On Your Marka

By / Magazine / October 13th, 2010 / Like

Durham-Agrellos is a relatively new Douro winery with some impressive wines. I tried their Marka line at the Discovery Tasting of Port and Douro Wines where I met owner/winemaker Carlos Agrellos. He explained that the name, MARKA, is a tribute to his mother, MARjorie KAthleen Durham Agrellos who unfortunately died before she could taste the first release.

Marka Colheita Branco 2009 is a blend of Gouveio, Viosinho and Muscat, so it has a powerful, floral nose and a pale, pale straw colour. Lots of summer-ripe stone fruit follow along with a fresh acidity and a long finish. This pretty wine would make a great party sipper but would also stand up nicely to spicy chicken/mango/cashew salad and take-away Thai.

Their other food-loving wine is the racy 2008 Marka Reserva Tinto. Dark cherry hues set us up. Off the line, the nose of blueberries gets a running start with an elegance of fruit, a gob-smacking acidity, a touch of spicy herbs and well-rounded tannins following closely before all easily stride to a strong finish. A blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Touriga Franca, this wine spent eight months in new French oak. It belongs on the table with winter cooking, so bring on the stews, roasts and casseroles.

Not available in Canada… yet.

See their website for more information.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brenda McMillan is thrilled by new sights, sounds, aromas and flavours, and old buildings, barrels and friends. She travels at the drop of a corkscrew and is always "just back" from somewhere.

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