The Society s Land of Opportunity Wines of Portugal tasting. From the high-quality, top-end wines of the north, to the diverse, full-flavoured and great-value reds of the central and southern regions, Portugal offers something special for every wine-loving palate and pocket. The past 20 years have seen huge advances in the quality of Portugal s nonfortified wines. Across the country forward-thinking producers are making wines which are more modern in style yet retain the individual Portuguese character that makes them uniquely delicious. For tonight s tasting we have invited producers that work closely with The Wine Society from across Portugal to showcase their wines, allowing you to get a full understanding of just what Portugal has to offer. We, and our Portuguese guests, very much hope you enjoy the tasting. The Society s sweetness code: White wines from bone dry [1] to lusciously sweet [9] = sparkling wine = white wine = red wine F = fortified wine Minho Minho is situated in north-west Portugal. The Minho s rain-bearing westerly winds from the Atlantic support intensive cultivation, and the countryside north of Oporto is one of the most densely populated parts of rural Iberia. 90% of the holdings in this region are less than five hectares in size. The boundaries of the Minho wine region are the same as they are for Vinho Verde, but in the Minho producers have greater flexibility. Adega de Monção Formed in 1958 by just 25 producers, Adega de Monção has since grown to involve 1,600 growers; however, each grower only provides grapes from a tiny portion of land, meaning Monção only farm around 1,200 hectares in total. They are located in the heart of quality wine production in the Vinho Verde region in Portugal s northernmost quarters, bordering Spain s Galicia region in a small sub-region called Monção e Melgaço.
1. [2] The Society s Vinho Verde 2016 A blend of alvarinho and trajadura, this is light and fruity, with the delicate spritz typical of the traditional style. Drink this year and next. 11.5% ref PW6121 6.50 bottle 78 dozen The Vinho Verde DOC officially divides into six sub-regions, distinguished by climatic differences and the varieties grown there. The area around Monção produces vinhos verdes with alcohol levels of up to 13% from the alvarinho (Spain s albariño) grape. Further south along the river Lima, around the towns of Braga, Barcelos and Guimarães, the dominant varieties are loureiro, trajadura and pedernã. These wines tend to be light-bodied with fresh acidity and an alcoholic strength of between 8 to 11.5%. Inland toward the river Douro, around the town of Baião, the warmer, drier climate tends to produce a slightly fuller style of wine from the grape variety avesso. 2. [2] Adega de Monção Alvarinho, Vinho Verde 2016 After a one-off guest appearance of the last vintage for our flagship Exhibition label, we welcome this glorious Vinho Verde back under its own colours. The 2016 is delicious, offering a fresh stone-fruit aroma and a light spritz on the palate that makes it a very appetising aperitif. Drink this year and next. 13% ref PW6271 8.95 bottle 107 dozen Low stock Anselmo Mendes Anselmo was born in Monção. He began his fascination with the alvarinho grape from an early age, going on to achieve worldwide acclaim for his work with the variety, and is recognised as one of Portugal s finest white-wine producers. After gaining his oenology degree and working for a while in various capacities in the Portuguese wine industry, he began making wine under his own name in 1998. He now makes wine from three grapes in three distinct Vinho Verde regions: alvarinho in the Minho, loureiro in the Lima valley and avesso in the Douro valley. He considers his winery in Minho valley as a place of experimentation, where he uses traditional methods such as allowing skin contact with the juice during fermentation alongside more innovative techniques. Some of his alvarinho is also carefully fermented and aged in French oak. 3. [1] Anselmo Mendes Muros Antigos Loureiro, Vinho Verde 2016 A benchmark Vinho Verde from the meadow-fragrant loureiro grape variety, with delicate spritz and a refreshing palate. Anselmo Mendes is a star of Vinho Verde, and his wines have triumphed in our Wine Champions blind tastings for the last four consecutive years. Buy with confidence! Drink this year and next. 12% ref PW6041 8.95 bottle 107 dozen
Loureiro is the Portuguese for laurel, referring to the aroma of the berries which is similar to that of laurel flowers and leaves. In addition to these aromas, varietal wines made from loureiro can display aromas of orange, acacia blossom, peach and green apple. 4. [2] Anselmo Mendes Muros de Melgaço Alvarinho, Vinho Verde 2015 The unique bottle is suggestive of a statement wine but this is both refined and restrained, barrelfermented but only in older barrels, its classy minerality and texture are reminiscent of Premier Cru Chablis. Drink now until 2022. 12.5% ref PW6521 18.00 bottle 216 dozen 5. [2] Anselmo Mendes Expressões Vinho Verde 2015 A celebration of the alvarinho grape from the granite soils of Monção, this is a wine of great finesse, purity and energy, balanced by gentle texture and fine length on the palate. Drink now to 2023. 12.5% ref PW6511 25.00 bottle 300 dozen Cazas Novas Cazas Novas is a 25-hectare vineyard established in its present form in 2004 by Carlos Coutinho, whose family has owned the property for seven generations. He is now in partnership with Diogo Fonseca Lopes, who has worked closely with renowned winemakers Anselmo Mendes, and Vasco Magalhães. In a setting overlooking the Douro river at the most inland extremity of the vinho verde region, the property is part of the 40 hectares that makes up the Quinta de Guimarães estate. The wines made here are vinho verde, but with a richness and weight that comes from the warmer climate of a site this far inland, and they aim to make a version that does not display the characteristic spritz that many vinho verde drinkers will be familiar with. The decomposed granite soils of the estate and the choice of grapes used ensure the typical brightness and vivacity of true vinho verde is retained. Avesso, loureiro and alvarinho are grown here, with avesso being the dominant variety because of the extra aromatic dimension and extra texture it brings to the wines. 6. [2] Cazas Novas Avesso, Vinho Verde 2016 The new slender flute bottle is a better fit for this lovely, light and breezy Vinho Verde, made from the gentle avesso grape variety, with the help of regional guru Anselmo Mendes. Perfect warm-weather drinking. Drink this year and next. 12% ref PW6261 7.75 bottle 93 dozen
