Tom Cannavan s. Monday 6th June - The Portuguese Ambassador s Residence*, London Wednesday 8th June - The Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh

Transcription

1 Tom Cannavan s Monday 6th June - The Portuguese Ambassador s Residence*, London Wednesday 8th June - The Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh P1

2 Choosing the 50 Great wines for 2010 was both a huge challenge, and an enormous pleasure. In six visits to Portugal between July 2010 and February 2011 I visited dozens of estates and tasted over 1000 wines. So narrowing down that 1000 to just 50 was a bewildering, difficult and at times exasperating task! I set some ground-rules for myself: one was to find examples of both the best traditional and original styles to include. I focused on wines from indigenous grapes, but did not to exclude blends or even varietal wines from international grapes if I felt they deserved their place. I also decided that I would include a maximum of one wine from any producer (even though there were often two or three wines in a range that were contenders), and that I would try to cover the gamut of table wine styles and regions that Portugal has to offer. Two final considerations applied: one was that I had to steel myself to disappoint some of the brilliant and charming producers that hosted me on my trips to Portugal, and that I had to ignore the weight of history on my shoulders: I am the sixth person to hold the title of Wine Journalist of the Year, so 300 Great wines have already been named by my predecessors. I have included as many new wines as possible, but you will find a few wines here which have featured before in earlier vintages. A great wine is a great wine is a great wine. Remember this list is my declaration of 50 Portuguese wines that I think are great. It is not a list of the 50 best wines in Portugal. Inevitably people will say But how could he include X and not Y? but that would entirely miss the point: Portugal has many more than 50 great wines, but this 50 is the selection that I wanted to put my name to, and wanted my colleagues and friends to taste for a whole variety of reasons. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed the process - and the chance to meet so many of the wonderful characters that help make Portugal the fascinating wine country that it is. * by kind permission of the Ambassador of Portugal, Mr. João de Vallera P3

3 DOC do Tejo IGP Terras do Dão

4 01 Julia Kemper Reserva, 2009 (W) Julia Kemper Region: Dão UK Importer: Looking for UK Representation Production (number of cases): 1233 Winemaker: Vines & Wines Address: Quinta do Cruzeiro, Oliveira Mangualde Contact: Júlia de Melo Kemper Phone: Website: Organically farmed, this is fresh, fragrant and open, with some passionfruit and elderflower lift and pungency and a nutty element to the fat lemon fruit beneath. On the palate this has deliciously forceful fruit that is herbal, but ripe: it has a Sauvignon Blanc-like vegatility mixed with tropical fruit sweetness and displays masses of flavour. Big, powerful, but in the end, gracious. P04

5 02 Casa de Mouraz, 2009 (W) António Lopes Ribeiro Wines, Lda (CASA de MOURAZ) Region: Dão Production: 2500 Winemaker: Vines & Wines Guide Retail Price: Address: R. do Outeiro, 111 Mouraz, Tondela Contact: Sara Dionísio Phone: Website: UK Importer: Raymond Reynolds Ltd Address: Calico Lane Furness Vale, High Peak SK23 7SW Contact: Raymond Reynolds and Danny Cameron Phone: Website: Certified organic and grown biodynamically. Emerald green hue, fresh lemon and pear skin fruit. Fantastic intensity and punch on the palate, with real mineral streak and some skin contact giving grip. Orangy, bright with lovely tang and vibrancy, that gripping concentration of the fruit offset by ripeness so it does not lose charm. P05

6 03 Castrus, 2009 (W) Quintas de Melgaço - Agricultura e Turismo, S.A. Region: Vinho Verde UK Importer: Looking for UK Representation Production: 850 Winemaker: Jorge Sousa Pinto Address: Ferreiros de Cima, Alvaredo Melgaço Contact: Pedro Soares quintasdemelgaco@sapo.pt Phone: Fax: Website: Very rich, ripe quality, notes of buttered cabbage and quite exotic fruit, but all with a fine, nervy twist of dill-like herbs and minerals. The palate has a slightly oxidised, bruised fruit quality that I find Chenin like, with lots of layered personality and a big, dry, phenolic but balanced finish. P06

7 04 Alvarinho Dorado Superior, 2008 (W) Quinta do Feital Region: Vinho Verde Production: 1250 Winemaker: Marcial Dorado Guide Retail Price: Address: Lugar da Portela, Paderne, Melgaço Contact: Marcial Dorado Phone: Fax: Website: UK Importer: Indigo Wine Address: 7 Beverstone Road, London SW2 5AL Contact: Ben Henshaw ben@indigowine.com Phone: Website: A singular take on Vinho Verde from Galician winemaker Marcial Dorado. It spends one year in tank with lees, and qualifies as a Natural Wine, organically farmed, very low levels of sulphur and all natural yeasts. Powerful, leesy, oxidative nose showing lots of stony minerality. This is intense, with concentrated green apple fruit, lots of structure and acidity gripping the finish. P07

