The Enthusiast - 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 "Superior", Tinto
[grape/vintage] Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cão, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional / 2019
[region] Douro
The oldest demarcated wine region in the world and fourteen generations of winemakers combine to produce the perfect easy-drinking Douro. You want deep and rich and intense? You got it. You want a bit of chocolate and wet earth and smoke and leather wrapped in sweet cherry and oak and vanilla? You got it. Open alongside a bbq picanha or an osso bucco and imagine a late September sun setting over the hills of the Upper Douro.
Our sommelier describes it thus: a bright wine with a ruby red colour, aromas of ripe fruit, blackberries and notes of wood. On the mouth, a pleasant medley of forest fruits with wild flower.
Pairs well with grilled or roasted meats, and other intense flavors and textures. Pasta carbonara or some meat empanadas wouldn’t disappoint. Allow to open for a little while before serving.
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.
Ribeiro Santo "Rabo de Ovelha"
[grape/vintage] Rabo de Ovelha / 2020
[region] Dão
Sheep’s tail. It doesn’t exactly make you think about wine, or vineyards or fine dining. But take a sip of this delightfully crisp, complex and gastronomic white wine and, we assure you, your mind’s little tail will be blown. It’s a “Fellas Fave” for a reason.
Our sommelier’s thoughts: delicate, crystal-green in colour, with an elegant, balsamicy nose with hints of wild berries and tobacco. Excellent body and structure on the palate, with a distinct minerality and bright acidity for a well-rounded but light finish
We suggest pairing this with a delicate white fish, grilled shrimp or lobster tail, a spicy ceviche, chicken picatta or tender pork loin.
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.
Vidigal, Touriga Nacional / Syrah
[grape/vintage] Touriga Nacional, Syrah / 2018
[region] Lisboa
A pas-de-deux, a dance of opposites, a foreigner and a native. The one, versatile and complex, the other strong, passionate and rooted. They move across the palette gracefully, playfully, seemingly distinct yet as one. Together, then apart, then together again in a smooth, fluid embrace. A perfect dance of Syrah and Touriga Nacional from one of the oldest wine-growing regions in the world.
Our sommelier has this to say about it: ruby red colour, complex and delicate aromas of ripe fruit and blueberries with light spicy notes and a touch of chocolate freshness. In the mouth it is fruity with soft tannins. Long and delicate finish.
Works well with most main dishes with strong flavours like a grilled steak, creamy pasta, roast fowl, or a pungent gorgonzola cheese.
The Lisboa region is located just north and west of Lisbon. The region’s diverse landscape includes coastal areas, hills and valleys, which creates a variety of microclimates and soil types, producing a range of wines, including red, white, and rosé, and is known for its high-quality and innovative winemaking.
Check it out in The Cellar.