The Connoisseur – March 2025
The Connoisseur – March 2025 March madness is upon us. The white rabbit is checking his watch. The tea party is set. The red queen has lost her head. At least there’s one thing you can rely on: The Wine Fellas’ monthly delivery! We’re sticking with a winter theme with some hearty reds and unctuous white wines. Great for dressing up as the Mad Hatter or Alice in Wonderland for your Carneval party. 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. Cinética, Loureiro/Arinto Reserva Branco [grape/vintage] Loureiro, Arinto / 2023[region] Vinho Verde This is like June Carter and Johnny Cash singing a love ballad in a fruit orchard in late summer – all Georgia peach pie, fresh cream, lemon and spices. Their voices, mellowed with time in the barrel, are deep and rich and edged with a good acerbic wit. A fresh breeze brings the scent of wildflowers from the meadow and everything comes together in perfect harmony. Pairs well with grilled bacalhau with a side of new potatoes drizzled in green olive oil, a medium-spiced curry or truffle risotto. Check it out in The Cellar. Antítese, Alicante Boushcet/Merlot [grape/vintage] Alicante Bouschet, Merlot / 2016 [region] Lisboa A real French puzzle of a wine made in the summer heat of the Alentejo evoking another time and place. Late 40s. A smokey, dimly-lit jazz club in Place Pigalle with red velvet curtains and dark wood tables. A seductive alto sax solo meanders like a chocolate river amongst the well-dressed punters. Then the drummer joins back in, gently at first with a brush on the high hat and a tap tap of the snare, laying down a cool beat, till the whole band, one by one, fills the air with spice and plums and cherries and you feel like you’re floating in a magical, liquid fruit cake. Pairs well with a chargrilled aged T-bone steak, braised lamb shank, a really stinky cheese. Check it out in The Cellar. Cinética, Valpaços “Bush Wine” [grape/vintage] Tinta Amarela, Bastardo, Various / 2023[region] Tras-os-Montes Like driving a gold-rimmed Bentley down your throat. Intense and rich and delicious. Not for the faint-hearted. This 15.5% ABV beauty is an old vine field blend made from “goblet” vines which means the vines aren’t grown on trellises or supports. Basically, these grapes are tough SOBs, and their juice is complex and deeply layered. Plus 30 months in barriques and you’ve got a wine stinking of chocolate, cherry and black plum that you can really sink your teeth into. Pairs well with grilled ribeye steak with garlic and rosemary, wild mushroom risotto with parmesan, charcuterie board with prosciutto, chorizo, and aged salami. Check it out in The Cellar.
The Connoisseur – February 2025
The Connoisseur – February 2025 Kicking off February with some well-earned sunshine! But is it the start of Spring or a false dawn? We’re skeptical but hopeful, and strongly recommend a healthy dose of sangfroid with a pinch of mad abandon. A good bottle of wine also helps and Carlos Lucas, one of our favourite winemakers doesn’t get too lost in existential angst. He prefers to keep things simple and focus on the art and craft of making great wine. This month, we’re going all in with his selections from the Dão and Douro. 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. Ribeiro Santo Cimento Branco [grape/vintage] Cerceal-Branco, Encruzado, Malvasia Fina / 2022 [region] Dão Sometimes the simple path is the most effective. This blend of Encruzado, Malvasia-Fina and Cerceal-Branco grapes is grown at altitude in granite soils. The wine is fermented in stainless steel with wild yeasts then matured in an 80-year-old cement tank. It’s expressive and confident and multi-purpose. It’s got a good solid four-on-the-floor beat that fills your mouth with smooth mineraly base layers, a no-nonsense rhythm section of pear and peach, and teasing high notes of orange flower. Pairs well with…shrimp risotto, wild salmon, pad thai, cheesecake with raspberry coulis Check it out in The Cellar. Herédias, Reserva Tinto [grape/vintage] Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca / 2020 [region] Douro We smell rich earth spiced with oak and baked in a blackberry tart. In fact, we thought, this would go quite well with a fruit pie but couldn’t find one fast enough. Instead, drank it with a side of beef ravioli. Perfect. And the verdict is it will taste even better in 5 years! Pairs well with grilled prime red meats like a juicy picanha or t-bone, though a lamb chop or a rich pasta might not be a bad shout either. Check it out in The Cellar. Vinha de Santa Maria Reserva Tinto [grape/vintage] Alfrocheiro, Tinta Roriz e Touriga Nacional / 2020 [region] Dão Like a cherry pie wrapped in a 90s indie rock ballad – sweet and delicate and feisty. This wine’s got character without being rude. It’s got just the right amount of fruit and spice for a smooth and easy listening experience. Pairs well with…duck confit with chestnut and morel mushroom risotto, a camembert melting onto the cheese board, a beef phô with vermicelli noodles. Check it out in The Cellar.
