Tag Archives: portugal

Anselmo Mendes Contacto Alvarinho 2023, Vinho Verde, Portugal

25 Monday Aug 2025

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Pale gold with copper highlights, and a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of peach, orange blossom, Brazil nut skin, lanolin, sea spray, iodine, and white grapefruit pith.  The palate is dry, with high acidity, and a full body.  There’s a waxiness to the texture- it’s an interesting dichotomy of high acidity that normally pierces, against the full bodied, waxy mouth coating sensation I am getting.  It’s a touch bitter from the skin contact but I get the grapefruit pith and fruit, saline, peach, orange blossom, and a hint of nutty skin.  The finish is quite tart and refreshing, easing up on the heaviness I initially got.  It lasts a medium length.  Overall this is a delightful wine that I paid $23 for.  It gets 91 points and 5 stars.  We are baking Salmon with a lemon caper butter and rice to pair.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Anselmo Mendes Contacto Alvarinho

Luis Vieira Reserva Capital 2020, Portugal

18 Sunday May 2025

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Deep ruby colored, with medium viscosity (13.5 % ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, blackberry, licorice, coffee, mint, a hint of game, and cracked pepper.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium body and medium tannins.  Medium intensity flavors of blackberry, black plum, kirsch, licorice, coffee and black pepper.  The finish is medium in length.  Overall this is a well made wine that will drink nicely till 2028 and pair great with steaks, burgers, and pasta.  It gets 88 points from me and for $14- 4 stars.  An interesting blend of Trincadeira (40%), Syrah (40%), and Aragonez, aka Tempranillo making up the balance.  Salut….

Luis Vieira Reserva Capital

Real Companhia Velha Quinta das Carvalhas 20 Year Old Tawny Port, Portugal

27 Sunday Apr 2025

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Pale strawberry colored with slight staining, and high viscosity (20% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of chocolate covered raisins, Brazil nuts, blueberry compote, stewed black cherry, old railroad ties, and crushed/dried flower petals.  The palate is semi-sweet with medium (+) acidity, a full body and medium (-) tannins that are fully integrated.  Medium (+) intensity flavors echo the nose but there is a definitive streak of alcohol that burns on the way down.  There’s also a mid palate bitterness and some old wood influence.  The finish is quite long, but unfortunately quite hot as well.  Alcohol does not normally bother me, but this one is incessant.  At $55, it’s not your everyday dessert wine.  It’s a decent drop but I can only go 90 points, making it a 3 star wine.  Pair it with something sweet or cheesy.  Salut…..

Quinta Das Carvalhas 20-Year-Old Tawny Port

Dona Maria White 2022, Alentejo, Portugal

24 Monday Mar 2025

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My tasting group kicked off this session with this Arinto from Portugal.  We tasted it chilled and then at room temp.  We noticed it was medium lemon colored with low viscosity (12.5% ABV).  The nose had medium intensity aromas of grapefruit, honeysuckle, apricot, nectarine, pineapple, sea spray, and wet rock lending it a touch of  minerality.  The palate was dry with medium (+) acidity, and a light body.  It was more tart than I was expecting with flavors of grapefruit, slightly unripe pineapple, honeysuckle, nectarine and apricot as well as some salinity.  The finish was rather short yet inviting.  I gave it 13 points on our scale.

The room temperature tasting was surprising.  Less intense aromas that kicked off with a wet wool smell.  Someone mentioned acetone- Gosh I hope not.  A more intense pineapple alongside lanolin, less intense honeysuckle, saline, wet rock and stone fruit.  The palate seemed less acidic but heavier in body.  Apricot featured the most with honeysuckle, yellow apple, and lanolin supporting.  The finish was more pronounced and longer yet I scored this one lower at 11 points on our scale.  Overall- this is a 90 point wine that I thoroughly enjoyed the following night, well chilled.  It runs $18 therefore I consider it a 4 star effort to drink by 2028.  Shrimp scampi comes to mind.  Salut….

Dona Maria White arinto

Fiuza Premium Alicante Bouschet Reserva 2019, Vinho Regional Tejo, Portugal

29 Wednesday Jan 2025

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The Alicante Bouschet variety is one of the select group of Teinturier grapes, the pulp being red in color.  This produces a dark wine that used to be a blending partner to lighter wines.  Nowadays, single variety bottling are more common and can be truly delicious, usually at a reasonable price point.

