At a glance

Producer

Carmen Tavares, Adega Cooperativa de Reguengos de Monsaraz (CARMIM)

Region

Alentejo, Portugal

Grape variety

Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez (Tempranillo), Trincadeira

Wine type

Red

Body

Full-bodied and Smooth

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

€35-€60 (release); €50-€100 (secondary/auction market as of 2024)

Tasting profile

Complex tertiary aromas: dried blackberries, prune, leather, spice box, cedar, earthy undertones.

Evolution: Was dominated by ripe fruit and spice; now more savory, gamey, with dried fruits, espresso, and evolved tannins.

At peak: Expect evolved, soft, savory notes with diminishing but still present fruit and spice as the wine continues to age gracefully.

Structure

Acidity

Medium, enough to balance the fruit and structure

Tannins

Polished, now integrated and fine

Alcohol

Moderate to elevated (~14%)

Aging potential

Excellent for Alentejo region, with moderate longevity for top vintages—18-20 years at best

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2017 to 2024

Optimal window

2014 to 2027

Current status

Drinking well now, at or just past peak

Current condition

At 17 years old, bottles will now be mature but still offer tertiary complexity. Best examples are well-cellared; late cellaring or poor storage may risk faded fruit.

This wine, from top Alentejo cooperative (CARMIM), is built for longevity in better vintages (e.g. 2007). Structure and dense fruit ensured 10-15 years of positive aging; most bottles now show mature flavors and tertiary characteristics, rewarding those seeking complexity but losing primary fruit freshness.

Food pairing

Pair with roast lamb, aged hard cheeses, wild boar stew, or traditional Portuguese Alentejo pork dishes.

Serving

Decant

Not required

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 6/10

CARMIM as a cooperative works with hundreds of growers in the Alentejo. They use some water recycling, increasing solar in modern facilities, and have initiated sustainability projects but do not apply comprehensive organic/biodynamic methods across all vineyards. Packaging is standard glass; not lightweight or recycled for this label.

Reguengos Garrafeira dos Sócios Tinto is made by a major Alentejo cooperative (CARMIM) sourcing from a vast network of growers. The producer has shown incremental improvements in water/energy use, but the absence of formal certifications, standard heavy packaging, and extended supply chain suggest only moderate sustainability. Improvements may have increased post-2015, but this older 2007 vintage reflects minimal sustainability focus relative to newer standards.