The Connoisseur - November 2023
Well, the leaves are falling here in Portugal and the air’s a bit chilly now, so for our Glass Half Full Club Members we’ve got some selections that will bring some warmth and cheer to your evenings (or mornings?!?) . Light a fire, pop the cork and 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.
Anexo Branco
[grape/vintage] Antão Vaz, Roupeiro / 2021
[region] Alentejo
Love at first drop. A low-intervention white that takes it slow and easy on your tongue, teasing you along a gentle forest path dappled with sunlight. It’s fresh and crisp and floral.
Our sommelier describes it thus: golden yellow colour, expressive nose with white fruit and some tropical fruits. Deep, mineral and clay – in the mouth it presents with good acidity, a smooth attack and a balanced flavour profile. Overall dry and gastronomic.
Pairs well with delicately roasted quail, oven-baked salmon, pasta al vongole, a truffle risotto, or some soft, mild cheeses.
The Alentejo covers a large area and is characterized by its hot, dry summers and mild winters. The vineyards are planted on rolling hills and plains, and the soils are predominantly made up of granite, schist and limestone. Its wines are known for their full-bodied flavors and rich, earthy tones.
Check it out in The Cellar.
Zé da Leonor, Grande Escolha
[grape/vintage] Touriga Nacional / 2016
[region] Tejo
Ok, we’re impressed by the elegant but unpretentious label, and the drinking matches the branding: its a smooth, well-poised and well-educated Cabernet-Syrah blend. It’s a Checkov short story wrapped in a Pessoa poem, or maybe it’s the other way around – we had a few glasses of it before we thought of that analogy. Either way, it’s complex enough to have us purring.
Our sommelier’s thoughts: garnet color, complex nose with notes of black pepper, tobacco and hints of methol. A broad, well-structured mouth, with a lot of freshness and elegance. Lots of promise for maturation in the coming years.
We suggest pairing this with a hearty dish of cozido à Portuguesa or a roast lamb with rosemary and thyme.
Tejo (until 2009 called Ribatejo), is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in Portugal, the first vines here dating as far back as Roman times. The region is strongly influenced by the River Tejo which keeps the climate temperate, and along whose alluvial plains most vines are grown. White wines tend to have high acidity with floral and tropical notes; reds are aromatic with smooth tannins.
Check it out in The Cellar.
Herédias Reserva Tinto
[grape/vintage] Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca / 2020
[region] Douro
We smell rich earth spiced with oak and baked in a blackberry tart. In fact, we thought, this would go quite well with a fruit pie but couldn’t find one fast enough. Instead, drank it with a side of beef ravioli. Perfect. And the verdict is it will taste even better in 5 years!
Our sommelier has this to say about it: intense ruby color. Young, and full of fruit. Notes of forest fruits and discreet notes of toast from the barrel. Excellent freshness, complexity and acidity. Long and persistent aftertaste.
Pairs well with grilled prime red meats like a juicy picanha or t-bone, though a lamb chop or a rich pasta might not be a bad shout either.
The wines of the Douro Valley are known for their depth, complexity, and aging potential. The soil is predominantly schist, a type of metamorphic rock that retains heat and helps to ripen the grapes. The region’s unique terroir, combined with the use of indigenous grape varieties and traditional winemaking techniques, create wines that are rich, complex, and full of character.
Check it out in The Cellar.