Emerging Power: Portugal
Wines | Staff Picks | Emerging Power: Portugal
Emerging Power: Portugal
Wine drinkers are always looking for the best they can afford. They want their dollars to go as far as possible. For still table wines, Portugal is bursting on to the scene with undervalued delicious whites and reds. Two factors have long held Portugal out of consideration when discussing international value wines. The first factor was the high price of Port which quickly hit a hundred dollars a bottle. The second was the fact their table wines were not up to snuff, generally speaking. Portugal has always made some world class table wines but overall the wines were backwards, tannic, and harsh.
Not any more. Young winemakers, capital investments, and modern winemaking have all contributed to a new wave of friendly, internationally-styled, value whites and reds.
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Quinta dos Quatro Ventos
There is no mistaking this classic California Cabernet. It has big, ripe, black fruit, 14% alcohol, a blast of coconut oak, and silky smooth tannins. What? It’s from Portugal? And it’s not made from Cabernet, rather Tinta Roriz, Tourigal Nacionl, and Touriga Franca? Oh ok, the Quinta dos Ventos is a perfect example of the modern international feel of the new wave of Portuguese wines. Regardless of where it is from it is delicious.
$19.99 per 750ml |
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Aveleda Alvarinho VV 2006
Juicy, with a rich mouthfeel and fresh flavors of apple, gooseberry, orange and spice. Well-structured, with a mineral-tinged finish.
88 points Wine Spectator
$11.99 per 750ml |
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Morgado Sta. Catherina 2005
Wow! That has been the reaction from the entire staff on this bottle of white. Close your eyes and you could swear you were tasting Meursault. Creamy and ripe, the Morgando bursts with fresh fruits, and shows touches of minerals and acidity. A mighty fine bottle!
$17.99 per 750ml |
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Vale da Torre 2006
We have moved on to the next vintage of this rip roaring fun loving red. And we are excited by the near perfect replication of the 2005 vintage. It is lush with ripe cherries, plums, and boysenberries. The fruit is focused and fresh along with notes of spice. For $7.99, a profound effort!
$7.99 per 750ml |
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Quinta da Padrela 2004
Highlighted not just for the sake of balance and diversity, the Padrela is a fantastic little bottle of dirty stinky old school fun. This bottle will not be mistaken for a lush Californian merlot with its barnyard funk and gripping backbone. The earthiness works in concert with the cherry fruits and black pepper spice. Not for the faint of heart, but worth every penny for those who like things on the other side of clean.
$13.99 per 750ml |
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Aveleda Follies Touriga Nacional 2004
Touriga Nacional is the long established port varietal, but it is now finding its spot as a powerhouse red table wine. It is quickly becoming the lead red from Portugal because the grape can deliver such a diverse range in styles from dense extracted blockbusters to round high toned beauties.
Aveleda’s Follies exhibits the dichotomy of the varietal exceptionally well- the intensity of the rich dense blackberry fruit melts into juicy crushed berry fruit by the mid palate. Balancing the rich fruit with bright acidity and good length on the finish shows the potential and direction of Touriga Nacional- the “cabernet” of Portugal.
$14.99 per 750ml |
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