Joseph Filippi Winery & Vineyards

Alicante Bouschet is one of three grapes in the world known to have dark skin as well as dark flesh. Often used as a blending grape for its colorful contribution (most red wines have gotten this way through contact or maceration with the color pigments found in the grape skins), this Teinturier is the only one of the trio that is actually vinifera. To get this grape Henri Bouschet crossed a cutting of his father’s Petit Bouschet with Grenache. In Spain it is widely planted and known as Garnacha Tintorera. The grape is high yielding and thrives in warm climates, but its redeeming quality is still typically its color.

Joseph Filippi’s port version, however, brings the grape to new and highly aromatic heights. Bright, saturated ruby to garnet with amber highlights and unctuous in the glass, this fortified wine immediately engages the nose with aromas of fresh baked pastries, chocolate shop, chocolate truffles, mocha, black currant, cherry, Sambuca, pine resin, and molasses. Intense, round and rich, this decadent dessert wine has flavors of forest berry jam, mocha, vanilla, chocolate, and some woodsy notes. The finish is very long.

Reviewed July 24, 2007 by Catherine Fallis.