The Enthusiast - December 2023
Jingle, jingle, tinkle, tinkle, clink, clink. It’s the sound of glasses being raised to toast the mid-winter festivities and these three wines are perfect accompaniments to any party you are planning. Descriptions below, and if you fancy more, you can order from The Cellar.
Don’t forget, you can look up past boxes in The Archive.
Zé da Leonor, Reserva Tinto
[grape/vintage] Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Touriga Nacional / 2020
[region] Tejo
This deep dive into an old Ribatejo terroir is full bodied and fully grounded. Open it up and let it breath to release the memories and history of this winemaking family that go back generations. Tobacco, chocolate, clove, aniseed…it’s a winter dinner party all in one.
Our sommelier describes it thus: a deep garnet color, expressive nose with notes of ripe fruit, vanilla and soft fresh resin. In the mouth an intense, full wine, with structure and acidity to ensure a favorable evolution in the coming years.
Pairs well with a juicy ossobuco, dripping off the bone, a wintery duck à l’orange, or a dark chocolate flourless torte. Recommend decanting, and let it breathe a couple of hours.
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.
Hasso, Tinto
[grape/vintage] Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz e Touriga Nacional / 2019
[region] Douro
This is a loyal Douro red, faithful as a Rhodesian Ridgeback catching the last rays of the sun as they fall below the steep hillsides of Alto Douro. It’s open-minded and straightforward, with its feet solidly on the ground and its nose in a berry bush.
Our sommelier’s thoughts: ruby coloured wine, with intense aromas of red fruits and slightly floral. Very fresh and mineral, with good structure in the mouth and long finish..
We suggest pairing this with tender young things like a veal marsala or slow-roast lamb, or a hearty pasta like a bolognese or carbonara.
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.
Luis Pato "Blanc de Blancs", Espumante
[grape/vintage] Maria Gomes, Sercialinho / 2023
[region] Bairrada
Like spending an evening with an old friend after years apart…easy, fun and full of stories. This classic Alicante Bouschet speaks of the Alentejo soil warming in the late summer sun, ripening berries and plums, and has legs wrapped in dark chocolate.
Our sommelier has this to say about it: intense notes of black fruit and spices, with obvious floral nuances. Fresh and dried plums, excellent acidity and structure. Rich, silky tannins. Pleasant and very long finish with notes of chocolate and vanilla.
This wine is pretty versatile. Try it with a classic pepperoni pizza, a veal milanese, a sunday roast or a dark chocolate cake drizzled in rasberry coulis.
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.