The Connoisseur – January 2025
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.
The Connoisseur – December 2024
The Connoisseur – December 2024 Hello December! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…lots of wine and mince pies and baked bacalhau! We’ve all got our favourite holiday cuisine and The Fellas have picked three wines to slide right in there with your “lütvisk” or your “oliebollen” or your “turducken”. 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. Quinta Várzea da Pedra, Branco Macerado [grape/vintage] Alicante Branco, Arinto, Fernão Pires, Malvasia Rei, Moscatel-Graúdo, Seara Nova, Viosinho e Vital / 2022[region] Lisboa A Sunday Times crossword, a hand carved wooden puzzle, a Sphinx’s riddle. This “orange” wine requires thoughtful patience and an open mind to let its mutliple layers and angles melt into harmony on your palate. A multi-grape blend from different plots combines into a symphony of tree fruits, fresh herbs, earth and flowers. Pairs well with almond crusted sea bass, a hearty ciopino, roast quail with thyme and rosemary, an aged gouda or quiejo de cabra. Read more about it in The Cellar. Vinha de Santa Maria, Reserva Tinto [grape/vintage] Alfrocheiro, Tinta Roriz e Touriga Nacional / 2022[region] Dão Like a cherry pie wrapped in a 90s indie rock ballad – sweet and delicate and feisty. This wine’s got character without being rude. It’s got just the right amount of fruit and spice for a smooth and easy listening experience. Pairs well with duck confit with chestnut and morel mushroom risotto, a camembert melting onto the cheese board, a beef phô with vermicelli noodles. Read more about it in The Cellar. Quinta Vale de Fornos, Reserva Syrah [grape/vintage] Syrah / 2015 [region] Tejo Dig your fingers into the freshly-turned soil of these low Tejo hills and take in the view of the river making its way along the alluvial plains. Feel the sun on your back and smell the fruit bushes creeping beneath the weather-beaten, centuries-old quinta with its cracked deep terracotta stucco walls. The calm is deep and intense and earthy and its 15% ABV is smoothly wrapped in blackberry and red fruits. Pairs well with roast beef with potatoes and carrots; venison with a red wine sauce; a cheese plate leaning towards Stilton and Aged Manchego. Read more about it in The Cellar.
