The Connoisseur - January 2024
Hello 2025! Phew…2024 was something, wasn’t it? We don’t know about you but we made it through thanks to some great wine and great friendships. As that amorous old bard, Ovid, said in The Art of Love, “When there is plenty of wine, sorrow and worry take wing.”
To kick off the year, we’re going back to The Wine Fellas’ very own ancient history (December 2023 to be precise), bringing back some trusted old favourites.
As always, 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.
Casa Américo, Encruzado
[grape/vintage] Encruzado / 2021
[region] Dão
Mmmmmm. Smooth and round as a river rock. Crisp and fresh as a blast of mountain air from the slopes of the Serra da Estrella. Deep and complex as a Zen koan. This is a classic Encruzado…expressive and delicate, balanced and opinionated.
Pairs well with fish and seafood, a rich tuna steak, or maybe something South Asian like coconut shrimp, or stay close to the source with the Portuguese classic bacalhau com natas.
Read more about it in The Cellar.
Zom, Reserva Tinto
[grape/vintage] Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Old Vines / 2019
[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.
Pairs well with a t-bone steak, roast leg of lamb, venison stew, strong stinky cheese.
Read more about it in The Cellar.
Casa da Atela, Castelão "Vinhas Velhas"
[grape/vintage] Castelão / 2021
[region] Tejo
You can taste the experience in this one. These 75-year old vines don’t need to wear any fancy clothes or use complicated words to impress you. They know their roots and they know their place, a well-drained alluvial plain along the Tejo river with misty mornings and sun-drenched afternoons. With some gentle handling in the adega these Castelão grapes chatter away like a bunch of old folk sitting under a plain tree in the praça – calm and steady and smooth with a twist of sardonic, world-weary humour and a twinge of saudade for lost youth.
Pairs well with 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.
Read more about it in The Cellar.