8 05 Arenae Colares Malvasia, 2006 (W) Adega Regional de Colares, C.R.L. Region: Colares UK Importer: Looking for UK Representation Production: 600 Winemaker: Francisco Homem De Figueiredo Address: Al. Cor. Linhares de Lima, Colares Contact: Francisco Homem de Figueiredo Phone: Fax: Website: From vines planted on their own roots in Phyloxerra free sand dunes. The nose is all hay, straw and underripe apple fruit, a really intriguing panoply of unexpected aromas. On the palate this is bone dry with pithy grapefruit, a salty tang of minerality and an ozone freshness. Singular, bone-dry stuff, out Muscadeting Muscadet. P08

9 06 Nossa, 2009 (W) Vinhos Doidos - Filipa Pato Region: Beiras Production: 2000 Bottles and 100 Magnums Winemaker: Filipa Pato Guide Retail Price: Address: Rua da Quinta Nova, Ribeiro da Gandara - Anadia Contact: William Wouters filipa@filipapato.net Phone: Fax: Website: UK Importer: Clark Foyster Wines Ltd Address: 15 South Ealing Road, London W5 4QT Contact: Lance Foyster lance@cfwines.co.uk Phone: Website: From chalky and clay soils, this has a toastiness on the nose with notes of sesame seeds and honey over nutty apple and pear. Elegant and fresh on the palate, the oak influence is layered over the pristine, cool fruit at this stage, but that will settle down. Beneath, this is shimmering, taut and mineral, with mouth watering nerve and considerable length. P09

10 07 Palpite, 2008 (W) Fita Preta Region: Alentejo UK Importer: Looking for UK Representation Production: 350 Cases Annually Winemaker: António Maçanita And David Booth Address: Tapada da Ajuda n.º 84 1ºD, Inovisa - I.S.A Lisbon Contact: David Booth dbooth@fitapreta.com Phone: Website: Refined oak just adding honey and cashew qualities to pristine melon and orchard fruit, hinting at more tropical notes. The palate is beautifully balanced, with lemon fruit and a cleansing apple and citrus acidity. This wine is all about elegance and restrained power, that nutty finish the only trace of the wellintegrated oak. P10

11 08 Herdade dos Grous Reserva, 2010 (W) Herdade dos Grous Region: Alentejo Production: 1660 Winemaker: Luis Duarte / Pedro Ribeiro Guide Retail Price: Address: Herdade dos Grous, Albernoa Contact: Luis Duarte / Pedro Ribeiro luis.duarte@herdadedosgrous.pt pedro.ribeiro@herdadedosgrous.pt Phone: Fax: Website: UK Importer: Enotria Winecellars Ltd Address: 4-8 Chandos Park Estate, Chandos Road, London NW10 6NF Contact: Daniel Hart d.hart@enotria.co.uk Plenty of spice and honey, lots of cashew nut richness beneath lemony fruit with just a hint of the peachy, tropical quality of the Viognier. The palate has weight and texture, lots of tropical fruit and very good freshness in the finish too. Loaded with flavour and vividly orangy acidity in the finish. P11

12 09 Private Selection, 2009 (W) Esporão Wines & Olive Oils Region: Alentejo Production: 25,000 Winemaker: David Baverstock Guide Retail Price: Address: Avenida do Restelo, 44 Lisbon Contact: Pedro Vieira Phone: Fax: Website: UK Importer: Charles Hawkins and Partners Ltd Address: The Offices, Glaston Road, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9EU Contact: Charles Hawkins & Lyn Lane Phone: Website: Beautifully toasty nose of buttered toast and lime, little floral glimpses. The palate has fabulous texture, with masses of lemon marmalade flavour and the oak just disappearing into the weight and texture of the fruit. Deliciously focused and layered. P12

13 10 Quinta dos Carvalhais Colheita Seleccionada, 2006 (W) Sogrape Vinhos Region: Dão Production: 2000 Winemaker: Manuel Vieira Guide Retail Price: Address: Aldeia Nova - Avintes Contact: Bernardo Carvalho bernardo.carvalho@sogrape.pt Phone: Website: UK Importer: Stevens Garnier Ltd Address: 47 West Way Oxford, Oxfordshire OX2 0JF Contact: Johnny Powell and James Forbes James.forbes@stevensgarnier.co.uk Phone: Website: A real speciality from the giant Sogrape company, aged four years in oak. Filled with custard and nutty aromas, with white fruit concentration beneath. The palate has that creamy textured richness from the oak and lees ageing, but what a delightful marzipan sweetness of the oak, ripe fruit and almondy flavours beneath. On the palate the waxy weight of the wine is cut by vivacious tangerine acidity. P13

14 11 Alves de Sousa Reserva Pessoal, 2005 (W) Domingos Alves de Sousa Region: Douro Production: 750 x 3 Bottles Winemaker: Tiago Alves De Sousa / Anselmo Mendes Address: Quinta da Gaivosa, Sata Marta de Penaguião Contact: Tiago Alves De Sousa Info@alvesdesousa.com Phone: Fax: Website: UK Importer: Top Selection Address: 16 Conduit Street, London, W1S 2XL Contact: Jean-Pierre Rabaste jeanpierrerabaste@topselection.co.uk Phone: Website: From a 70-year-old vineyard, picked late. The nose has massive creaminess and has a marzipan element to it with leesy pear skins, a touch of herbs and real purity despite the bruised fruit oxidation. Fantastic mouth-feel with tannins giving grip and spice and the smoothness of the sweet fruit flowing through. Decant and serve not too cold. P14