The Connoisseur – November 2024
The Connoisseur – November 2024 It’s November and the Fellas mustaches are growing thicker, helped along by some great wine and long nights. We’re dusting off our slow cooker, have bought an extra decanter and are polishing the silver in excited anticipation of those long, rambling winter get togethers. Of course, all that needs a bit of lubrication, so we’ve got some new wines and some old faves in this month’s box that we are sure you will love. 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. Quinta do Pinto, Chenin Blanc [grape/vintage] Chenin Blanc / 2022[region] Lisboa Imagine if Dionysus had stolen one of Ceres’s cornucopias overflowing with peaches and melons and pineapples and passion fruit and maybe some lemons and limes and honeysuckle, then waved his divine hands in the air and turned it into a grape, vinified it and poured it into a bottle. Well, you’d have to call it Quinta do Pinto’s “Chenin Blanc”, a lip-smackingly fruity and full and layered wine that is like a deep-tissue massage for your taste buds. Pairs well with grilled fish, sushi, salads and pasta, cheese platter or simply by the glass. Read more about it in The Cellar. Abegoaria dos Frades, Moreto Preto [grape/vintage] Moreto Preto / 2022[region] Alentejo It’s a monastery somewhere in the middle of the 17th century, somewhere in the Alentejo, around midday. It’s hot and the flies are buzzing lazily. A monk has fallen asleep in the courtyard after his simple lunch of Alentejano bread and hard sheep’s cheese. A goatskin of wine lies next to the monk, it’s dark red juice spilling onto the flagstones. Pretty soon the abbot will come by and kick the monk up the backside but for now he’s dreaming of being fed fresh cherries and toasted pinenuts by scantily-clad nymphs. Pairs well with some classic Alentejo cuisine like migas and slow-cooked black pork cheeks or anything off the bbq. Read more about it in The Cellar. Ribeiro Santo, “Excellence” Grande Escolha Tinto [grape/vintage] Alfrocheiro, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cão, Touriga Naciona / 2018 [region] Dão Like biting into a rich Christmas cake packed with nuts and fruits and spices and soaked for a year in brandy. Your mouth does a back flip and a yeehaw and basically just collapses in ecstasy. The flavours thicken and deepen and fill your whole body. Coffee and tobacco and dark plums. WTF? Did you die and end up in a Victorian gentleman’s library with a roaring fire in the hearth and a copy of Moby Dick resting on the side table? Pairs well with duck confit, foie gras, oven-roasted veal, roast kid goat and sausages Read more about it in The Cellar.
The Connoisseur – October 2024
The Connoisseur – October 2024 The rain is here and the cooler nights are upon us. It’s time to stock pile the firewood, air out the wool blankets, and make sure you’ve got a good supply of wine for the long evenings ahead. We made this month’s selection with harvest time in mind; wines that love to be drunk with an autumn meal like a butter squash soup, a spaghetti carbonara or a roasted farm chicken. 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. 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 Pairs well with……a delicate white fish, grilled shrimp or lobster tail, a spicy ceviche, chicken picatta or tender pork loin. Read more about it in The Cellar. Musgo, Alfrocheiro [grape/vintage] Alfrocheiro/ 2020 [region] Dão Have you ever had “summer pudding”? Classic British dish of stewed raspberries, blackberries, red and black currants, filling a deep bowl of thick farmhouse bread, then pressed and chilled, flipped onto a big platter and served with thick, rich double cream. It’s full of spice and fruit and earthy flavours. This Alfrocheiro is like that: intense berries, great balance of acid and tannins, complex layers, and a nice long finish. Pairs well with…a whole bunch of dishes. You could try a pork roast, a spicy curry, a mushroom ravioli or squid ink risotto. Get creative! Read more about it in The Cellar. Quinta do Pinto, Merlot/Syrah [grape/vintage] Merlot, Syrah/ 2020[region] Lisboa Harvested at night, fermented together, this harmonious blend of two famous international travelers is a window into a private dance of two passionate lovers. Strong in character, smooth in execution, voluminous in movement! A marriage with spice and depth, drawing inspiration from local soils and filling the air with wafts of black fruits, vanilla, coffee and a hint of cherry. Savour the dance in your mouth, the balance, the poise, the slow long tannic finish down your throat. Pairs well with……a seared fatty steak, a pheasant stew, any variety of strong, mature cheeses. Read more about it in The Cellar.
