The Connoisseur - January 2024
A new year, a new box of wine! Despite a rather drunk December, or maybe because of it, we’re full of enthusiasm for 2024. We’ve got exciting events coming up, new wines to try and fun features for our Glass Half Full Club Members. Your January box will kick off the year in style – 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.
ZOM Reserva Tinto
[grape/vintage] Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Old Vines / 2020
[region] Douro
An old stone wall, creeping blackberry vines, a gnarled old oak tree. A steep, terraced hillside and far below, the dark and dusty Douro River. This is a classic Douro red, with a solid base of Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional but finished off with a mystery blend of old vine grapes. Open a wee bit chilled, then allow it to breathe and tell its story.
Our sommelier describes it thus: intense ruby color, with a complex aroma of wild red fruits, soft balsamic notes and spicy nuances. In the mouth it presents its well-balanced body and tannins, intense notes of fruit with a complex and prolonged finish.
Pairs well with a t-bone steak, roast leg of lamb, venison stew, strong stinky cheese.
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.
Casa Américo, Touriga Nacional
[grape/vintage] Touriga Nacional / 2016
[region] Dão
Rich, refined, opulent and a little bit dangerous, this silky-smooth Touriga Nacional speaks of homemade plum jam and black velvet slippers and wild nymphs in the midnight forest. It will work its magic across the courses and across your palate.
Our sommelier’s thoughts: intense ruby colour, harmonious aroma with notes of wild fruits and spices. In the mouth it is intense and muscular and has a long and spicy finish.
…a succulent, seasoned piece of venison, a sunday roast, some strong cheeses or dense rich fruit cake. Decant and let it open up, a good couple of hours.
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.
José Mota Capitão, Figas
[grape/vintage] Arinto, Galego Dourado / 2022
[region] Setúbal
Like having a personal cooling fan while sitting on a hot Lisbon tram car in mid-July. Fresh, lemony and clean as a whistle, this very drinkable white is a swimming pool glinting in the afternoon sun, a fresh trout jumping in a mountain stream.
Our sommelier has this to say about it: intense nose with citrus notes, some flint giving a mineral touch. In the mouth, marked acidity, but not aggressive, with a note of minerality and once again with citrus notes standing out.
Pairs well with white meats, cold salads, baked or grilled fish, pasta, risotto and cheese.
The Setúbal region is thought to be the home of the first grape vines ever planted on the Iberian Peninsula (c 2000 BCE). Today, the region’s wines range from the sweet, floral Moscatel from the Serra da Arrábida, to the sublime reds of a well-structured Palmela. With fresh, coastal breezes and hot summers, the region offers some exquisite tasting experiences.
Check it out in The Cellar.