15 12 Quinta Sant ana Riesling, 2009 (W) Quinta de Sant Ana Region: Lisboa Production: 440 Winemaker: António Maçanita Guide Retail Price: 9.50 Address: Quinta de Sant Ana, Gradil Contact: James Frost Phone: Website: UK Importer: Oakley Wine Agencies Address: 26 Hythe Quay, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JB Contact: Nick Oakley Phone: Website: Lifted, waxy, delicately paraffin character and cool Asian pear fruit on the nose. A fantastically fresh palate with a big burst of fresh-squeezed lemon and lime, a nice parsley-like herby influence and cool, shimmering length. The pithy grapefruit dryness of the finish is mouth-watering. Riesling with genuine character and style. P15

16 13 Valle Pradinhos, 2009 (W) Valle Pradinhos - Est Region: Tras-os-Montes UK Importer: Looking for UK Representation Production (number of cases): 2500 Winemaker: Rui Cunha Address: Est. Ext. da Circunvalacao 15842, Matosinhos, Portugal Contact: João Tamagnini Belo sales@vallepradinhos.pt Phone: Website: There s an exotic, smoky and spicy character with some herb and nettle beneath, and then some of Malvasia s breadth begins to underpin. On the palate nectarine juiciness is layered with a smoky, mineral note, giving an intriguing combination of juicy sweetness and decisive clarity to the acidity. That herb and mineral note pushes though. P16

17 14 Vinhas da Ira, 2006 (R) Henrique Uva /Herdade da Mingorra Region: Alentejo Production: 8000 Winemaker: Pedro Hipólito Guide Retail Price: Address: Herdade da Mingorra, , Beja Contact: Sofia Uva / Phone: Fax: Website: UK Importer: Castas Address: 23 Peregrine Walk, Hornchurch, Essex RM12 5EZ Contact: Anthony Parker Phone: Website: Wonderfully exotic nose, where a hugely floral and herby perfume includes notes of sage and dill, with a bright raspberry top-note to much darker, more chocolaty fruit and oak. On the palate this has huge presence too: there s a sweet, fleshy fruit concentration, but tight, sinewy tannins and keen acidity pushing it through the mid-palate. P17

18 15 Quinta Dona Maria Reserva, 2006 (R) Dona Maria - Julio Bastos Region: Alentejo UK Importer: Looking for UK Representation Production (number of cases): 3700 Winemaker: Julio Bastos and Sandra Gonçalves Address: Quinta do Carmo Estremoz Contact: Isabel Bastos ibastos@donamaria.pt Phone: Fax: Website: Absolutely beautiful fruit on the nose, the sweet, elegantly minty blackcurrant soaring from the glass. A jammy ripeness, but such supple, lightly cedary and smoky elegance too. Deliciously drinkable, with plenty of tannin and biting acidity, but the sweetness and creaminess of the fruit overcomes it. International in style perhaps, but beguiling. P18

19 16 Pera Manca, 2007 (R) Adega Cartuxa - Fundação Eugénio de Almeida Region: Alentejo Production: 32,000 Bottles Winemaker: Pedro Baptista Guide Retail Price: Address: Páteo de S. Miguel Apartado Évora Contact: Gabriela Fialho gabriela.fialho@fea.pt Phone: Website: UK Importer: Atlântico (UK) Ltd Address: Unit 10, Commerce Park Commerce Way, Croydon, London CR0 4ZS Contact: Jose Cruz jose.cruz@atlantico.co.uk Phone: Website: A sense of tight composure, a blue-black fruit intensity, developing a little floral and cedary character. The fruit is beautifully focused, with tightly-wound, liquorice depth, spice and espresso darkness melding soulfully with the rich black fruit. Needs several years to unwind and loosen up, but pretty magical stuff. P19

20 17 Terrenus Reserva, 2007 (R) Rui Reguinga Enologia, Lda Region: Alentejo Production (number of cases): 580 Winemaker: Rui Reguinga Guide Retail Price: Address: Travessa do Calvário, nº26, Almeirim Contact: Rui Reguinga Phone: Website: UK Importer: The Wine Society Address: Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 2BT Contact: Jo Locke Phone: Website: A barrel selection from two of the best vineyards, this has a sweet balsamic nose, but subtly layered with something wild and herbal, a touch of mint leaf and caraway. Sophisticated, lean, sinewy palate but the tannins are so elegant and gently effective, not detracting from those balsamic and garrigue notes. P20

21 18 Scala Coelli, 2007 (R) Adega Cartuxa - Fundação Eugénio de Almeida Region: Alentejo Production: 8300 Bottles Winemaker: Pedro Baptista Guide Retail Price: Address: Páteo de S. Miguel Apartado Évora Contact: Gabriela Fialho gabriela.fialho@fea.pt Phone: Website: UK Importer: Atlântico (UK) Ltd Address: Unit 10, Commerce Park Commerce Way, Croydon, London CR0 4ZS Contact: Jose Cruz jose.cruz@atlantico.co.uk Phone: Website: Big, meaty, minty nose, with huge cassis ripeness and fragrant, spicy edges too. It has fine sweetness and ripeness on the palate, with solid black fruit that has a cassis note, and the meaty depth playing against massive tannins and plenty of plum skin roughening grip. Long and fabulously focused. P21