The Connoisseur – September 2024
The Connoisseur – September 2024 As we enjoy the final days of summer, winemakers are entering their most intense season – the grape harvest has officially begun! This crucial time represents the peak of a year’s dedication in the vineyards, where the balance of timing and precision will determine the quality of the wine. Grapes must be harvested at the perfect moment, capturing the ideal ripeness unique to each variety and wine style. Winemakers now face the challenge of nature’s unpredictability, relying on their expertise and swift action to turn these carefully nurtured grapes into exceptional wines, setting the stage for the next vintage. 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, Alfrocheiro [grape/vintage] Alfrocheiro / 2018[region] Dão The Alfrocheiro grape is native to the Dão region and this monovarietal smells and tastes like the flinty, rocky hills of its motherland. Dense, dark and devilish, it will inspire you either to finally finish that novel you’ve been writing for 20 years or talk nonsense deep into the night. Pairs well with grilled prime red meats like a juicy picanha or t-bone, or a hearty game stew. Decant for at least two hours. Read more about it in The Cellar. QM, Alvarinho [grape/vintage] Alvarinho/ 2021[region] Vinho Verde This is a best-seller – price to pleasure ratio is tops. Besides that it’s delicious. We could drink this pretty much any time, any place. Like the man said, it’s gently complex with great legs. You can’t go wrong. Pairs well by itself, but superb with a lighly-broiled sea-bass, bowl of steamed mussels or even some regional chouriço. Read more about it in The Cellar. Ilha do Pico, “Terras de Lava” Merlot [grape/vintage] Merlot / 2020[region] Ilha do Pico, Açores It’s pretty hard to find a wine from Pico Wines that we don’t like and this Merlot is no exception. It’s bloody good. Subtle, deep and light all at the same time, it perfectly balances this classic French grape with the rugged landscape and ocean winds of the island. Savor it on your palate. Drink in those vulcanic afternotes and hear the waves crashing on the rocky shore. Pairs well with white or red meats, mature cheeses, or break the rules and surprise yourself by pairing with a citrus fish or ceviche. Read more about it in The Cellar.
The Connoisseur – August 2024
The Connoisseur – 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. Anexo, Branco [grape/vintage] Arinto dos Antão Vaz, Roupeiroo / 2021[region] Alentejo Love at first drop. A low-intervention white that takes it slow and easy on your tongue, teasing you along a gentle forest path dappled with sunlight. It’s fresh and crisp and floral. Our sommelier describes it thus: Golden yellow colour, expressive nose with white fruit and some tropical fruits. Deep, mineral and clay – on the palette it presents with good acidity, a smooth attack and a balanced flavour profile. Overall dry and gastronomic. Pairs well with white meats, cold salads, baked or grilled fish, pasta, risotto and cheese. 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. 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. 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.
The Connoisseur – July 2024
The Connoisseur – July 2024 Hhhhmmm. Is summer here? Seems like 2024 is a bit unsure of itself. Oh well, we forge ahead with a mix of optimism and sangfroid and a good bottle of wine. This month’s selections will give you some options so you can always stay one step ahead of the weather: plenty of crispness and freshness but a little bit of body and warmth just in case. 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. Geographic Wines, “Lento” Branco [grape/vintage] Rabigato, Viosinho, Gouveio, Códega de Larinho, Síria, Folgasão / 2022 [region] Douro This smells like Devil Went Down to Georgia wrapped in fresh wildflowers, cut peach and cool mountain breezes – funky, deep, delicate and dangerous. It’s what old old vines sound like when they don’t have anything to apologise for. It’s the sound of a terroir that found its voice a hundred years ago and is still singing long and rich and beautiful. Our sommelier describes it thus: Cloudy, rich chartreuse colour. Intense, expressive nose with wild flower and wet stone. Good acidity, minerality and freshness. Natural fermentation and yeasts fully express the sandy soils and granite bedrock of its origins. Pairs well with a creamy truffle pasta dish, spicy stir fry or a simple plate of strong olives with a rich soft 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. QM, Rosé [grape/vintage] Alvarinho, Sousão / 2022 [region] Vinho Verde Listen to Chuck Berry’s “No Particular Place to Go”. Fresh, crisp, tight and bouncing. I challenge you to NOT nod your head and tap your foot. The words full of humour and innuendo and youthful optimism. Now put all that in a bottle and you’ve got an idea for how this delicious, dry and subtly fruity rosé from Quintas de Melgaço will make you feel. Our sommelier’s thoughts: Salmon coloured. Intense nose with strong red fruits and hints of strawberry from the Sousão. On the palate, smooth, dry and refreshing with berry, peach, citrus and a good finish. We suggest pairing this with a Galician sardinhada, a tomato and feta salad, pepperoni pizza or a blackberry pie with double cream. Vinho Verde is known for its light, refreshing wines, known for their low alcohol content and slight effervescence. The soil is predominantly granite, which helps to retain moisture and gives the wines a unique minerality. Check it out in The Cellar. Casa da Atela, Petit Verdot [grape/vintage] Syrah, Petit Verdot / 2018 [region] Alentejo A black cat on a Paris rooftop. A bit of style, a bit of panache, a bit of danger. A whole lot of cool. This wine is smooth and has bite. It’s balanced and poised and bright eyed and intense. It’s sat on the vine all summer along the banks of the Tejo, soaking up the heat and humidity, then waited nine months in French oak plotting its attack, and now it’s ready to strut its stuff, ready to steal over the rooves and pinch a diamond necklace or two from some unsuspecting countess. Our sommelier’s thoughts: This wine has an intense ruby color, aromas of red fruits and some notes of ripe peppers. It shows up firm and intense in the mouth with good tannins and freshness providing a long-lasting, intense finish. We suggest pairing this with a succulent filet mignon on a white tablecloth or a pepperoni pizza at a roadside stand; or go full creamy with a soufflée or fondue or gourmet cheese platter. Tejo (until 2009 called Ribatejo), is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in Portugal, the first vines here dating as far back as Roman times. The region is strongly influenced by the River Tejo which keeps the climate temperate, and along whose alluvial plains most vines are grown. White wines tend to have high acidity with floral and tropical notes; reds are aromatic with smooth tannins. Check it out in The Cellar.
