The Connoisseur - October 2023
Thank you for being a member of The Glass Half Full Club. We hope you’re already enjoying this month’s selections. While you sip, read about the wines in the descriptions below, and if you really like one you can order more of it from The Cellar.
Don’t forget, you can look up past boxes in The Archive.
Luis Pato, Vinhas Velhas Branco
[region] Bairrada
Luis Pato says this is his personal interpretation of a typical Bairrada white and who are we to argue with the master!? On the mouth, this is like lying in an orchard on a dusty, late summer afternoon with a gentle breeze brushing the tips of one’s toes.
Our sommelier loves this wine, and finds the nose to have the heady and enticing aroma of pear juice, white flower, apple and toasted almond; excellent acidity in the mouth, a well-balanced medium body, and overall dry, lemony and juicy. Very gastronomic.
So, no surprise, this one works great with pretty much any meal, but imagine it washing down a lighly-broiled sea-bass, a bowl of steamed mussels or even holding hands with some regional chouriço. You wouldn’t even go wrong bringing this out for the festive season, for those who prefer not to douse themselves in heavy red wine!
Check it out in The Cellar.
Terras de Lava, Merlot
[region] Ilha do Pico, Açores
It’s pretty hard to find a wine from Pico Wines that we don’t like and this Merlot is no exception. It’s bloody good. Subtle, deep and light all at the same time, it perfectly balances this classic French grape with the rugged landscape and ocean winds of the island. Savor it on your palate. Drink in those volcanic after-notes and hear the waves crashing on the rocky shore of your imagination.
Our sommelier describes it thus: a ruby colour with a wonderfully complex nose of wild berry, subtle hints of pepper wrapped delicately in a light smokiness. An elegant palate, with good acidity and smoothness for a long finish.
This really is a Fella Fave and we’re happy popping its cork at pretty much any meal, but for sure it loves partnering up with a nice fatty pork cheek, a filet mignon, or some mature cheeses. But surprise yourself and pair it with a grilled tuna steak or chocolate decadence cake.
As for Açorean wines, Ilha do Pico is truly a special terroir. The wine industry on the island (and across the Açores) is small but growing, and the local government is supporting the re-planting of historic vineyards in the rich, volcanic soils. Very worth keeping an eye on or just go there and check it out for yourself!
Check it out in The Cellar.
Ribeiro Santo, Automático Tinto
[region] Dão
Hand harvested off 40 year old vines, this low-intervention red is a guitar by the campfire, a good book on a rainy afternoon, or a long meal at a Paris café filled with Gauloise and existentialism – it’s alive and rootsy and a little complicated.
Sommelier notes: medium ruby color, a pleasant aroma of red fruits with hints of peppery spices. It’s a fresh, young wine, true to the region, with structure and exuberant finish. This wine is quite versatile and rustic from the absence of oak with the fresh fruit and the wonderful acidity from the terroir.
You could probably stick this in your back pack and enjoy it by the side of a mountain stream, but it loves a good meal, so pair it with a seculant roast meat rubbed in dried herbs, a simple mushroom risotto or some mild cheeses and charcuterie, maybe even keep it going for a dessert of fresh berry tart.
The Dão region, in the center of Portugal, is known for elegant, complex and full-bodied wines, with exceptional acidity and aging potential. The region’s vineyards are planted on granite hillsides, and the soil is predominantly sandy and well-drained.
Check it out in The Cellar.