The Enthusiast - March 2024
A sniff of spring in the air, a whiff of wine in the nose hairs. March is a teaser month here in Portugal. A few days of sunshine here, a week of rain there. Whose ready for summer???!!! To help you forget that we’re still more than three months from the summer solstice, open your Glass Half Full Box and caress each bottle lovingly…before popping a cork and discovering more wonders of the Portuguese wine world.
Descriptions below, and if you run out, you can order more from The Cellar.
Don’t forget, you can look up past boxes in The Archive.
Luis Pato, Vinhas Velhas Branco
[grape/vintage] Bical, Cercial, Sercialinho / 2021
[region] Bairrada
Luis Pato says that 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 describes it thus: The heady and enticing aroma of pear juice, white flower, apple and toasted almond. Excellent acidity on first touch, well-balanced medium body, dry, lemony and juicy. Very gastronomic.
Pairs well with itself as an aperitivo, but imagine it washing down a lighly-broiled sea-bass or a bowl of steamed mussels.
Bairrada produces wines with high acidity and tannins, often aged in oak barrels to soften the tannins and develop complex flavors. The region’s soil is predominantly clay and limestone, which helps to retain moisture and gives the wines a distinct minerality.
Check it out in The Cellar.
Herédias, Tinto
[grape/vintage] Tinta Amarela, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional / 2020
[region] Douro
This is one of those wines that does more than what it says on the tin. It might look like a traditional Douro red but it’s more subtle than that. Open it a few minutes before drinking and let it breathe. It will reveal its complexity and reward your patience.
Our sommelier’s thoughts: Young and complex at the same time, with notes of wild berry. Elegant in the mouth with good structure and volume. A wine with some complexity and well-marked acidity. Long and persistent aftertaste.
We suggest pairing this with grilled prime red meats like a juicy picanha or t-bone, or a hearty game stew.
The wines of the Douro Valley, typically a blend of grape varieties, 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.
Astronauta, Aragonez
[grape/vintage] Aragonês / 2022
[region] Alentejo
Pure and poetic in a Charles Bukowski kind of way, like being slappped on the face with a dusty metaphor of cork trees, ripe plums and a rusting old tractor while a barefoot kid steals your wallet. Fresh and deep and happy when washing down a Quiejo de Nisa or a grilled chouriço.
Our sommelier has this to say about it: Warm ruby colour, notes of cherry, plum, licorice and a hint of coffee. In the mouth it is dry and medium bodied, typical of Aragonez in the region. Good tannins with balanced acidity. Very drinkable and perfect with comida Alentejana.
Works well with a local charcuterie board, a nice fatty grilled chouriço or steak, or a rich, creamy pasta carbonara.
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.