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Boris· @Rafael
Vinícola Thomasi
Linha Arrojo Reserva Edição Limitada Três Castas 2021 & Marselan 2020
NV
3.9
Region
Brazil › Serra do Sudeste › Encruzilhada do Sul
Type
red · still
Grapes
Touriga Nacional, Marselan, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol
13%
Volume
750 mL
Tasting Notes(1)
3.9
Blind, I went Bordeaux or Rioja - not the worst guess once you learn it's Brazilian. Pronounced, intense, with the American oak doing more talking than any single grape: ripe red fruits, coffee, coconut, vanilla, clove, leather. The oak is loud but well put-in, and underneath there's a genuinely good fruit core, lifted by acidity that keeps all that weight from collapsing on itself. Structured, still tight - needs time.
About
Limited edition (1000 bottles) from Vinícola Thomasi, an unusual two-vintage composition.
Blend
- Três Castas, safra 2021 — Merlot (finesse, elegance), Cabernet Sauvignon (structure), Touriga Nacional (aromatics).
- Marselan, safra 2020 — kept separately because 2020 was a standout vintage for Marselan in Encruzilhada do Sul, allowing fuller expression.
Exact percentages aren't disclosed on the label.
Origin
Grapes from Encruzilhada do Sul, in the Serra do Sudeste of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil — one of Brazil's emerging fine-wine zones. Granitic soils, higher altitude than the more famous Serra Gaúcha, drier climate, and a useful diurnal swing favour structured reds and Touriga Nacional in particular.
Vinification & élevage
- 12 months in American oak.
- 13% ABV.
- Contains sulphites (INS 220); gluten-free.
A note on Marselan
A French crossing of Cabernet Sauvignon × Grenache, bred in 1961 near Marseillan (hence the name). It has gained a real foothold in Brazil and China — small berries, deep colour, supple tannins, often a peppery / black-fruit profile. Its inclusion here is what makes the blend distinctive rather than a standard Bordeaux-plus-Touriga formula.