Today is Wine Blogging Wednesday, the day where all over the world, bloggers of all kinds drink a wine according to a theme, and then review it on their blogs, making for a huge virtual wine tasting party which usually yields a very useful and informative group of wine reviews. My contribution is usually a single wine review based on the theme, but this time I’ve decided to do something a little different.
As regular readers know, I regularly attend large trade tastings put on by marketing associations and other such organizations to showcase a lot of wines. I’m usually quite good about writing up such tastings within a few weeks of their occurrence, even though they represent a huge amount of effort to transcribe my scribbling into a coherent list of wines and their rankings and prices. Given that effort, It will probably surprise no one that there are occasionally such events that I just never get around to writing up.
Well, about six months ago, Portugal came to town. Or rather, the Portuguese Trade and Tourism Office and wine marketing association ViniPortugal came to town with about 60 producers in tow, and they put on a tasting of wine for the trade and the media.
I went, took some notes, and then promptly was overwhelmed with work and never got around to writing them up. Well, when the 38th edition of Wine Blogging Wednesday rolled around, and the hosts Ryan and Gabriella who run the web site Catavino.Net decided that the theme was to be Portuguese table wines (i.e. not Port or Madeira), I had an excuse to dig up my notes and spend some time squinting at my own handwriting and a big excel spreadsheet.
So here you go. My scores for 100 Portuguese wines tasted in April of this year. I’m not a huge port fan, so I pretty much avoided it and stuck to the dry table wines of the red and white variety.
In general, I have to say that I was fairly disappointed with the quality of the wines. There were a few decent ones, as you can see below, but there were no wines that really lit me up and got me excited. Granted, a few of the top producers, most notably Quinta do Crasto were absent from the tasting, but I expected more from these wines. My guess is that after centuries of making sweet dessert wines the country is just starting to figure out the potential of making high quality dry table wines and that they’ve definitely got a ways to go. However, they’ve got some great grape varieties, and some amazing heritage (i.e. very old) vines, so it’s only a matter of time before we see a larger number of stupendous wines coming out of Portugal.
Some notes on the info below — there was a language barrier for a number of vintners, which leads me to believe that some of the prices they gave me were not reliable. I asked for the retail price, but in some cases the prices you see here may be the wholesale price, especially when the price listed is between $3 and $5. Anything above $10 I’m fairly sure is the retail price.
And because a lot of these names are unfamiliar, I’ll remind you of my naming convention for wines, so you can parse out the wines below:
YEAR – Producer Name – “Wine Name or Designation” – Varietal, Region/Quality Designation.
Enjoy.