22 19 Mouchão, 2006 (R) Herdade do Mouchão Region: Alentejo Production: 3000 Winemaker: Paulo Laureano Guide Retail Price: Address: Herdade Do Mouchão, Casa Branca, Portugal Contact: Karyn Rebello De Andrade Phone: Website: UK Importer: Forth Wines Address: Crawford Place, Milnathort, Kinross-shire KY13 9XF Contact: Lee Barrie Phone: Website: wwww.forthwines.com Absolutely delicious fruit, with sweet, enveloping chocolate tones, the smoky and gamey notes of the Alicante Bouschet playing against hints of herbal character. The palate has real structure: gentle extraction that has plenty of fleshy substance, but sweet, generous and well balanced, suggesting real longevity too. P22

23 20 Solar dos Lobos Grande Escolha, 2008 (R) Solar dos Lobos Region: Alentejo Production: 3500 Cases of 3 Bottles Winemaker: Susana Esteban Guide Retail Price: Address: Estrada Do Bairro De Almeirm, Antiga Fabrica Das Carnes, Évora, Portugal Contact: Filipa Lobo Da Silveira filipalobodasilveira@lobodasilveira.com Phone: Website: UK Importer: Ince Wines Address: 15 Holland Gardens, Kew Bridge Road, Middlesex TW8 0BE Contact: Judith and Antonio Cunha sales@incewines.co.uk Hugely intense, with a blood-streaked concentration of red fruits, the violetty lift and graphite minerality just easing the impression of impenetrability. On the palate this is serious, chewy stuff. There s a big, dry, savoury backbone of extraction with plum skin bite to the tannins but on the finish the purity of the fruit - and its concentration - is fantastic. P23

24 21 Marias da Malhadinha, 2007 (R) Herdade da Malhadinha Nova Region: Alentejo Production: 6200 Winemaker: Luis Duarte And Rui Lopes Guide Retail Price: Address: Albernoa, Beja, Portugal Contact: Rita Soares Phone: Fax: Website: UK Importer: Raymond Reynolds Ltd Address: Calico Lane, Furness Vale, High Peak SK23 7SW Contact: Raymond Reynolds and Danny Cameron info@raymondreynolds.co.uk From the best lots that go into the regular Malhadinha cuvée. Big, creamy, ripe cassis fruit but also has a cedar and incense complexity and the light gamy, earthy notes are deliciously complex. The palate has rich, thick, sweet fruit with creamy density, the tannins chocolaty and the finish spicy yet elegant too. P24

25 22 Quinta do Francês, 2008 (R) Quinta do Francês Estate Family Region: Algarve Production: 1300 Winemaker: Claudia Favinha And Patrick Agostini Guide Retail Price: Address: Sítio Da Dobra Odelouca Cx P 862H Silves Portugal Contact: Patrick Agostini info@quintadofrances.com Phone: Fax: Website: UK Importer: Enotria Winecellars Ltd Address: 4-8 Chandos Park Estate, Chandos Road, London NW10 6NF Contact: Daniel Hart d.hart@enotria.co.uk Phone: Website: From schist slopes, this is bold and sinewy, with vine fruits and lots of chocolate-edged, plum and cassis. There s a pencil-shaving quality of French oak layered nicely on top. The palate has delicious sweetness and ripeness, the mouth-filling espresso and cassis ripeness set against the creamy texture and silky tannin. International, but terrific. P25

26 23 BTT, 2009 (R) Luís Pato Region: Beiras Production: 433 Cases / 6 Bottles Winemaker: Luís Pato Guide Retail Price: Address: Rua de Santo André, 39 geral@luispato.com Contact: Luís Pato Phone: Fax: Website: UK Importer: Raymond Reynolds Ltd Address: Calico Lane, Furness Vale, High Peak SK23 7SW Contact: Raymond Reynolds and Danny Cameron info@raymondreynolds.co.uk Hugely deep coffee and almost minty, menthol nose. A certain wild gaminess, and plenty of complex, lifted aromatics to entice. The palate has an almost Beaujolais sappiness, with that earthy, green-tinged quality to the black fruits, but such a lovely sense of freshness too. Juicy and vital, with glimpses of smoky, meaty depth. P26

27 24 Quinta das Bageiras Garrafeira, 2001 (R) Quinta das Bagueiras Region: Bairrada UK Importer: Looking for UK Representation Production: 3200 Bottles Winemaker: Rui Moura Alves Address: Fogueira Sangalhos Contact: Mário Sérgio Alves Nuno Phone: Fax: Slightly closed at first, the black fruits and some supporting older oak add a little more giving roundness. There s meatiness too. The palate bursts into life, with really sweet, punchy fruit that has a fleshy, creamy density. Touches of spice and liquorice from grainy but fine tannins and very good acidity. Fleshy, charming intensity of old vines. P27