The Connoisseur – June 2024
The Connoisseur – June 2024 So many parties. Not enough time! Summer is here and the invitations are flooding the inbox and chat groups. So, what better way to impress your hosts with your sophisticated tastes than to show up with a bottle from your latest Wine Fellas box. Or, better yet, host your own party and you don’t have to lift a finger: the wine and guests come direct to your door. 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. Quinta da Pegadinha, Loureiro [grape/vintage] Loureiro / 2021[region] Vinho Verde A gentle, teasing slap on the cheek to wake you up from an afternoon nap. Now you feel fresh, alive but still a lilttle bit dreamy. That’s how we felt sipping this Loureiro varietal from Vinho Verde…we could have kept going and going. Our sommelier describes it thus: Enticingly subtle nose with hints of lemon, tangerine and green tea. Well-balanced acidity. Sweet, fresh and creamy. Pairs well with itself but loves a nice, flakey white fish or a linguini al vongole. Vinho Verde is known for its light, refreshing wines, known for their low alcohol content and slight effervescence. The soil is predominantly granite, which helps to retain moisture and gives the wines a unique minerality. Check it out in The Cellar. Casa da Atela, Castelão Rosé [grape/vintage] Castelão / 2021[region] Dão This rosé made from Castelão, that notoriously tough old bastard of a grape, is a total surprise. To the winemaker, we say, “Bravo!” and pour ourselves another glass. It teases your nose with candy and apricot and earth and an old library, then tickles your tongue with delicate fruit, bright acidity and layers of dusty, dirty tannins. Our sommelier’s thoughts: A wine with a deep garnet color, expressive nose with notes of ripe fruit, vanilla and soft fresh resin. In the mouth, intense and full, with structure and acidity to ensure a favorable evolution in the coming years. We suggest pairing this with grouper or snapper, cuttlefish or octopus, or just served straight up with a side of good conversation. Tejo (until 2009 called Ribatejo), is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in Portugal, the first vines here dating as far back as Roman times. The region is strongly influenced by the River Tejo which keeps the climate temperate, and along whose alluvial plains most vines are grown. White wines tend to have high acidity with floral and tropical notes; reds are aromatic with smooth tannins. Check it out in The Cellar. Terra d’Alter, Outeiro Tinto [grape/vintage] Syrah, Petit Verdot / 2018[region] Alentejo When it’s 5º outside and the Alentejo winter is digging into your bones, what better way to dispel the blues than sitting around an open log fire and remeniscing about plum trees and cherries and blackberry bushes and a late summer heatwave. This Syrah/Petit Verdot blend bottles all that up in smooth, complex layers that let each grape express itself in a lively debate about life, the universe and everything. Our sommelier has this to say about it: Dark ruby colour. Intense black and red fruits, plum, cherry with hints of vanilla and eucalyptus. On the palate, complex and balanced, with berries, plum, licorice and chocolate with smooth tannins and a long finish. Pairs well with a spicy lamb curry with garlic naan, a pasta carbonara or a straight-up juicy steak and fresh cut french fries. 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.