Deep ruby colored with very slight staining, and high viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, black plum, brambleberry, eucalyptus, black currant, chocolate, spice box and vanilla.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a medium (+) body, and medium (+) tannins that are integrating nicely.  Rich, ripe black fruits coat the gums whilst the spicebox, vanilla, chocolate and some green herbs add nuance.  The finish is quite long and refined.  The fruit and tannins work well together and are very balanced.  I love this wine- especially at the $15 price point.  It gets 92 points from me and 5 stars.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Fiuza Premium Alicante Bouschet

Martinez Gassiot Late Bottled Vintage Port 2018, Porto Portugal

23 Thursday Jan 2025

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Deep, inky-ruby colored, with moderate staining, and high viscosity (19.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum ganache, fresh prune, blueberry jam,  cocoa powder, baking spice, leather, old oak, and a touch of juniper leaf.  The palate is sweet, with high acidity, a full body, and high levels of silky tannins that coat my gums.  The intensity of the fruit is medium (+) and mimics the nose.  It’s ripe, rich, opulent and delicious.  There’s a charcoal note on the mid palate that adds intrigue.  The finish is long and a touch astringent, which is kinda nice.  I’m thoroughly enjoying this $20 bottle that gets 91 points from me and 5 stars.  Drink till 2030 with a nice cheese tray.  Salut….

Martinez Late Bottled Vintage Port

Quevedo Family Red Blend Xisto 2021, Portugal

22 Sunday Dec 2024

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Deep purple colored with a watery meniscus, and a medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black raspberry, red plum, acai berry, vanilla bean, menthol, and red licorice.  The palate is slightly off-dry with medium acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium (-) tannins.  Very light in the mouth with very little structure- it has nice flavors of raspberry, plum, acai berry and red licorice with some vanilla and menthol notes.  The finish is medium (-) in length but pleasing with its fresh approach.  A blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Sousão that drinks effortlessly.  This easygoing style will appeal as an aperitif or with lighter fare. It runs $11 and gets 86 points from me which makes it a 3 star wine.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

queued family xisto red

Quinta da Foz Reserva 2020, Douro, Portugal

08 Sunday Dec 2024

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Deep purple colored with medium staining, and medium viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, cassis, vanilla, coffee, dark chocolate, menthol, bramble berry, and a medicinal note.  It’s very enticing.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body, and medium (+) tannins that are melding nicely.  The richness of the fruit is profound- dark berry with oak nuance by way of vanilla, coffee, chocolate, and a medicinal note.  The menthol note only appears on the back end. The finish is juicy and medium (+) in length.  A delicious blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tina Roriz.  I have tasted two earlier vintages of this Reserva with equally impressive notes and high scores.  I will go with 94 points this time and for $25- I’m stocking up.  5 stars with a drink till 2030 window.  Salut….

Quinta da Foz Reserva

Real Companhia Velha Quinta das Carvalhas Late Bottle Vintage Port 2019, Portugal

05 Thursday Dec 2024

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Dark ruby colored with medium staining and a high viscosity (20% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of macerated bramble berry, blackberry pie, dried cigar wrapper, old oak, dark chocolate, sweet prune, and a hint of wintergreen.  The palate is semi-sweet with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are polished.  The flavor intensity is medium (+) and echoes the nose- leading to a long finish that is slightly sweet, slightly dry, and slightly tangy giving a wonderful mouthfeel.  I have had the 2018 vintage and enjoyed it thoroughly.  This one is perhaps even better and gets 92 points from me.  I paid $23 and give it 5 stars.  Delicious and deserving of some Bleu cheese to pair.  Drink till 2035.  Salut….

quinta das carvalhas lbv 2019

Dow’s Trademark Finest Reserve Port NV, Porto, Portugal

17 Sunday Nov 2024

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Completely opaque, deep purple colored with heavy staining and a high viscosity (19.5% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of ripe blackcurrant, blackberry compote, fresh cut wood, purple licorice, a faint hint of tomato stalk and steeped bramble berry. The palate is sweet with medium (+) acidity, a full body and medium  tannins that lose grip pretty quickly.  Ripe and rich flavors of black fruit with a green note and a woody hint.  The alcohol hits on the back end with some heat but it’s to be expected.  The finish itself is delicious and long.  It’s a decent drop that gets 90 points from me and can be found for around $25 making it a 4 star effort.  It begs for some Brie and Blue cheese.  Salut….

Dow's Trademark Finest Reserve Port