28 25 Quinta dos Termos Selecção, 2007 (R) Quinta dos Termos, Lda Region: Beira Interior UK Importer: Looking for UK Representation Production: 1200 Cases / 7220 Bottles Winemaker: Virgílio Loureiro Address: Carvalhal Formoso, Belmonte, Portugal Contact: João Carvalho quintadostermos@mail.telepac.pt Phone: Fax: Wonderfully inky, vinous nose, extremely muscular and sinewy with such solid black fruit, but edged with touches of kirsch and violet. There s a little coffee and game adding yet another layer. Delicious palate, the pin-point accuracy of the fruit continues, with tight, glossy depth and that edge of muscular, tight tannin. Long through precision, not brute force. P28

29 26 Quinta dos Roques Touriga Nacional, 2008 (R) Quinta Dos Roques, Lda. Region: Dão Production: 420 Cases / 12 Bottles Winemaker: Rui Reguinga Guide Retail Price: Address: Rua Direita, 12m, Abrunhosa do Mato Cunha, Baixa Contact: Luís Lourenço info@quintaroques.pt Phone: Fax: Website: UK Importer: Raymond Reynolds Ltd Address: Calico Lane, Furness Vale, High Peak SK23 7SW Contact: Raymond Reynolds and Danny Cameron info@raymondreynolds.co.uk In a rainy vintage, yields were reduced and the selection at the winery was ruthless. Meaty, chunky nose, with lots of fleshy fruit and just glimpses of kirsch and cherry brightness. The palate has a fleshy smoothness, it has a fine edges of acidity and very good tannin that is ripe and supple. The oak adds some coffee and spice. P29

30 27 Quinta de Lemos White Label, 2007 (R) Quinta de Lemos, S.A. Region: Dão UK Importer: Looking for UK Representation Production: 6000 Bottles Winemaker: Quinta De Lemos Address: Apartado 14, Passos de Silgueiros, Viseu, Portugal Contact: Hugo Chaves Phone: Fax: Website: Graphite and mineral charcter, with tight, glossy black fruit and those little floral highlights. The palate has lovely freshness, with juicy cherry and plum skin bite to the acidity. This is deliciously poised between juicy fruit sweetness and fleshy approachability, and that more brooding, tightly wound muscular concentration. P30

31 28 Munda Touriga Nacional, 2008 (R) Fontes Da Cunha S.A Region: Dão UK Importer: Looking for UK Representation Production: 1300 Winemaker: Francisco Olazabal and Joana Cunha Address: Quinta Do Mondego, Estrada Do Mondego, Caldas Da Felgueira, Nelas Contact: Joana Cunha Phone: Fax: Website: Very nice nose here, with lots of spices and floral notes singing out, the Parma violet sweetness of the fruit is lovely. On the palate that purity and sweetness is compelling, the racy acidity and tannins just coaxing it along as the juiciness and bursting freshness of the fruit floods across the tongue. Expressive and vibrant. P31

32 29 Quinta da Falorca Lagar Reserva, 2004 (R) Quinta da Falorca Region: Dão Production: 3355 Winemaker: Carlos Figueiredo / Pedro Figueiredo Guide Retail Price: Address: Pindelo de Silgueiros Silgueiros Contact: Pedro Figueiredo / Mário Ferreira qve@qve.pt Phone: Fax: Website: UK Importer: armit Address: 5 Royalty Studios, 105 Lancaster Road, London W11 1QF Contact: Lucy Marcuson lmarcuson@armit.co.uk Phone: Website: Expressive, deep, almost eucalyptus top note. Juicy cassis and mint, and a charry background. The palate has impressive ripeness too, with smooth, creamy tannins, a bit of plummy black fruit and the cappuccino silkiness of the oak adding another svelte dimension. Blackcurrant pastille fruit stays pert and focused into a precise finish. P32

33 30 Cabriz Reserva, 2008 (R) Dão Sul - Soc. Vitivinícola S.A. Region: Dão Production: 110,000 Bottles / 18,330 Cases Winemaker: Carlos Lucas Guide Retail Price: Address: Apartado Carregal do Sal Contact: José Roseiro joseroseiro@daosul.com Phone: Fax: Website: UK Importer: Clark Foyster Wines Ltd C Lance Foyster / E: lance@cfwines.co.uk P: / W: UK Importer: Atlântico (UK) Ltd C: Jose Cruz / E: jose.cruz@atlantico.co.uk P: / W: Hints of fudge and tobacco join the solid, plummy fruit, but little lifted floral notes are still discernable. On the palate it is a voluptuous wine, the curvy richness of the sweet, ripe, fleshy black fruit and the smooth elegance of the tannins and acidity layered with coffee and chocolate from the barrels, but not at the expense of clarity. P33

34 31 Quinta do Corujão Reserva, 2007 (R) Quinta do Corujão Region: Dão Production (number of cases): 6000 Winemaker: Pedro Pereira Guide Retail Price: Address: Rio Torto Contact: Gonçalo Vicente Phone: Website: UK Importer: Ince Wines Address: 15 Holland Gardens, Kew Bridge Road, Middlesex TW8 0BE Contact: Judith and Antonio Cunha This is the epitome of savoury, meaty, dark and muscular red wine with a sinewy density to the aromas, just offering glimpses of bacon fat and earth, and savoury fruit. On the palate it has real presence and structure, the taut, smoky minerality and tightly-wound tannins softened by some cherry fruit and sour lemon freshness. P34

