The Insider - August 2024
Whoohoo!!! Summer is finally here! And, as we promised, we’ve stacked your boxes with the perfect accompaniments for sun, sand and seafood. So, no excuses. Bust out the barbie, order some oysters and clams, and soak up the rays before work and school and life remember that you’re supposed to be behaving yourself.
Wine 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.
Terroir Vulcânico, "Frei Gigante"
[grape/vintage] Arinto dos Açores, Terrantez do Pico, Verdelho / 2021
[region] Ilha do Pico, Açores
Belgium is famous for beer brewed by Trappist monks. Well, what else are they going to do between masses? If they were in the Açores they’d definitely switch to making wine like this and be damn proud of it too. Complex, rich and layered, it’s like a Gregorian chant wrapped in gold leaf and sprayed with mermaid’s tears and lemon zest.
Our sommelier describes it thus: Golden yellow colour with aromas of citrus and tropical fruits mixed with volcanic notes. On the palette, complex and layered with creamy saltiness, fresh citrus and peach. Very engaging, vibrant and fresh with a long, mineral and salty finish.
Pairs well with a risotto al sepo nero with grilled shrimp, some strong, creamy cheeses, or a fresh-baked cherry pie with vanilla ice cream.
The Açores is home to a small but growing wine industry, with vineyards planted in soils rich in volcanic minerals, imparting a distinctive taste profile to the wines.
Check it out in The Cellar.
Casa Américo, Branco de Uvas Tintas
[grape/vintage] Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro, Tinto Roriz / 2022
[region] Setúbal
A masquerade. A make-believe. A ruse. A fruity white wine from select batches of Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro and Tinta Roriz grapes. The winemaker is having us on, teasing us with a liquid almost as clear as water yet when opened fills our nose with canteloupe and strawberry, and delights our palette with texture and balance and a deep long finish. Only 4,000 bottles of this limited edition ‘blanc de noir’ were produced. Get it while you can!
Our sommelier’s thoughts: An elegant white wine with an intense fruity aroma of melon and strawberry. Good structure with texture and personality and a fresh and prolonged finish.
We suggest pairing this with a fatty fish, clams swimming in butter white wine broth, or a hearty veggie soup.
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.
Ilha do Pico, "Terras de Lava" Rosé
[grape/vintage] Merlot, Syrah / 2022
[region] Ilha do Pico, Açores
Ok, we admit, wine tasting can be a bit of a magician’s trick. You ask someone if they taste apricot and that’s what they taste. But seriously, this rosé from Ilha do Pico really really does taste of the sea and the volcano and of strawberries and raspberries and wet stones. It’s layered and blended and full and round like sucking on a pebble. Drink slightly chilled, with or without food.
Our sommelier had this to say about it: Light salmon colour, with an elegant aroma combining notes of red fruits like raspberry and strawberries with a delicate minerality. On the palette, a captivating, aromatic freshness with well-balanced fruits and acidity, hints of seaweed and sea salt, and a long, smooth finish.
Pairs well with itself as an aperitif, a warm goat cheese salad, fresh Setúbal oysters with a single dash of hot sauce, pork sausage grilled on the barbecue.
The Açores is home to a small but growing wine industry, with vineyards planted in soils rich in volcanic minerals, imparting a distinctive taste profile to the wines.
Check it out in The Cellar.