Hortas do Caseirinho 7. [2] Hortas do Caseirinho Frisante Portugal may not be the first place you think of when looking for good fizz, but this is a delightful, delicate semi-sparkling white from the home of Vinho Verde which we reckon could give Prosecco a run for its money! Drink this year and next. 10.5% ref PW6501 6.95 bottle 83 dozen Quinta de Soalheiro The Quinta de Soalheiro is to be found about as far north as one can go in Portugal, in the sub region of Monção e Melgaço. They are almost in sight of the Spanish border and are a good distance from the sea so they get less of the rain that is so frequent in this part of Iberia. Organically grown alvarinho grapes are cultivated on 15 hectares of vineyards on granitic slopes at 100 to 200 metres altitude, sheltered by a range of mountains but with wonderful exposure to the sun. Indeed, the name Soalheiro is derived from the Portuguese for sunny place. João Antonio Cerdeira is an oenologist with experience of working in Burgundy and he planted the first alvarinho vines here in 1974, lured by the special microclimate before the region was even a recognised wine-growing area. In 1982 he released the first Soalheiro wine. Today the estate is run by his sons Luís and João, with the help of their sister Maria, who make the most of the now mature vines with low yields and expert winemaking. 8. [1] Soalheiro Alvarinho, Vinho Verde 2016 Ebulliently expressive, the classic Soalheiro has the heady fragrance of a warm spring meadow underpinned by a bright Atlantic freshness which makes it a joy to drink with or without food. Drink now to 2021. 12.5% ref PW6531 16.00 bottle 192 dozen Alvarinho (Spain s albariño) was one of the first Portuguese grape varieties to be bottled as a single variety. Its subtly fragrant white wines are easy to recognise with complex but delicate aromas reminiscent of peach, lemon, passion fruit, lychee, orange zest, jasmin, orange blossom and lemon balm. The wines are delicious young, but they can also age well, often for ten years or more. 9. [1] Soalheiro Primeiras Vinhas Alvarinho, Vinho Verde 2016 In Portugal, first vines (primeiras vinhas) are the old vines which here deliver the expected greater depth and complexity, but displayed in an exquisitely refined, pristine white with delicate floral aromas and crystalline freshness. Drink now to 2024. 13% ref PW6441 20.00 bottle 240 dozen
Douro The Douro is most famous as the source of Port; however the Douro DOC is increasingly known for the production of unfortified table wines. These days, depending on the year, up to 55% of the Douro s total wine production is used to make table wine. The grapes used in making Douro table wines are similar to those used to produce Port with over 100 different varieties officially sanctioned. Fladgate Partnership Over three centuries Taylor s has built perhaps the greatest reputation of any Port house. This enviable reputation and the quality of the wines may owe something to the stability of the company since it was founded in 1692. Of all the British Port shippers it remains the only one to have seen a smooth succession through the generations, never having been bought or taken over by outside interests. It wasn t until 1816 that the first Taylor, Joseph, appeared on the scene and in 1836 he was joined by John Fladgate. Joseph died in 1837 and shortly afterwards a Dorset wine merchant by the name of Morgan Yeatman joined as a partner. Fladgate was ennobled by the Portuguese for his services but it was the Yeatmans who ran the business throughout the 19th century and into the 20th, until the passing of Dick Yeatman in 1966. Shortly after his death his widow Beryl asked nephew Alistair Robertson, then working in the brewing industry, to come and help run the company and, despite his initial reluctance to leave London for a somewhat sluggish Port industry still suffering in the wake of the Second World War, he came. Robertson instituted a number of changes, including acquiring the famous Port house of Fonseca, (they later acquired Croft and Krohn too), and aided by the marketing nous of fellow partner Huyshe Bower, who sought out new markets to reduce the company s dependence on the British market, and Bruce Guimaraens, scion of the Fonseca house, his tenure saw the revival of Taylor s. In 2000 Alistair s son-in-law Adrian Bridge was appointed Managing director and works closely with his wife Natasha and winemaker David Guimaraens to maintain the trajectory achieved by Alistair. 10. F [7] Henriques and Henriques Bual, 15 years old Lusciously golden, this has a beguiling richness and hints of raisins, nuts and caramel with a concentrated finish. Drink this year and next. 20% ref MA221 25.00 50cl bottle 300 dozen H&H is one of the most famous names on the Portuguese island of Madeira. Founded in 1850 by João Joachim Henriques, the company has a rich history and a profound knowledge of the art of making Madeira. Unlike many of the other producers on the island, Henriques & Henriques is the only company with significant holdings of its own vineyards.