35 32 Meruge, 2008 (R) Lavradores de Feitoria Region: Douro Winemaker: Paulo Ruão Guide Retail Price: Address: Zona Industrial de Sabrosa, Lote 5 - Paços Sabrosa Contact: Olga Martins lavradores@lavradoresdefeitoria.pt Phone: Website: UK Importer: Raymond Reynolds Ltd Address: Calico Lane, Furness Vale, High Peak SK23 7SW Contact: Raymond Reynolds and Danny Cameron info@raymondreynolds.co.uk Hints of green, slightly less ripe aromatics and smoky, earthy, mineral edge to the fruit. Sultry, soft strawberry and redcurrant softness, plus silky, coffee bean oak and sweet, supple tannins add polish. Utterly charming and appealing, with very soft extraction in a Burgundian style. Lovely freshness and acidity. P35

36 33 Adelaide, 2008 (R) Quinta do Vallado Region: Douro Production: 466 Winemaker: Francisco Olazabal Guide Retail Price: Address: Vilarinho dos Freires, , Peso da Régua, Portugal Contact: João Ferreira Àlvares Ribeiro Phone: Fax: Website: UK Importer: Bibendum Wine Ltd Address: 13 Regents Park Road, London NW1 8UR Contact: James Mackenzie Phone: Website: A fragrant elegance to the obvious concentration of black fruit here. Very sweetly focused, the coffee bean and cassis fruit packed into the mid palate. Huge, impressive length, the tannins super silky and naturally concentrated. P36

37 34 Poeira, 2008 (R) Quinta do Poeira Region: Douro Production: 2300 Winemaker: Jorge Moreira Guide Retail Price: Address: Quinta do Poeira, Provesende Sabrosa Contact: Jorge Moreira / Olga Martins poeira@poeira.pt Phone: Website: UK Importer: Fields, Morris & Verdin Ltd Address: Unit Southbank Business Centre Ponton Road, London SW8 5BL Contact: Lenka Sedlackova lenka.sedlackova@fmvwines.com Phone: Website: Big, bloody, meaty and gamy nose with delightful depth and presence. This has strawberry fruitiness, with that briary, undergrowth quality and excellent management of the dry extract, with racy, grippy tannins, savoury acidity, but the sweetness of the fruit and fine oak giving a seamless harmony and great length. P37

38 35 Batuta, 2008 (R) Niepoort (Vinhos) S.A Region: Douro Production: 2530 Winemaker: Dirk Niepoort/Luis Seabra Guide Retail Price: Address: Rua Cândido dos Reis, 670, Vila Nova de Gaia Contact: Verena Niepoort Phone: Fax: Website: UK Importer: Raymond Reynolds Ltd Address: Calico Lane, Furness Vale, High Peak SK23 7SW Contact: Raymond Reynolds and Danny Cameron From north-facing vineyards. Very cedary, with dried herbs and lots of fragrant spice. Cherry fruit and a little blackberry roundness. The palate has beautiful juiciness, the creaminess and soft toastiness melding into a slick of black plum and cherry juiciness. Unforced purity, with supple fruit and a dry, savoury finish. P38

39 36 Chryseia, 2008 (R) Prats & Symington, Lda. Region: Douro Production: 2828 cases of 12 Winemaker: Bruno Prats / Charles Symington Guide Retail Price: Address: Travessa Barao de Forrester, , Vila Nova de Gaia Contact: Joao Vasconcelos jmv@symington.com Phone: Website: UK Importer: John E Fells & Sons Ltd Address: Fells House, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire HP4 3EZ Contact: Mark Symonds ms@fells.co.uk Phone: Website: Fragrant nose, with Sandalwood scents in the background, fresh red and black fruits to the fore. A glint of that schisty, stony minerality too. The palate has lovely fruit and great finesse: there s no meatiness or earthiness to this wine, no sense of more baked quality. The fruit is creamy and slicked with vanilla, but has lovely clarity and purity. Plush, but beautifully pitched. P39

40 37 Quinta do Portal Touriga Nacional, 2009 (R) Sociedade Quinta do Portal, S.A. Region: Douro Production: 2874 Bottles Winemaker: Paulo Coutinho Guide Retail Price: Address: Praça Francisco Sá Carneiro, 293-1º Esq Porto Contact: Dr. Pedro Branco Phone: Fax: Website: UK Importer: Charles Hawkins & Partners Ltd Address: The Offices, Glaston Road, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9EU Contact: Charles Hawkins and Lyn Lane Phone: Website: Big, fragrant, almost overwhelming nose with buoyant aromas suggesting violet and almost lily-like lift, lots of balsamic touches, graphite and orange oil, clove spiciness. The palate has delicious fruit too: burst forward with a ripe, juicy, cherry and more plummy quality, the cedary oak adding a gentle toast and chocolate. P40

