Category Archives: Portugal

Quinto do Vallado, Douro (Portugal) Quinta do Orga Superior 2019

($40, Quintessential Wines):  Although Quinta do Vallado’s non fortified wines may be a relatively new addition to their portfolio, the notable Port-producing Ferreira family has owned the quinta for six generations.  This big red wine, a blend of typical Port grapes of Touriga Nacional (80%), Touriga Franca (18%), and Sousão, display remarkable elegance for its size. Read more

Anselmo Mendes, Monção e Melgaço (Vinho Verde, Portugal) Alvarinho “Muros Antigos” 2019

($15):  Vinho Verde, Portugal’s largest appellation, lies in that country’s northwest corner, bordering Spain.  It’s known for racy high-acid wines.  Some, sadly, provide little more than acidity.  Enter Anselmo Mendes.  His Muros Antigos delivers the mouth-cleansing zippy edge, but in addition there’s a lovely floral quality and an engaging lime-like quality. Read more

Anselmo Mendes, Monção e Melgaço (Vinho Verde, Portugal) “Alvarinho Contacto” 2019

($19):  Monção e Melgaço, one of the nine official sub-regions of Vinho Verde, lies on the southern border of Galicia, the Spanish province that occupies the northwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula.  The Alvarinho grape reigns here.  Mendes is a new wave producer aiming to show what can be done with this grape in this sub-region, announcing his wines with a bottle engraved with the name of sub-region, the grape, as well as his name. Read more

Quinta Casal Monteiro, Tejo (Portugal) Arinto Terra de Touros 2015

($10, Iberian Wine Imports):  Although Portugal is better known for their red wines, their whites have gotten better and better over the last five years and soon could be competing with their reds for serious attention.  Floral and delicate with a refreshing line of acidity in the finish, this light-bodied white would go well with steamed clams or simply grilled white fish.Read more

Surprising Portugal

Although my predictions lack the consistency of Nate Silver’s, I will stick my neck out and say that Portuguese wines will be the next “hot” item in the US wine market even though pronunciation issues may be an impediment.  After spending a week in Portugal judging at the 2016 Concurso Vinhos de Portugal (Wines of Portugal Challenge), tasting a vast array of Portuguese wines (including Port, of course, but also a bevy of hearty reds and refreshing whites) and discussing them with Portuguese winemakers and wine judges from around the world, I came away thinking that Portuguese wines are poised to take-off, much as Italian wines did 30-plus years ago.Read more

Fiuza, do Tejo (Portugal) Alvarinho 2014

($12, Gabriella Wines): In Portugal, Albariño, Spain’s popular aromatic white grape, is Alvarinho.  It’s a little odd to see the grape in the southern part of Portugal — the do Tejo appellation is the area bordering the Tejo, a.k.a. Tagus River not far from Lisbon — because it’s best known as the grape for the mouth-tingling Vinho Verde from Portugal’s north. Read more

Casal Branco, do Tejo (Portugal) “Falcoaria Clássico” 2012

($14, Tri-Vin Imports): Portugal remains a vast, undiscovered country for table (non Port) wines.  Casal Branco’s Falcoaria Clássico is just another example of the value to be found in that part of the Iberian Peninsula.  Casal Branco, a vast 2,700 acre estate with 350 acres of vines, has been in the same family for over 200 years, so it is not exactly a newcomer to winemaking. Read more

Quinta do Noval, Vinho Regional Duriense (Portugal) “Cedro do Noval” 2009

($19, Vintus Wines): Quinta do Noval, one of the world’s greatest Port producers, has been making dry wines from their home in the Douro Valley for about a decade.   They make three levels of dry wines. The first level, Cedro do Noval, named after the famous cedar tree that dominate the terrace at the Quinta do Noval, is a blend primarily of the classical Portuguese varieties with a small amount of Syrah. Read more

Fonseca, Porto (Portugal) 2011

($80, Kobrand Wine & Spirits): At a Kobrand-sponsored tasting of 2011 vintage Ports, tasters would be asking one another which they preferred, Taylor’s or Fonseca’s. What’s amazing to me is how different and distinctive these two Ports are, despite being owned by the same family run company (The Fladgate Partnership, where David Guimaraens is wine director for both houses).… Read more

Taylor Fladgate, Porto (Portugal) 2009

($100, Kobrand Wine & Spirits): Taylor’s 2009 vintage Port is stunningly good.  The 2009 vintage Ports in general are riper because of the warmth of the growing season.  Even with the added power and density, the 2009 Taylor Fladgate retains its hallmark elegance and firm minerality because its vineyards at Quinta de Vargellas, a major source for vintage Port, face north, which means the grapes receive less strong sun. … Read more

Fonseca, Porto (Portugal) 2009

($100, Kobrand Wine & Spirits): Fonseca vintage Ports are typically slightly riper and less taut than Taylor’s because of the location of their major vineyard, Quinta do Panascal.  The difference holds true in 2009, with the Fonseca delivering lots of plumy fruit offset beautifully by exotic spice and firm yet suave tannins. … Read more

Altano, Douro (Portugal) 2008

($10, Vineyard Brands):  Portugal’s Douro River has long been famous for Port.  More and more, dry red table wines are emerging from this area over the last two decades.  This one, from Symington Family Estates, one the hallmark Port producers, is a blend of Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca, grapes used to make Port. … Read more

Altano, Douro (Portugal) 2004

($7, Vineyard Brands): For a couple of decades, Port producers have been investing time and money to produce dry red table (non-fortified) wines from grapes traditionally grown in the Douro Valley, home to Port production.  Their efforts are paying off.  This attractive blend of classic grapes used for Port (Tinto Roriz and Touriga Franca, 40 and 60%, respectively) has produced a succulent, yet spicy, balanced wine.… Read more