Tag Archives: portugal

Broadbent Rainwater Medium Dry NV, Madeira, Portugal

15 Saturday Apr 2023

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Medium amber with high viscosity legs (19% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of dried prune, nuts, raisins, saline and an almost Flor-like note.  The palate is off-dry with high acidity and a full body.  The alcohol is noticeable right off the bat, but then I start to get flavors of warm nuts, dried raisins and prunes, an oxidized character with some dried lemon peel and pith.  The wine has weight yet is very sprite- the lightness is refreshing in a strange way.  The finish is medium in length and a touch hot, which is to be expected from a fortified wine of this level.  At $18 it is a great aperitif alternative that gets 88 points from me and 4 stars.  Drink this non-vintage Tinta Negra wine on purchase.  Salut….

Broadbent 10 Years Old Malmsey, Madeira, Portugal

02 Sunday Apr 2023

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Pale Amber in the glass with a very viscous sheen on the walls. The nose has pronounced aromas of walnuts, caramel, dark chocolate paste, raisins, prunes, almond skin and a touch of heat. The palate is sweet and luscious with medium acidity. Confirming the flavors on this full bodied wine that finishes long, the almond bitterness I got on the nose translates to the back end and it’s delicious. 93 points for this silky treat that runs $50 makes it a 4 star effort.  Enjoy with dessert or cheese tray.  Salut….

Quinta do Crasto Roquette & Cazes 2019, Douro, Portugal

01 Wednesday Mar 2023

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Inky purple in the glass with virtually no legs- 14.5% ABV.  Vanilla, spice, ripe blackberry, (served in the wrong glass so it was difficult to draw off aromas).  Ripe black fruits, fresh oaky notes of vanilla, chocolate powder, black plum and cassis.  Delicious with medium tannins and acidity- a full body that covers my palate through to a medium length finish.  Great drinking right now with a few years left in cellar.  92 points from me and at $26, worthy of looking for as this 5 star beauty will impress.  Salut….

Quevedo Family Alegria Vineyard Touriga Nacional 2018, Douro, Portugal

17 Tuesday Jan 2023

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Deep purple colored it stains the walls and has a slight bluish tinge on the edges.  On the nose it is very heady with aromas of dark, ripe blueberry, black currants, blue plum, violets, mint and a touch of oak by way of baking spices and chocolate powder.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and high tannins that are fine grained.  This full bodied wine has plenty going on flavorwise.  Blueberry, cacao, blackcurrant, plum, florals and some spices.  The question of balance comes into mind as the alcohol (15% ABV) is noticeable on the nose and the mid palate.  I will get over it but buyer beware.  The finish is medium in length and blue fruited.  The tannins having vanished, leaving a touch of refreshing acidity.  The Douro Valley and this varietal, Touriga Nacional are well known to Port lovers worldwide.  They make delicious and full throttle fortified wines, so having ripe, sun-drenched grapes to make a still wine is not an issue.  The results are in this bottle- a yummy delight to pair with hearty dishes.  Mine is Steak and Ale pie tonight but it will do well with grilled leg of Lamb or even Osso Bucco.  I would drink this wine till 2030, it has the structure needed to cellar.  90 points (the slight imbalance alcohol cost a point) and for $19- 5 stars.  Look for this wine or even this varietal and region when you are searching for something new.  Salut….

Quinta Das Carvalhas Reserva Tawny Port NV, Porto, Portugal

12 Saturday Nov 2022

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I bought this Tawny Port to compare to the Ruby version I recently tasted.  It is a medium garnet color, less intense that the ruby port.  The nose is quite pronounced with raisins, prunes, jammy blackberry, walnuts, Brazil nuts and dusty mocha.  Semi sweet on the palate with medium acidity and medium tannins.  I get rich flavors of  stewed black fruit with prunes and raisins.  The nuttiness is not as pronounced on the palate as the nose but it is still present.  The heat on the back end is quite noticeable on this full bodied wine.  It’s delicious with a long finish that I’m savoring.  For the price of $23 this 91 pointer gets 5 stars from me.  I’m trying to decide if I prefer Ruby vs. Tawny port.  You?  Drink this with some rich cheese.  Salut….

