WINE & LIFESTYLE REPORT
Portugal
My country, a wonderful place for wine lovers, there is diversity, some tipicity preserved, excellent quality price ratio wines and a spectrum of regions and native grapes to explore.
Below you can find some of the wines tasted for this website.
Below you can find some of the wines tasted for this website.
Bétula 2010 white regional Douro
Tasted September 2011
Grapes - Viognier (50%) and Sauvignon Blanc (50%)
Conclusions (17/20) - Very good quality, medium priced (€12), ready to drink but can improve. All very fresh and zesty, fruity but full of mouthwatering acidity, not conceding to a sweet tooth. I really enjoy its character, a perfect partner for this hot September, drink now to enjoy its pungent youth or keep it 1/2 years to smooth some edges. Love the refreshing aftertaste, it is adaptable to a vast array of gastronomic parings, a the top of my head I can think of oysters and seafood in general.
Note: Sample provided by Quinta do Torgal
Grapes - Viognier (50%) and Sauvignon Blanc (50%)
Conclusions (17/20) - Very good quality, medium priced (€12), ready to drink but can improve. All very fresh and zesty, fruity but full of mouthwatering acidity, not conceding to a sweet tooth. I really enjoy its character, a perfect partner for this hot September, drink now to enjoy its pungent youth or keep it 1/2 years to smooth some edges. Love the refreshing aftertaste, it is adaptable to a vast array of gastronomic parings, a the top of my head I can think of oysters and seafood in general.
Note: Sample provided by Quinta do Torgal
Quinta de Bágeiras Garrafeira 2007 white DOC Bairrada
Tasted August 2011
Grapes - Maria Gomes and Bical
Conclusions (18/20) - Outstanding quality, medium priced (€12), a distinct complex wine that needs time to develop to show its true beauty. Massive structure, very masculine in its strength, almost impenetrable nowadays, should be decanted to open up and mellow a bit. Let it rest in your cellar for at least 10 years, a real Bairrada!
Grapes - Maria Gomes and Bical
Conclusions (18/20) - Outstanding quality, medium priced (€12), a distinct complex wine that needs time to develop to show its true beauty. Massive structure, very masculine in its strength, almost impenetrable nowadays, should be decanted to open up and mellow a bit. Let it rest in your cellar for at least 10 years, a real Bairrada!
Casa de Mouraz Private Selection 2007 DOC Dão
Tasted on May 2010
Conclusions (17/20) - Very good quality, mid-priced wine, perfect for drinking right away, very polished and intensely fruity but also fresh and lively. It could develop a little further but is delivering delicious drink ability at the moment.
Conclusions (17/20) - Very good quality, mid-priced wine, perfect for drinking right away, very polished and intensely fruity but also fresh and lively. It could develop a little further but is delivering delicious drink ability at the moment.
Dona Maria Amantis Reserva 2006 VR Alentejo
Tasted December 2011
Grapes - Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), Syrah (30%), Petit Verdot (30%) and Touriga Nacional (10%)
Conclusion (17/20) - very good quality, medium priced, (15€). A rich and charming character, intensely flavoured, juicy, but full of freshness, tremendous spicy finish with savoury notes. Excellent to drink right away, its in a lovely drinking period really, but will keep for at least 4 years. This wine shows the perfect quality/price ratio for me. You can get a glass of wine that is mellow and harmonious but not at all tedious, in fact its vivacious and has a spicy complexity.
Grapes - Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), Syrah (30%), Petit Verdot (30%) and Touriga Nacional (10%)
Conclusion (17/20) - very good quality, medium priced, (15€). A rich and charming character, intensely flavoured, juicy, but full of freshness, tremendous spicy finish with savoury notes. Excellent to drink right away, its in a lovely drinking period really, but will keep for at least 4 years. This wine shows the perfect quality/price ratio for me. You can get a glass of wine that is mellow and harmonious but not at all tedious, in fact its vivacious and has a spicy complexity.
Cortes de Cima Reserva 2003 Red Regional Alentejo
Tasted August 2011
Grapes - Syrah 42%, Aragonês 39% (Tempranillo) and Touriga Nacional 19%
Conclusions (17,5/20) - Very good quality, premium priced, ready to drink, peeking, no point keeping it further. Showing beautiful tertiary aromas and flavours backed up by ripe vivacious fruit, an endless after-taste, a pleasure to drink. Very focused and so well made.
Grapes - Syrah 42%, Aragonês 39% (Tempranillo) and Touriga Nacional 19%
Conclusions (17,5/20) - Very good quality, premium priced, ready to drink, peeking, no point keeping it further. Showing beautiful tertiary aromas and flavours backed up by ripe vivacious fruit, an endless after-taste, a pleasure to drink. Very focused and so well made.