11. F [7] The Society s Exhibition Tawny Port, 10 Years Old Fragrant with a smooth, silky texture and subtle oak nuances from ageing in small oak barrels. Drink over the next year. 20% ref PN111 17.00 bottle 204 dozen The word tawny implies a fortified wine which has been aged in wood so that it loses its colour and takes on an amber-brown or tawny hue. These wines take on a soft, silky character as the tannins, anthocyanins (colour pigments) and flavour compounds polymerise and form a sediment which is removed prior to bottling, which means that Tawny Ports do not need decanting. 12. F [7] The Society s Exhibition Crusted Port, Bottled 2007 Crusted port is a blend of two or three different harvests, aged in wood for two years, then bottled without fining or filtration. It has to spend three years maturing in bottle before being shipped for sale. This example from The Fladgate Partnership is an outstanding blend: youthful, sweet and fleshy. An ideal accompaniment for a creamy Stilton, it requires decanting to remove the crust or sediment. Drink now to 2022. 20% ref PN191 13.95 bottle 167 dozen Prats & Symington One of the most famous international joint ventures in the wine world, the partnership between Bruno Prats (formerly of Château Cos d Estournel) in Bordeaux and the Symington family in Portugal s Douro valley began in 1998, when they set out to produce a flagship Douro red wine. Chryseia was the result, and the 2000 was the first vintage to be released. Prats & Symington now owns two prime Douro vineyards: Quinta de Roriz and Quinta da Perdiz, grapes from which form the backbone of Chryseia and Post Scriptum. A third wine is also produced: Prazo de Roriz. This is very much in the house style but made for earlier drinking. 13. [1] Altano, Douro Branco 2016 This grapy aromatic white goes from strength to strength with each new vintage. Indigenous grapes grown at altitude ensure balance and appetising fresh zing on the palate. Drink this year and next. 12.5% ref PW6151 8.50 bottle 102 dozen 14. Prats + Symington Prazo de Roriz, Douro 2015 Vigorous and fresh-tasting young Douro blend, using grapes grown at the highly regarded Quinta de Roriz (54%) and Quinta da Perdiz (46%). Drink now to 2022. 14% ref PW6351 11.95 bottle 143 dozen
During Medieval times, wine was primarily produced in the Douro for use in mass at monasteries, and the horizontal areas of the terraces were reserved for cultivating grain and corn. Vines were planted in the apertures of the terrace walls (pilheros). Vineyards did not expand until the mid-eighteenth century, when the English began to seek them out for wine production. 15. Quinta do Vesuvio Pombal do Vesuvio, Douro 2015 This blend of Port grapes is Vesuvio s second wine, made to be more approachable in its youth but nevertheless well upholstered, combining rich, old-vine fruit with the fresher-tasting red fruits of younger vines. Drink now to 2024. 13.5% ref PW6341 18.50 bottle 222 dozen Pombais are the stone dovecotes which pepper the Upper Douro. Quinta do Vesuvio s pombal has lent its name to the premium vineyard which it occupies, planted with touriga nacional, touriga franca, and tinta amarela grape varieties. Symington Family Estates The Symington family is the dominant force in the Port trade. They own 2,400 hectares of land in the Douro Valley across 26 individual Quintas (Estates) from which over 1,000 hectares are planted with vines. They own several well-known brands of Port, and since 1999 have been producing table wines from the Douro. The Port houses they control include Graham s, Dow s, Warre s, Quinta do Vesuvio, Smith Woodhouse, Gould Campbell, Quarles Harris and most recently in 2010, Cockburn. The Symington family has been present in the Douro for 5 generations, the company was founded in 1882 when Andrew James Symington, a Scot who arrived in Oporto, started working for Graham s before becoming a partner of Warre & Co and Dow s Port. Over 70% of the Port wine sold by Symington brands is produced from grapes grown on their own properties. 16. F [5] Blandy s Verdelho, 10 years old Medium-dry, amber-tinged Madeira with keen acidity, a long, mellow finish and delicacy of aroma and flavour. Drink this year and next. 19% ref MA231 19.00 50cl bottle 228 dozen
