Saturday we’ll be touring the rugged landscape of Portugal, traversing its regions glass by glass. Come have a taste of these great wines from the west side of the Iberian peninsula between the mouth of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. The wines are delicious and are great values. Laura Stiff from Casa Ventura Imports will be here to tell you all about them.
2011 Pazo do Mar, Albarino $15
The Ribeiro region is located in Galicia in northwest Spain noted for its steep, terraced vineyards. Pazo do Mar, family owned & operated for over 70 years, makes their wine from all estate-grown fruit. Inviting aromas of slate & mineral & melon lead to an intense, concentrated, nicely proportioned Albarino with very good volume and length. Enticing notes of spring flowers, honeysuckle & lemon-lime keep this wine bright, crisp & refreshing.
2010 Tellus Tinto, DOC Douro $8
Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca
The Douro is one of the wildest, most mountainous & rugged wine regions of Portugal, cut through in deep twists & turns by the river Douro. Defying gravity on the steep slopes along the banks of the river & its tributaries, the vines are planted in poor, schistous soils. The wine shows ripe dark fruit, underbrush & blackberry bramble along with a vibrant acidity & smooth, balanced tannins. Normally $15 today $8
2010 Floral D. Henrique, Tinto DOC Dao $8
Touriga Nacional, Aragonez (Tempranillo), Alfrocheiro Prieto, Jaen (Mencia)
Surrounded on all sides by mountains, the Dao region is protected both from the direct influence of the continental climate, and from the chill & rains from the ocean. This is ‘high country’ rising from 200 meters at its lowest to 1,000 meters in the highest points. Soils are very poor & granitic. High altitude makes for cool nights, slow ripening & good acidity. Floral D. Henrique is a cooperative set up by a group of farmers in 1963. The wine has dark blackberry fruit with hints of leather, cocoa, earth and some peppery spiciness. Normally $10 today $8
2011 Herdade De Gambia Red from the Setubal Peninsula $13.
65% Touriga Nacional , 25% Syrah, 10% Aragonez (Tempranillo)
The Setubal Peninsula takes the title for being the pioneer in viniculture for the region, achieving great prestige for their fortified wines. It has a temperate Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers & mild, rainy winters. The most visible characteristics in the wines of the Setubal Peninsula are soft spice and red berry flavors and supple tannins.
2005 Quinta Seara D’Ordens, Late Bottled Vintage Port $24
From a little known, family owned single vineyard estate that was started in 1796; this LBV has a unique personality. It was made from the Quinta’s best grapes, slowly foot treaded in the lagar, as traditional in Douro Valley. The wine was aged in tank for the first 20 months, and then in old wood casks until bottling at the 4th year. It boasts a bouquet of ripe red fruit & forest berries; elegant, fruity & full-bodied on the palate.