41 38 Quinta do Noval, 2008 (R) Quinta do Noval Region: Douro Production: 1600 Winemaker: António Agrellos Guide Retail Price: Address: Avenida Diogo Leite Vila Nova de Gaia Contact: Rute Monteiro Phone: Fax: Website: UK Importer: Gonzalez Byass UK Ltd Address: The Hyde, Woodcock Hill, Coopers Green Lane, St Albans, Herts AL4 9HJ Contact: Sarah Pollard Phone: Website: Tightly wound on the nose, with lots of herbal character and a certain sinewy density to the fruit. There s plenty of oak here, but the fruit on the palate has the substance to handle it, a lovely dry extract coating the palate and a real core of juiciness that helps define and pull the finish through to a lovely point. P41

42 39 Quinta da Romaneira Reserva, 2008 (R) Sociedade Agrícola da Romaneira Region: Douro Production: 2400 Winemaker: Antonio Agrellos Guide Retail Price: Address: Po Box 18, 5085 Pinhão Contact: Joel Fonseca Tibério UK Importer: Liberty Wines Ltd Address: Unit D18, The Food Market New Covent Garden, London SW8 5LL Contact: Emily MacDonald Phone: Website: Crushed violet lift to this, as well as lots of cedar in an aromatic profile where the fruit is pure. The palate shows the oak a little more, quite resinous, but beneath there is a raft of very silky fruit and silky tannin that gives this a lovely chocolaty, fine finish with sweet, sweet fruit persisting. P42

43 40 Pintas, 2008 (R) Wine & Soul, Lda Region: Douro Production: 920 Winemaker: Sandra Tavares & Jorge Borges Guide Retail Price: Address: Av. Júlio De Freitas, 6 Vale De Mendiz, Pt Pinhão Contact: Sandra Tavares pintas.douro@mail.telepac.pt Phone: Website: UK Importer: Corney & Barrow Address: 1, Thomas Moore Street London E1W 1YZ Contact: Alison Buchanan & Christelle Chedeville buying@corneyandbarrow.com Phone: ; Website: From single vineyard of 70-year-old, field blend vines. Charcoally concentration. Really elegant lift to the fruit, very fragrant incense like oak, lovely sweetness on the palate, with magical brightness to the acidoty and very firm tannin structure. But the tight, ripe density of the fruit is superb. P43

44 41 Quinta do Vale Meão, 2008 (R) Quinta do Vale Meão Region: Douro Production: 4500 Winemaker: Francisco Olazabal Guide Retail Price: Address: Quinta do Vale Meão Vila Nova de Foz Côa Contact: Luisa Olazabal Phone: Website: UK Importer: Raymond Reynolds Ltd Address: Calico Lane, Furness Vale, High Peak SK23 7SW Contact: Raymond Reynolds and Danny Cameron Charry, toasty, impressively dark nose with a plushness to the fruit and a really bold, liquorice richness. The palate has delicious juiciness, with the intensity ramped up and the fine tannins and punchy acidity giving masses of impact. I love the bold cherry fruit and decisiveness as this follows a lovely line to the finish. P44

45 42 Quinta de Tecedeiras Reserva, 2008 (R) Dão Sul - Soc. Vitivinícola S.A. Region: Douro Production: Bottles / 2500 Cases of 6 Bottles Winemaker: Carlos Lucas Guide Retail Price: Address: Apartado Carregal do Sal Contact: José Roseiro joseroseiro@daosul.com Phone: Fax: Website: UK Importer: Clark Foyster Wines Ltd C Lance Foyster / E: lance@cfwines.co.uk P: / W: UK Importer: Atlântico (UK) Ltd C: Jose Cruz / E: jose.cruz@atlantico.co.uk P: / W: Dark, deep, limpid and vinous with black fruits and a savoury, spice and huge natural concentration. Glimpses of something more floral and aromatic are delightful. On the palate there is nothing aggressively extracted, but there is huge intensity. The fruit is svelte and taut, the tannins supple and the acidity integrated. Oak is meshed with the fabric of the wine seamlessly. P45

46 43 Quinta do Infantado Reserva, 2008 (R) Quinta Do Infantado, Vinhos Do Produtor, Lda Region: Douro Production: 1470 Winemaker: Fátima Ribas & Luis Soares Duarte Guide Retail Price: Address: Rua Pedro Escobar, 140 A Porto Contact: Paula Roseira info@quintadoinfantado.pt Phone: Fax: UK Importer: Liberty Wines Ltd Address: Unit D18, The Food Market, New Covent Garden, London SW8 5LL Contact: Emily MacDonald emily.macdonald@libertywine.co.uk Phone: Website: Rather closed nose with a muscular density that suggests some serious concentration. Tight, ashy, dry tannic structure too there s a sinewy, meaty richness here that takes no prisoners and has the massive presence of a New World Syrah, but then the fruit has that mineral Douro quality that makes this an intriguing, if rather domineering force to watch for the future. P46