Madeira s wines were traditionally named after the principal noble grape varieties grown on the island. The best examples should have a yellow-green tinge to the rim of the wine and all share marked acidity. Sercial is the driest and can take on a slight almond character with time. Verdelho is medium-dry and with age can develop a smoky complexity. Bual is medium-rich in style, and is dark and raisiny. Malmsey is the sweetest, richest and most concentrated of the different styles. 17. F [7] The Society s LBV Port 2012 From the Symington stable, this new blend is a little less rich and dense than the last, but long cask ageing has produced a sweetly flavoured, ripe wine which finishes juicy and satisfying on the palate. Drink now to 2021. 20% ref PT1921 12.50 bottle 150 dozen The Douro valley was demarcated in 1756 and is therefore one of the oldest demarcated wine regions in the world. Under the classification system the vineyards are graded from A to F, A being the best. Properties in the cooler and wetter Baixo Corgo to the west, and those in the hills close to the Douro s boundary are considered to be less suitable for making Port and so are not permitted to fortify as much of their must to make Port as those vineyards which qualify for higher grades. 18. F [7] Cockburn s Quinta dos Canais 2010 Vigorous young single-quinta Port from one of Cockburn s finest vineyards. The high proportion of touriga nacional in the blend brings floral perfume to this dense and satisfying wine, with luscious ripe-berry fruit and supple tannins. Drink now to 2030. 20% ref PT1911 26.00 bottle 312 dozen Quinta do Crasto Husband and wife Jorge and Leonor Roquette had been in charge of this estate since the 1980s, and have now handed day to day running to their sons Miguel and Tomás. Together they manage 70 hectares of vineyards on the right bank of the Douro River, which lay on terraces of schist soils. Most of the vines are over 20 years old, but the oldest date back over 100 years. The grapes are local Douro varieties, including tinta roriz, touriga nacional, touriga franca and tinta barroca for the reds, and gouveio, roupeiro and rabigato for the whites. Investment in recent years has seen important updates both to vineyard organisation and winery technology although the team still proudly upholds the tradition of crushing some of the grapes by foot in granite lagares! On the whole, however, much more modern techniques are used, with wines fermented and matured in a variety of temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks for a fresher, fruitier style.
19. Crasto, Douro 2015 Full-flavoured red made from indigenous grape varieties by one of the great estates of the region. Rich in colour and body, with floral perfume and a velvety palate. The ideal red to cover both main and cheese courses. Drink now to 2019. 13.5% ref PW6001 9.50 bottle 114 dozen This Douro estate has belonged to the family of Leonor and Jorge Roquette for over a century, but it dates back much further: the word crasto comes from the Latin castrum, meaning Roman fort, and there are records of this estate as early as 1615. 20. Quinta do Crasto Touriga Nacional, Douro 2011 Intense black fruits and great concentration in the ripe 2011 vintage displaying the perfumed touriga nacional grape to perfection. Drink now to 2021. 15% ref PW4711 37.00 bottle 444 dozen Touriga nacional is a thick-skinned grape, producing wines which are rich in colour and tannins, with excellent structure and ability to age. Wines made from touriga nacional tend to have intense flavours of ripe blackcurrants and raspberries with hints of herbs, flowers and liquorice. Quinta Nova Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, to give the estate its full name, dates back to 1764 and its historic winery is still used today. Situated along the banks of the Douro River near the villages of Ferrão and Pinhão the estate boasts 120 hectares of prime demarcated land and was one of the first to embrace oenotourism (hotel, restaurant, wine bar, wine tastings, and grape picking at harvest time). The name, usually shortened to Quinta Nova, comes from the chapel built in honour of the sailors who navigated the River Douro in the 17th century and which houses a statue of Our Lady of Carmo. 21. Quinta Nova Unoaked Douro 2015 A fragrant and well-balanced blend of Port grapes (touriga nacional, touriga franca, tinta roriz and tinto cão) from the beautiful Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo estate. Drink now to 2020. 14% ref PW6411 11.50 bottle 138 dozen Low Stock
