The two most famous wines from Portugal are Vinho Verde and Ruby Port, but between those extremes there are a variety of delicious offerings. Stop by this Saturday as we taste through some unique and interesting wines from Bairrada, Dao, and the Douro. It’s a trip you won’t want to miss.
2016 Luis Pato Vinhas Velahs Branco $17
40% Bical, 40% Cerceal, 20% Sercialnho
The Pato family has been producing wine at Quinta do Ribeirinho since the eighteen century. João Pato started to bottle the wine from his vineyards in 1970, becoming the first winegrower in Bairrada region after its demarcation. His son Luis Pato took over the winery in. The Velahs Branco is a very complex Portuguese white produced from Bical grapes in clay-limestone terroir and Cercial and Sercialinho in sandy terroir. The wine has flavors of melon, tropical fruits, spice and light toastiness, with a still-young acidity.
NV Luis Pato Baga Bruto Rosé $15
Truly unique, this delicious, subtle pink sparkler is made from the Baga grape . It has a fresh, fruity nose with a subtle herby edge. The palate is quite zippy but there’s some breadth here.
2015 Casa Santos Lima, Cigarra Tinto $10
Castelao, Camarate, Touriga Nacional and Tinta Miuda
The cigarra is an aromatic red with lively notes of raspberry, cherry and cassis on the nose and palate. Its four month maturation in oak barriques lends delicate hints of spice making this an easy drinking lighter red.
2014 Quinta dos Roques, Vinho Tinto $15
50% Touriga Nacional, 25% Jaen, 15% Alfrocheiro, 10% Tinta Roriz
One of the Dao’s leading estates, the Quinta dos Roques’ vineyards are known for a smoky schistose minerality. The Vinho Tinto blossoms with air to reveal notes of cassis, rosemary, cured meat and smoky soil. Aged in used oak for nine months, the Tinto stains the palate with notes of blackberries, game and subtle spice. It finishes long and distinctive with reprises of the smoky schistose minerals.
2001 Porto Rocha, Colheita 375ml $15 750ml $30
In 1850 António da Rocha Leão established his own Portuguese House among the famous British Port Wine Lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia across the Douro River from Oporto. Aged in small casks until they are mature, tawny ports are a golden color with layers of aromas and flavors. The 2001 has exuberant aromas with dried fruits suggestions, especially nuts and soft chocolate notes. The flavor is smooth and delicate with a perfect balance between the dried fruits and the wine’s structure as well as a delightfully long finish.
Madrona Wine Merchants offers free wine tastings featuring 4-5 selections on a theme every Saturday from 2 until the bottles run out and on Sunday we offer a mini-tasting of two wines all day from 11-5.