SCORES FOR WHITE WINES
WHITE WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 9
2004 Monte Seis Reis Boa Memória Antão Vaz, Regional Alentejo. $7
WHITE WINES SCORING BETWEEN 8.5 and 9
NV Aveleda Alvarinho, DOC Vinho Verde. $10
2005 Campolargo Arinto, DOC Bairrada. $12
NV SoGrape “Gazela”, DOC Vinho Verde. $7
WHITE WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 8.5
NV Aveleda Vinho Verde Red Blend,. $8
2007 Famega Arinto / Azal, DOC Vinhos Verdes. $7
2004 Monte Novo e Figueirinha “Herdade Das Fontes” White Blend, Regional Alentejo. $5
2005 Monte Novo e Figueirinha “Fonte Mouro Colheita Seleccionada” Antão Vaz, Regional Alentejo. $8
2005 Quinta da Cortezia “Vinha Conchas” White Blend, Regional Estremadura. $??
2006 Quinta Da Lagoalva de Cima “Talhão” White Blend, Regional Ribatejo. $6
WHITE WINES SCORING BETWEEN 8 and 8.5
2006 Adega Cartuxa “Ea” White Blend, Regional Alentejo. $8
2006 Casa Cadaval “Padre Pedro” White Blend, Regional Ribatejo. $8
2006 Herade do Esporão “Vinha Da Defesa” White Blend, DOC Alentejo. $9
2005 Manoel D. Poças Junior Vinhos “Coroa D’ouro” White Blend, DOC Porto. $5
2006 Monte do Trevo Herdade “Dos Grous” White Blend, Regional Alentejo. $7
2005 Montez Champalimaud “Paço Teixeiró” White Blend, DOC Vinhos Verde. $9
2006 Sociedade Agricola D. Diniz “Fonte Da Serrana” Antão Vaz / Arinto, Regional Alentejo. $9
WHITE WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 8
2005 Adega Cartuxa “Cartuxa” White Blend, DOC Alentejo. $12
NV Aveleda Casal “Garcia” Red Blend, DOC Vinho Verde. $7
2005 Aveleda “Maria Gomes” Chardonnay, DOC Bairrada. $9
2005 Aveleda “Quinta Da Aveleda” White Blend, DOC Vinho Verde. $7
2006 Dao Sul “Cabriz Coheita” Seleccionada White Blend $9
2006 Herade do Esporão Verdelho, Regional Alentejo. $11
WHITE WINES SCORING BETWEEN 7.5 and 8
2005 Adega Cartuxa “Floral De Évora” Assario / Roupeiro, DOC Alentejo. $9
2006 Casa Santos Limas C.S.L Arinto, Regional Estremadura. $5
2006 Enoforum “Alentex” White Blend, DOC Alentejo. $7
2006 Sociedade Agricola Encosta do Guadiana “Herdade Das Albernoas” White Blend, Regional Alentejo. $5
WHITE WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 7.5
2006 Casa de Vila Verde “Minho” Alvarinho. $12
2005 Companhia Das Quintas “Prova Regia” Arinto, DOC Estremadura. $6
2006 Sociedade Agricola Encosta do Guadiana “Herdade Paços Do Conde” Antão Vaz / Arinto, Regional Alentejo. $7
WHITE WINES SCORING BETWEEN 7 and 7.5
2006 Companhia Das Quintas “Forgotten Field” Arinto / Chardonnay, Regional Estremadura. $3
2005 Enoforum “Porta Do Castelo” White Blend, Regional Alentejo. $5
2005 Esquila Wines “Nomisma” Antão Vaz / Arinto, Regional Alentejo. $16
WHITE WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 7
2006 Casa de Vila Verde, White Blend, DOC Vinho Verde. $12
NV Dao Sul “Cabriz Bruto” Bical / Malvazia Fina,. $11
WHITE WINES WITH A SCORE BELOW 7
2005 Esquila Wines “Dignitas” White Blend, Regional Alentejo. $6
2004 Companhia Das Quintas Calhandriz Moscatel / Arinto, Regional Estremadura. $2.5
2006 Terras Do Alter “Fado” White Blend, Regional Alentejo. $12
NV Jose Maria da Fonseca Vinhos “Lancers White Table Wine.” $6
SCORES FOR PINK WINES
2005 Montez Champalimaud “Paço Teixeiró” Rosé, DOC Douro. Score: 8. $9
NV Jose Maria da Fonseca “Vinhos Lancers” Rosé. Score: 6.5. $6
SCORES FOR RED WINES
RED WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 9
2005 Campolargo “Termeão” Red Blend, DOC Bairrada. $20
2004 Herade do Esporão Touriga Nacional Touriga Nacional, Regional Alentejo. $13
2003 Herade do Esporão “Private Selection” Alicante Bouschet / Aragonês, DOC Alentejo. $25
2004 PV Vt’04 Touriga Nacional, DOC Douro. $60
2005 PV Vt’04 Touriga Nacional, DOC Douro. $60
2001 Quinta do Carmo Red Blend, Regional Alentejo. $25
2003 Quinta do Carmo “Reserva” Red Blend, Regional Alentejo. $50
2003 Quinto do Portal “Grande Reserva” Red Blend, DOC Douro. $35
