!
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