22. Quinta Nova Reserva, Douro 2011 An impressive wine, shipped in three-bottle cases, from this up-and-coming estate owned by the Amorim family since 2005. Unusually for the region this is mostly tinta amarela, raised in 300- litre oak barrels. Sweet and fleshy, this shows the freshness typical of the grape. Drink this year and next. 14.5% ref PW4891 23.00 bottle 276 dozen With deep colour, good acidity and moderate alcohol, trincadeira (as it s known in the Alentejo) or tinta amarela (if you are speaking to a Douro producer) does, in the right hands, make wines of serious quality. Properly ripened, it has vibrant raspberry fruit tempered by herby, peppery, spicy, floral complexity, and it can age well. However, when under-ripe, it tastes herbaceous. Quinta do Vale Meão The Quinta do Vale Meão estate was the last great achievement of Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, the legendary great Lady of the Douro, and the only property which was totally planted by her, on 270 hectares of barren common land purchased from the town council of Vila Nova de Foz Côa in 1877. It is now owned by her great-great grandson Francisco Javier de Olazabal. He left the Port and Douro Wine Company A.A. Ferreira in 1998 to develop his own winemaking project with his son, Francisco de Olazabal y Nicolau de Almeida. The century-old winery has subsequently been totally refurbished, adding modern winemaking equipment but retaining the tradition of old granite lagares. 67 hectares of vines are block planted on a variety of soil types. The first wines, of the 1999 vintage, were released in 2001. 23. The Society s Exhibition Douro 2013 We have been holding back our third Exhibition Douro, made for us by Quinta do Vale Meão, to allow it a little more bottle age. A fragrant and well-structured blend of traditional Douro grape varieties, all foot-trodden in granite lagares. Drink now to 2023. 14% ref PW5561 12.95 bottle 155 dozen Low stock Our Exhibition range is made up of the flagship wines upon which we readily stake our reputation for quality and value for money. In the words of Society buyer Marcel Orford- Williams, the wines chosen for the Exhibition range must always be better than just good : Exhibition wines should be benchmark examples of their style, region or variety.
24. Quinta do Vale Meão, Douro 2009 The Quinta do Vale Meão estate in the Upper Douro is now at the forefront of fine red wine production in the Douro. This refined red, a touriga nacional and franca blend, with a little tinta barroca and tinta roriz, marks their tenth anniversary. Drink now to 2024. 14.5% ref PW3471 59.00 bottle 708 dozen Very low stock Adega Vila Real Formed in 1955, this revitalised co-op is in the town of Vila Real in Portugal s Douro valley, situated in the north-east of the country. It sources its grapes from 1,100 growers across the region, using native Douro grape varieties like malvasia fina for whites and tinta roriz (tempranillo), touriga franca and touriga nacional for the reds. The grapes for the Old Vines in Young Hands wines we buy come from gnarly old vines grown on ancient terraces. By contrast, the winemaking team is the youthful, dynamic and talented Rui Madeira and Luis Cortinhas, part of a generation of winemakers who have been revolutionising Douro wines since the beginning of the 21st century, with the help of Australian consultant winemaker Nick Butler. They use these traditional grape varieties to make fresh, balanced and easy-drinking wines, and this modern approach has clearly paid off they ve already won a plethora of awards from across the world. 25. Old Vines in Young Hands Tinto 2015 From old vineyards high up in Portugal s Douro valley, this is a plump, supple and fragrant red with soft tannins. A bargain. Drink now to 2019. 13% ref PW6171 5.75 bottle 69 dozen Old vines seem to give more concentration, complexity, and particularly, more depth of midpalate fruit compared to young vines. These typically show vibrant aromas and bright fruitiness, but sometimes rather hollow flavours. While proving this scientifically is almost impossible, the weight of anecdotal evidence is that more established vines give something to wine that young vines don t. Crop levels tend to be naturally balanced with less need for manipulations like green harvesting or canopy trimming (young vines tend to need a lot more work in the vineyard to manage vigour and crop load); and older vines have deep roots which can cope better with dry conditions. It takes at least seven years for a vine to develop a full root structure and in time roots may go down as far as six metres into the subsoil, reaching deep reserves of soil moisture.
