Lobo e Falcão Reserva 2024

José Lobo de Vasconcelos’ Lobo e Falcão Reserva is the step-up edition of Lobo e Falcão, one of our consistently best-selling Portuguese pours. Layered with rich, wild-grown berry tones and warming vanilla oak, it takes flavor to even greater heights.

Always well rated, the release is named in honor of José Lobo de Vasconcelos—owner of Quinta do Casal Branco, where the wine is made—and his family’s history as royal falconers to Dom Miguel, Portugal's king from 1828 to 1835. (Lobo means “wolf,” falcão means “falcon.”) It’s crafted by head winemaker Joana Lopes, who blends hand-selected parcels of Alicante Bouschet (prized for its extra red flesh, which imparts extra depth and color), Syrah, Touriga Nacional (star Port grape) and Cabernet Sauvignon from José’s low-yielding, old vines. After fermentation in lagares (open stone tanks traditionally used in Port production), she ages the wine for 12 months in fine French oak barrels.

The result is a complex, well balanced and intensely flavored Reserva. Look for perfumed floral aromas mingling with ripe dark fruit and toasty vanilla oak. Rich wild-grown berry flavors dominate the succulent, balanced palate. Hints of mocha-spice grace the long, smooth finish. Try it with barbecued meats, tomato- and bean-based stews and other hearty dishes.

Today, the estate has a fully modern winery and in 2024, earned a Sustainability Certification from ViniPortugal (the official association of the Portuguese wine industry). They are proudly the first and only winery in Tejo to earn this title, thanks to implementing various "green" approaches. (To name a few: promoting biodiversity in the vineyard, efficient water management, composting for organic fertilization, using renewable energy sources and reuse of materials with a lower carbon footprint.)

The “Wolf and Falcon” may be an unlikely duo in nature, but here they’re proving what savvy wine lovers have known for years: Portugal really is a hot spot for huge flavors and huge value. Don’t miss out on this luxurious taste.