2003 Symington Family Estates “Chryseia” Red Blend, DOC Duoro . $70
RED WINES SCORING BETWEEN 8.5 and 9
2004 Azamor Red Blend, Regional Alentejo. $18
2004 Azamor Selected Vines Red Blend, Regional Alentejo. $28
2003 Bacalhoa “Só” Touriga Nacional, Regional Terras Do Sado. $30
1999 Caves Vidigal “Reserva” Aragonês, Regional Estremadura. $31.25
2004 Herade do Esporão “Vinha Da Defesa” Red Blend, DOC Alentejo. $11
2004 Herade do Esporão Aragonês, Regional Alentejo. $16
2004 Porta do Fontelo “Dom Divino” Red Blend, DOC Dão. $5
2002 Quinta do Carmo Red Blend, Regional Alentejo. $25
2003 Quinto do Portal “Reserva” Red Blend, DOC Douro. $25
2003 Symington Family Estates “Roriz Reserva” Red Blend, DOC Douro. $25
2000 UDACA Red Blend, DOC Dão. $8
2003 Vicente Leite de Faria Gloria “Colheita Seleccionada” Red Blend, DOC Douro. $17
2003 Vicente Leite de Faria Gloria “Reserva” Red Blend, DOC Douro. $32
RED WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 8.5
2004 Azamor Petite Verdot, Regional Alentejo. $25
2005 Bacalhoa “Tinto Da Anfora” Red Blend, Regional Alentejo. $15
2004 Caves Vidigal “Reserva” Syrah, Regional Estremadura. $19.625
2003 Cortes de Cima Cortes De Cima Touriga Nacional Touriga Nacional, Regional Alentejo. $??
2003 Cortes de Cima Cortes De Cima “Reserva” Red Blend, Regional Alentejo. $??
2001 Esquila Wines “Dignitas Reserva” Red Blend, Regional Alentejo. $??
2003 Esquila Wines “Dignitas Escolha” Red Blend, Regional Alentejo. $??
2004 Herade do Esporão “Reserva” Red Blend, DOC Alentejo. $??
NV Quinta de Ventozelo “Reserva” Red Blend, DOC Douro. $??
2004 Symington Family Estates “Post Scriptum” Red Blend, DOC Douro. $24
2005 Symington Family Estates “Prazo De Roriz” Red Blend, DOC Douro. $12
2004 Vicente Leite de Faria “Animus” Red Blend, DOC Douro. $12
2004 Vinhos do Douro Superior “Quinta Do Côa” Red Blend, DOC Douro. $15
2004 Vinhos do Douro Superior “Quinta Do Côa Reserva” Red Blend, DOC Douro. $22
RED WINES SCORING BETWEEN 8 and 8.5
2003 Bacalhoa “Quinta Da Bacalhoa” Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot, Regional Terras Do Sado. $26
2004 Campolargo “Os Corvos Da Vinha Da Costa” Red Blend, DOC Bairrada . $??
2005 Casa Cadaval Trincadeira, DOC Ribatejo. $19
2005 Herade do Esporão “Monte Velho” Red Blend, Regional Alentejo. $7
2005 Monte do Trevo “Herdade Dos Grous” Red Blend, Regional Alentejo. $8
2003 Monte Novo e Figueirinha “Fonte Mouro Reserva” Red Blend, Regional Alentejo. $8
2003 Monte Novo e Figueirinha “Fonte Mouro Garrafeira” Red Blend, Regional Alentejo. $15
2001 Porta do Fontelo Red Blend, DOC Dão. $4
2005 Symington Family Estates “Bomfim Reserva” Red Blend, DOC Douro. $12
RED WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 8
2005 Casa Cadaval Pinot Noir, Regional Ribatejo. $??
2003 Hardade do Meio “Garrafeira” Red Blend, Regional Alentejo. $??
2005 Monte do Trevo “Herdade Dos Grous Reserva” Red Blend, Regional Alentejo. $25
2003 Monte Seis Reis “Reserva” Red Blend, Regional Alentejo. $28
2001 UDACA Adro Da Sé “Reserva” Red Blend, DOC Dão. $??
RED WINES SCORING BETWEEN 7.5 and 8
2004 Campolargo Pinot Noir, DOC Bairrada. $15
2004 Casa Santos Limas Pinot Noir / Touriga Nacional, Regional Estremadura. $??
2004 Monte Novo e Figueirinha “Herdade Da Figueirinha” Red Blend, Regional Alentejo. $?
2003 Montez Champalimaud “Quinta Do Côtto” Red Blend, DOC Douro. $15
2004 UDACA “Irreverente” Red Blend, Regional Beiras. $??
RED WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 7.5
2004 Monte Novo e Figueirinha “Herdade Das Fontes” Trincadeira / Cabernet Sauvignon, Regional Alentejo. $??
2004 Monte Novo e Figueirinha “Herdade Da Figueirinha” Syrah, Regional Alentejo. $??
RED WINES SCORING AROUND 7 or BELOW
2001 Montez Champalimaud “Côtto Grande Escolha” Touriga Nacional / Tinta Roriz, DOC Douro. $35
2000 Companhia Das Quintas Pegos “Claros” Castelão, DOC Setúbal. $3