Quinta Das Carvalhas Reserva Ruby Port NV, Porto, Portugal

04 Friday Nov 2022

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I love Port, but I’ll be honest…. the packaging lured me on this one.  Who doesn’t need a small decanter to have around?  This Ruby Port is deep garnet colored and sports the traditional 20% ABV.  The nose is gorgeous- ripe black plum jam, golden raisins, caramel, toffee, figs and bakers spice box.  The palate is semi-sweet with lush stewed black fruit, toffee, caramel, figs and spices.  Medium (-) acidity and a full body with supple tannins make for a great mouthfeel.  The finish is long and laced with black fruit nuance.  The alcohol is noticeable but not a detractor, well integrated.  This is a delicious bottle of dessert wine that begs for blue cheese and some apricots with almonds.  I love it- 92 points from me.  Th upcharge for the decanter and packaging brings this beauty to $42.  Get one for the souvenir factor and then downgrade to the regular 750ml bottles to lay around, they run $19 and are well worth stocking up on for the cold winter ahead.  5 stars, drink now.  Salut….

Osborne Fine White Port NV, Porto, Portugal

19 Wednesday Oct 2022

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Another new one for me- white Port.  This one is medium gold colored with really slow moving legs (19.5% ABV).  Floral aromas galore followed by some saline, orange marmalade and nuts.  The palate is sweet and full bodied with medium acidity.  Marzipan, flowers, orange marmalade and nuts come to mind on the flavor profile.  The salinity is not apparent.  There is a touch of bitterness on the finish which is medium length.  It reminds me of biting into an unripe almond or the seed of an apricot.  For my first go at white port I must say I like it, it’s different yet familiar.  For $25 this is a tasty dessert wine that could be served as an aperitif if chilled.  Salut….

Luis Vieira Montaria Tempranillo-Alicante Bouschet 2019, Lisboa, Portugal

11 Tuesday Oct 2022

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This wine is a blend of Tempranillo and Alicante Bouschet which is a Teinturier grape (flesh is also red).  It’s a deep shade of purple in the glass and it stains the walls.  On the nose- ripe red plums, black cherry, menthol, vanilla and almond pith.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and high tannins (remember the stained walls of the glass?).  The flavors are rich and ripe- dark red fruit, charcoal, vanilla, menthol and an espresso strength coffee note right at the end.  Full bodied, it finishes with medium length along with some very tannic grip.  It is a rather complex wine for $15 that gets 91 points from me and 5 stars.  If you like ’em dry, pop-n-pour or else cellar this wine for a few years but drink up by 2030.  I am pairing with grilled meat and roasted cauliflower rubbed with Chorizo seasoning.  Salut….

Pica Pau Red Blend 2019, VR Lisboa, Portugal

10 Monday Oct 2022

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Inky ruby colored, this opaque wine looks nearly purple in the glass.  The nose has an interesting combination of (French?) oak derived aromas alongside red cherry, pomegranate and raspberry notes.  I smell subtle perfume along with spices and a green leaf note.  The palate of this blend of Castelão, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional wine is bone dry with medium (+) acidity and high tannins.  Flavors of black raspberry, cherry cola, pomegranate along with smoke, spice and tomato leaf.  Medium bodied it finishes medium length with some tartness and loads of tannic grip. If you like a dry wine or need something to cut through a fatty cut of Ribeye, this one is right up your alley- or else decant/aerate it for a while.  Drink till 2028.  89 points and 5 stars for this $12 effort.  Salut….

Sandeman Fine Rich Madeira NV, Portugal

08 Saturday Oct 2022

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This is my first go at Madeira, which I bought after looking for some Port to add to my Beef Short-rib stock.  This bottling is pale to medium amber colored, it reminds me of the stone Tigers Eye.  As to be expected from a fortified wine (19%ABV), the legs are very slow moving and thick.  The nose has intense aromas of nuts, caramel, sea air and a touch of yeast.  The palate is dry tasting but very rich with nuts, treacle, stewed black fruit, brine and prune syrup.  It is mouth coating with medium tannins and medium (-) acidity.  The alcohol hits on the back end where it is tingling the sides of my tongue.  Finish-wise this wine has a long ending (30+ seconds).  Seeing as it’s my first go I can’t really pass judgement, but if you like Oloroso Sherry crossed with Tawny Port, this might be up your alley.  For $18 it’s not going to break the bank trying something new as a dessert wine or for enriching a beef stock.  I like it!  Salut….