26. Adega Vila Real Touriga Franca, Douro 2015 A well-structured Portuguese treat, with dense ripe black fruits overlaid with the scent of wild flowers. Succulent lamb would be a heavenly match. Drink now to 2020. 14.5% ref PW6391 8.50 bottle 102 dozen Beira Interior A large, sparsely planted DOC in central Portugal made up of the three sub-regions of Castelo Rodrigo and Pinhel and Cova de Beira to the south. The first two sub-regions share shallow granite-based soils and a harsh continental climate, whilst the terroir of Cova de Beira benefits from being on the lee-ward side of Portugal s highest mountain range, the Serra da Estrela, and is prime fruit-growing country. Almeida Garrett José Almeida Garrett runs this family winery, with vineyards in the Vale de Gardunha and the southern slopes of the Serra de Gardunha. His family are the descendants of the famous 19th century author, poet and freedom fighter Almeida Garrett, which is the name used for the wines today. In 1993, the Almeida Garrett family took the decision to go it alone, and remain to this day one of only a handful of privately owned vineyards in the region bottling their own product. 27. Almeida Garrett Entre Serras, Beira Interior 2014 From the granitic slopes of the Serra da Estrela mountain range in the heart of Portugal, where altitude brings a slightly cooler profile to this brambly blend of indigenous grape varieties. Drink now until 2019. 13.5% ref PW6571 5.95 bottle 71 dozen The price of this wine will be increasing on the 12th October to 6.25 per bottle All things being equal, temperature falls by about 0.6 C for every 100 meters climbed. These lower temperatures found at higher altitudes delay both bud-break and ripening and have big positive effects on vine quality in the world s warmer wine regions. Elevated vineyards also experience more ultraviolet radiation which is likely to increase quality because of the stimulation of phenolic synthesis.
Bairrada Bairrada is a small region to the west of the better-known Dão region, which can produce some of Portugal s greatest wines. It benefits from the cooling offshore breezes from the Atlantic Ocean and, unusually for Portugal s wine-producing areas, over 90% of Bairrada s red wines are made predominantly or exclusively from the grape variety baga. Filipa Pato Filipa Pato is the daughter of a famous Portuguese winemaker (Luis Pato), and shares his love of experimentation, of old vines, and of the sometimes challenging grapes of the Bairrada region. Like her father she was a scientist first. She spent time working in wineries in Bordeaux and Argentina before settling back in Portugal to establish her own business, and raise her two sons with her sommelier/restaurateur husband. Most of her vineyards are leased and in the past some were as far afield as the neighbouring Dão region but today she focuses on Bairrada. She is a founder member of Baga Friends, a small group of like-minded producers with the goal of promoting this re-emerging grape. 28. [1] Filipa Pato FP Bairrada Branco 2015 Filipa Pato is one of the leading winemakers of her generation. Innovative, yet respectful of her roots, she has crafted this beautifully poised, Atlantic-influenced Portuguese blend of local bical and arinto grapes. Fresh, light but characterful and totally delicious. Drink this year and next. 12% ref PW5671 9.95 bottle 119 dozen 2016 to follow 29. Filipa Pato Territorio Vivo Baga, Bairrada 2015 One of the newest wines from Filipa Pato. It s made from her beloved baga grape, the mainstay of the Bairrada region, and offers lovely freshness and purity, with silky tannins. Drink now 2022. 12% ref PW6461 16.50 bottle 198 dozen The baga grape produces wines with deep colour in their youth and a rich, tannic, high-acid structure, with clear flavours of berries and black plums and hints of coffee, hay, tobacco and smoke. Though often astringent when young, baga wines (especially the best ones from Bairrada) can age remarkably well, softening and gaining elegance and a herby, cedary, dried fruit complexity.
Vadio Until recently, having finished his work for the week at renowned Portuguese estate Herdade de Esporão in the Alentejo, young winemaker Luís Patrão headed north and back home to the village of Poutena in Bairrada where he works with his father Dinis on their three hectares of vines. Dinis looks after the vineyard and Luís makes the wines. Working with several varieties, three of them very particular to his home region, Luís is making quite a name for himself as one of Portugal s best young winemakers. For the reds the baga variety is king hereabouts, and Luís works with the fruit of two hectares, a quarter of them old vines. For whites he can create wines from a palette of cercial and bical (both indigenous to Bairrada) together with encruzado, arinto and verdelho which Luís planted on the remainder of the family s land. He makes the wines in an old warehouse that has been converted into a simple winery. 30. Vadio Bairrada Tinto 2013 Charming and approachable Bairrada no mean feat given the nature of the baga grape variety from an impressive relative newcomer. Gentle handling, plus maturation in older oak, then in bottle, has tamed the tannins, allowing sweet cherry fruit to shine through. Drink now to 2022. 13% ref PW6291 11.50 bottle 138 dozen 31. Vadio Bairrada Tinto 2007 A rare chance to sample a mature expression of Portugal s Bairrada, with savoury and spicy notes balanced by lovely sweetness and fragrance. Drink now to 2019. 