The 2009 Tinto, with just “Zambujeiro” on the label, is the winery’s flagship. Just a cask sample when tasted, it also blends in 40% Petit Verdot for the first time. It looks simply exceptional. Muscular, yet sweet and fresh, it has superb depth, a lingering finish and the structure to support the fine, fresh fruit. At this point, I’d give an edge to the sensational 2007 – but this is just dripping with potential, and it might well wind up being the best of the group. Drink 2015-2028. The vertical of the flagship estate Tinto just labeled “Zambujeiro” was poured for me at the winery in Alentejo, cementing in my mind the place of this boutique at or near the top of Alentejo’s hierarchy. On any short list compilation for the best wineries in the region, this one has to appear. In this report, no one had better results in the region, although Quinta do Mouro equaled them. The stunning 2007-2009 trilogy of wines – not all released; the 08 and 09 not yet bottled – will be as good a trilogy of wines in these three vintages as exists in the region.Importer: World Wine Headquarters, tel. (800) 485-5753

The 2008 Tinto, with just “Zambujeiro” on the label, is the winery’s flagship. This was a cask sample tasted only at the winery. Perhaps a touch atypical for the winery, it is nonetheless very fine and may be one of the most charming wines Zambujeiro has ever made. It doesn’t have the depth of some of the others, but it has a sunny freshness and a certain mouthwatering succulence on the finish, fine structure and an easy-to-drink, refreshing appeal. It may yet turn out better than even I think at the moment. It is immensely appealing. Drink 2014-2024. The vertical of the flagship estate Tinto just labeled “Zambujeiro” was poured for me at the winery in Alentejo, cementing in my mind the place of this boutique at or near the top of Alentejo’s hierarchy. On any short list compilation for the best wineries in the region, this one has to appear. In this report, no one had better results in the region, although Quinta do Mouro equaled them. The stunning 2007-2009 trilogy of wines – not all released; the 08 and 09 not yet bottled – will be as good a trilogy of wines in these three vintages as exists in the region.Importer: World Wine Headquarters, tel. (800) 485-5753

The 2007 Tinto with just “Zambujeiro” on the label is the winery’s flagship, a blend of Touriga Nacional (44%), Alicante Bouschet (30%) and Aragonez (26%). At least until the 2009 is bottled, and perhaps even after, this seems to be the best wine yet made by this very fine boutique. Simply gorgeous and utterly delicious, it is succulent and cool, with surprising elegance and finesse, fine structure, good balance and nice acidity. This winery has no problem with stunning and delicious, but there is a lot of refinement here, too. It is a wine that still has a lot of potential left to achieve and it kept exploding in the glass, despite having been opened the day before. It has the potential to be brilliant. There were 6,900 bottles made. Drink 2014-2027. The vertical of the flagship estate Tinto just labeled “Zambujeiro” was poured for me at the winery in Alentejo, cementing in my mind the place of this boutique at or near the top of Alentejo’s hierarchy. On any short list compilation for the best wineries in the region, this one has to appear. In this report, no one had better results in the region, although Quinta do Mouro equaled them. The stunning 2007-2009 trilogy of wines – not all released; the 08 and 09 not yet bottled – will be as good a trilogy of wines in these three vintages as exists in the region.Importer: World Wine Headquarters, tel. (800) 485-5753

The 2006 Tinto with just "Zambujeiro" on the label is the winery's flagship, to be released into the USA marketplace in September, 2011. it is a blend of Touriga Nacional (45%), Alicante Bouschet (32%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) and Aragonez (8%), coming in at 15% alcohol. It handles it pretty well, the dominant feature of the wine being the sweet oak at the moment. Seen in bottle for the first time, this has integrated its parts much better. There is a tannic burst on the finish, but some aeration largely rounds the wine off, although it always has a bit of grip and intensity on the finish. It drinks pretty nicely, although I'm not sure it has evolved as well as I might have hoped. It does not have the richness and depth of the best vintages, but in this difficult vintage, it is a pretty nice success. Drink now-2017. Importer: World Wine Headquarters, tel. (800) 485-5753

The 2005 TINTO, the winery’s flagship, is a blend of Alicante Bouschet (49%), Touriga Nacional (34%) and Aragonez from 45 year old vines. There was more Alicante than normal in this year, and it contributes a nice, red fruit nuance on the finish. I tasted this after it had been decanted for several hours in June, 2008, and it was still not clear where it was going. Retasting it in the USA gave me a better idea, as a few months more allowed it to come together. It shows fine depth, adding several layers to the Terra reviewed this issue, those lovely red fruit flavors and a lot of power underneath it all. The balance between mid-palate depth and tannin is quite good, the wine having a relatively refined feel despite its considerable underlying power. This is still not quite ready to drink in my view, although it will be soon. I think it is a step behind the ’03 and ’04, but it is a pretty nice wine in its own right. It will need to continue to evolve positively in the cellar and handle its alcohol well over time. Drink 2010-2017. The price of the flagship Tinto has actually dropped a little—a wise move, considering the economic problems. The Terra, on the other hand, has increased a bit in price, a recognition of the usually high quality of that bottling and also a partial adjustment of the big gap between the two wines. The hot year of 2005 meant an early harvest at Zambujeiro, with fast ripening grapes. The winery reports that the grapes were generally in weeks early.Importer: Truman Wines, Los Angeles, Ca.; tel: (310) 994-9030.