47 44 Afros Vinhão, 2009 (R) Afros Wines Region: Vinho Verde Winemaker: Pedro Bravo / Rui Cunha Guide Retail Price: Address: Quinta do Casal do Paço, Padreiro (Salvador) Contact: Vasco Croft vcroft@afros-wine.com Phone: Website: UK Importer: Les Caves de Pyrene Address: Pew Corner, Old Portsmouth Road, Artington, Guildford GU3 1LP Contact: Doug Wregg dwregg@aol.com Phone: Website: Served cold, this deep crimson, biodynamic wine has beautiful aromatics with black cherries, red liquorice and a certain caraway seed spice. Beautifully focused flavours, the black fruit has shimmering gloss and refinement on the palate, with a granite-like backbone of structure. It finishes with creaminess and that beautiful kirsch-like freshness. P47

48 45 Hexagon, 2007 (R) José Maria da Fonseca - Vinhos, S.A. Region: Península de Setúbal Production: 2060 Winemaker: Domingos Soares Franco Guide Retail Price: Address: Quinta da Bassaqueira, Azeitão Contact: Miguel Azevedo Remédio miguel.remedio@jmfonseca.pt Phone: Fax: Website: UK Importer: Moreno Wine Importers Ltd Address: 26 Macroom Road, Queens Park, London, W9 3HY Contact: Carlos Read carlos@moreno-wines.co.uk Phone: Website: Cedary and elegant on the nose, with a certain meatiness but clear and fruity, lots of spice and subtle earthiness coming through. The palate has plenty of fruit: really bold and chewy, with big tannins adding a pleasant roughening texture. That bloody, gamey ripeness is there, with nice acidity into the finish too. P48

49 46 Vale da Mata Reserva, 2007 (R) Rocim Lda Region: Lisboa UK Importer: Looking for UK Representation Production: 3500 Winemaker: Catarina Vieira Address: Estrada Nacional 387, Apartado 64, Cuba, Alentejo Contact: Paul Medina Phone: Fax: Website: / The nose is quite discreet, with a cool, graphite minerality and sheen of tight-grained, cedary oak over refined black cherry fruit. The palate has creamy density, with sinewy texture adding lots of chewy grip, the tannins supple and chalky, but decisive and the acidity giving a keen edge. An intriguing and very composed wine. P49

50 47 Vale D Algares Selection, 2008 (R) Vale D Algares Region: Tejo Production: 2000 Winemaker: Pedro Pereira Gonçalves Guide Retail Price: Address: Rua Coronel Lopes Mateus N13, Vila Chã de Ourique Contact: João Vilar joao.vilar@quatroancoras.pt Phone: Website: UK Importer: Castas Address: 23 Peregrine Walk, Hornchurch, Essex RM12 5EZ Contact: Anthony Parker claudio.martins@castas.co.uk Phone: Website: Vine fruits and dark, mulberry and cassis richness set against some elegant, lifted floral character and plenty of pepper and spice. Sumptuous, broad mid-palate sweetness and juiciness. The Petit Verdot adds black fruit depth and a certain spicy tannin quality, and there s an edge to all that full-throttle stuff. P50

51 48 Dúvida, 2005 (R) António Saramago - Vinhos, Lda. Region: Península de Setúbal UK Importer: Looking for UK Representation Production: 400 Winemaker: António Saramago Address: Rua José Maria da Fonseca, 11 - V.N. Azeitão, , Azeitão Contact: António Saramago Jr. info@asvinhos.com Phone: Fax: Aged in 100% new oak for one year, then racked into another set of 100% new oak barrels. Massive balsamic nose with, with lots of high, almost gamy aromas, intense floral glimpses, schisty notes and charcoal. Very powerful palate too, with sweet balsamic grip, but liquoricy depth, length and focus. Layered complexity, and something intriguing about it. P51

52 49 Quinta do Ameal Special Harvest, 2007 (SWEET) Quinta do Ameal Region: Minho Production: 1 Bottle Case = 650 Cases Winemaker: Pedro Araújo / Anselmo Mendes Guide Retail Price: Address: Lugar de Nogueira Contact: Pedro Araújo quintadoameal@netcabo.pt Phone: Website: UK Importer: Raymond Reynolds Ltd Address: Calico Lane, Furness Vale, High Peak, SK23 7SW Contact: Raymond Reynolds and Danny Cameron info@raymondreynolds.co.uk A passito wine, the grapes dried for five months. Fabulous nose, with cream and vanilla and lots of barley sugar and crème brûlée touches. The palate has absolutely delicious balance the sweet, full fruit has a real sense of clarity with creamy texture and glycerine richness. Toasty, orangy, delightful. P52

53 50 Moscatel de Setúbal Superior 10 Anos, (SWEET) Casa Agricola Horacio Simões Region: Península de Setúbal Production: 400 Winemaker: Luis Simoes Guide Retail Price: Address: R João de Deus Nº /731 Quinta do Anjo Contact: Pedro Simões chsimoes9@gmail.com Phone: Website: UK Importer: Castas Address: 23 Peregrine Walk, Hornchurch, Essex RM12 5EZ Contact: Anthony Parker anthony.parker@castas.co.uk Phone: Website: Subdued, older character with little of the Muscat s floral exuberance. Aromas are more of stewed tea and nuts, a little caramel. The palate has full sweetness, the marmalade orange tang and cappuccino richness of the wine giving huge depth and intriguing layers of contemplative complexity. A profound and deliciously alive wine. P53