13% ref PW6331 18.00 bottle 216 dozen Low Stock Dão A DOC wine region in north-central Portugal, Dão is home to some of the country s best red wines. Surrounded on three sides by granite mountains and sheltered from the Atlantic, the region benefits from long, warm summers and plentiful winter rainfall. The sandy soils which dominate the region are well drained and there is a wealth of indigenous varieties grown in the area. Quinta dos Roques Roques is one of three properties owned by the family, all planted with grape varieties indigenous to the Dão region: touriga nacional and jaen are the main red varieties, alongside encruzado and malvasia fina for the whites. Quinta dos Roques itself lies about 10km south of Mangualde and the name comes from the family name, Roques de Oliveira. They began growing grapes at the end of the 1970s and took the decision to buck the trend towards planting international grape varieties. They also started
bottling their own wine rather than selling their grapes to the local cooperative. Luis was the son-in-law embraced by the family to the extent that he gave up his former career as a maths teacher to make wine on the family property. Consultant Rui Reguinga (better known to members for the Quinta do Centro wines and his own Terrenus) was employed from 2002. The wines of Quinta dos Roques are a modern expression of the Dão region, respecting local tradition but using up-to-date facilities to ensure consistency of quality. 32. [2] Quinta do Correio Branco, Dão 2016 An appetising, full-flavoured white with appley freshness on the palate, utilising local Portuguese grape varieties. The main grape in the blend is malvasia fina ( the most flavourful white grape in the Dão region, in Luis Lourenço s words), with cerceal, bical and encruzado. Drink this year and next. 13.5% ref PW6211 8.50 bottle 102 dozen 33. [1] Quinta dos Roques Colheita Branco, Dão 2016 A classic and pristine blend of local grape varieties, with delicate aromas of white flowers and mineral, appetising freshness. Drink now to 2021. 13.5% ref PW6541 11.50 bottle 138 dozen Magnum Vinhos Established in 2012 by a team of three experienced winemakers, Magnum Vinhos has its roots in the Dão region but also produces wines from Alentejo and Douro. Carlos Lucas had worked at Dão Sul (as one of the co-founders back in 1990) and chose to focus on authentic wines made from indigenous Portuguese grapes. The Quinta do Ribeiro Santo ( Holy River ) estate in Carregal Sal is a small Dão property restored by Carlos Lucas. It was named after the stream which surrounds the property once owned by the local priest. Set among the pine forests typical of the region on the slopes of the Serra da Estrela and Serra do Caramulo mountains, the vineyards are farmed sustainably and certified under the Integrated Production system. There are six hectares of vineyards here, planted to local grape varieties including touriga nacional, alfrocheiro, tinto cão and encruzado, in poor granitic soils. A new winemaking facility was ready for the 2014 vintage 34. [1] Ribeiro Santo Branco, Dão 2016 Carlos Lucas crisp, citrus-infused Dão white is made from local encruzado and malvasia-fina grapes, offering mouthwatering freshness and plenty of flavour, to serve with food or without. Drink this year and next. 13% ref PW6481 7.95 bottle 95 dozen
35. [2] Ribeiro Santo Encruzado, Dão 2016 Pristine barrel-fermented Portuguese encruzado from dab hand Carlos Lucas, who captures the creamy, toasty complexity of the Dão region s best grape without losing its vivid lemony freshness. Drink now to 2020. 13.5% ref PW6431 10.95 bottle 131 dozen Encruzado is Dão s star white variety and has great potential. Whites made from encruzado tend to have delicate floral and mineral aromas with lemon flavours. The variety marries well with both oak and lees ageing, giving a well-structured wine that is a little like white Burgundy in style. The best examples can age brilliantly, taking on hazelnut aromas in time. 36. Ribeiro Santo, Dão 2015 Appetising Dão red with sweet cherry and red-berry fruits and typical garriguey notes with a clean, fresh and satisfying finish. Drink now to 2020. 13.5% ref PW6061 7.95 bottle 95 dozen Dão reds used to have bracing acidity and often high tannins too. These days, the grapes are riper and the flavours have greater purity, especially in the hands of a younger generation. The wines benefit from a little time in bottle, keeping the freshness to complement fattier pork dishes and casseroles. 37. Ribeiro Santo E.T. Dão 2013 And now for something completely different! A fascinating, wild and alive wine, made from an unusual combination of both red and white grapes, resulting in a light vivid colour in the glass. The aromas mingle striking red-fruit and herbal scents, while the medium-bodied palate is supremely fresh, vivacious and complex. Drink now to 2021. 14% ref PW6051 32.00 bottle 384 dozen Alentejo Alentejo is a region in which, unusually for Portugal, the climate is not determined by the influence of the Atlantic. The region has a more continental climate, with baking hot summers, in which temperatures regularly exceed 35 to 40 C, and cold winters. The least populated of Portugal s regions, Alentejo is dominated by large estates rather than the small holdings typically found in the north of the country. It is the region s reds which have put Alentejo on the map, producing wines with rich, ripe, intense fruit that are almost new world in style, but some fine whites are also made.
Herdade do Esporão Herdade do Esporão is Portugal s largest privately owned wine company, producing c. 10 million bottles per annum, and, in our view, proof that big can be beautiful. The large Esporão estate is in the heart of the Alentejo and forms an oasis in this strikingly dry landscape. A good part of Esporão s production comes from their own fruit, but other needs are satisfied by long term contracts with local growers. The long-term chief winemaker is naturalised Australian David Baverstock, responsible for the introduction of verdelho, semillon, syrah, and a range of single-varietal wines. Sandra Alves was until recently in charge of white wine making and has recently taken responsibility for the reds. 38. [2] Esporão Monte Velho Branco, Alentejano 2016 This is a delicious blend of grapes typical of Portugal s warm Alentejo region, coaxed year-inyear-out by the skilled Esporão team to produce a super-adaptable tasty dry white that handles a host of generous Mediterranean flavours with ease. Drink this year and next. 13% ref PW6131 7.50 bottle 90 dozen When it comes to food and wine matching one of the most important things to consider is balance between the weight of the food and that of the wine and the intensity of flavours. Get this balance wrong and one will overpower the other. Work on pairing either like with like or on the theory of opposites attract. Similar taste sensations in a dish and the wine with which it is paired work, such as a buttery sauce with a fish, which is enhanced by the creamy, buttery texture of a wine which has spent some time in oak. A wine with high acidity will contrast beautifully with a rich or fatty dish. 39. Esporão Monte Velho Tinto, Alentejano 2016 A little lighter and fresher in the new vintage, this is a super-reliable blend of local grapes aragonez, trincadeira and touriga nacional with international interloper syrah, which brings depth of colour and a touch of spice. Drink now to 2019. 13% ref PW6141 7.75 bottle 93 dozen 40. Esporão Colheita Organic, Alentejano 2015 A maiden vintage from Esporão s significant investment into organic winegrowing, and well worth trying. This combines cabernet sauvignon with touriga franca, providing a well-structured wine with supple dark-fruit flavours. Drink now to 2020. 14% ref PW6451 9.50 bottle 114 dozen Of all the sub-regions in the Alentejo, Esporão chose to plant vineyards in the Reguengos de Monsaraz because it is here that the combination of poor, stony soils, a tough summer climate with marked diurnal temperature variation, followed by harsh winters, helps to guarantee fullbodied but elegant wines with good ageing potential.
Lisboa and Algarve Lisboa is a large, coastal region that runs north from Lisbon. Onshore breezes from the Atlantic help cool the vineyards and maintain the fresh acidity and aromatics in the mostly white wines. North of Bucelas, on the Atlantic west coast above the town of Lisbon, lies the strip of rolling countryside that contains nine separate DOCs under the umbrella name of Lisboa. This is Portugal s largest wine-producing region in volume terms. The Algarve has been an important centre for winemaking for centuries here the typically Mediterranean mild climate, with more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, the proximity to the ocean and the clay and limestone soils ensure perfect conditions for producing high-quality grapes. Casa Santos Lima The Casa Santos Lima winery is situated in the Alenquer, approximately 45 kilometres north of Lisbon. The estate has around 200 hectares of vines, around half of which have been planted since 1990. It is a family property now run by José Oliveira da Silva, who was the first of the family to bottle his own production back in 1996 (his grandfather exported in barrel). It is made up of a number of Quintas which each serve as wine brands, including Quinta da Espiga. The cellar was built in the 1940s but has been upgraded and modernised steadily for the production of great-quality everyday drinking wines. Fifty or so myriad grape varieties are planted, both indigenous Portuguese and international. 41. [2] Quinta de Porrais Sete Vales, Douro 2016 Refreshing dry white made from local Douro grape varieties, this is a perfect seafood starter or while-you-are-cooking wine. Drink this year and next.12.5% ref PW6251 6.75 bottle 81 dozen 42. [1] Quinta da Espiga Branco, Lisboa 2016 A deliciously adaptable, refreshing, light Portuguese white. Aromatic but dry on the palate, it s a skilful blend of indigenous grape varieties, lifted by a little sauvignon blanc and moscatel. This works well as an aperitif, or enjoy it with fish dishes and salads. Drink this year and next. 12.5% ref PW6221 6.95 bottle 83 dozen Low Stock 43. Al-Ria Reserva, Algarve 2015 A full-throttle southern Portuguese red blending local touriga nacional with ripe, peppery syrah, which is rounded off by 12 months in French and sweeter American oak barrels. Drink now to 2020. 14.5% ref PW6491 13.50 bottle 162 dozen