Clear medium to deep plum red. Medium-intensity bouquet of strawberry jam and blackberry, with some herbal overtones from the Merlot in the blend. Medium-bodied with fresh-tasting cherry fruit, good balance and long finish. Will improve for another year.
Made from the uncommon Arinto varietal. Clear, medium-deep gold. Medium-intensity nose, vaguely appleish with hints of honey and green olives. Light-bodied with green apple and lime flavours. Drink now.
New to our market in both label and region (DOC Lisboa Obidos) is this light Portuguese white, half Moscatel with the remainder Arinto and Vital. Subtle lime blossoms, perfumed soap, light melon, gentle lemon, pink grapefruit pith and a twist of yellow plum bitterness on the brisk finish. This simple white does exactly what it aims to: refresh. At an easy 9.5% and a likeable price point, this was mid-week perfection with spicy steamed clams.
Dark ruby/purple. Black berries and soft spices are not very intense, but the purity is inviting. Full-bodied with lots of fruity taste, grainy tannins and warmth in the powerful but balanced mid-palate. At almost 6 years of age it is still young, so no rush to open it.
This is a new product from the historic Madeira house of Blandy's, and a daring one at that. Breaking from an exclusive monovarietal tradition, this modern Madeira is a 50/50 blend of Malvasia and Bual, aged in the traditional cask-and-loft canteiro system for 5 years. Potent fruitcake, rancio notes, aged wood, sugared plums and maple syrup coat the round and juicy palate, thankfully lifted with a lime marmalade cut and carried by a smoothed, sweet mid to a fiery, orange-oil finish. Ideal for cocktails. This is ready to drink now, particularly if you're looking for an alternative to youthful tawny Port or sweeter Oloroso (and in a pocketable 200 ml size).
One of the Fabulous Wines series, Dialogo is enjoyed around the world (Branco and Tinto) under many different names. The line was begun in 2004 when Dirk wanted an appealing Douro label for the German market. Working with his designer, they devised a whole comic storyboard label called FABELHAFT. After the success in German markets, Dirk developed labels for many other countries including Canada (Dialogo), Drink Me (UK) and Twisted (USA). As you can expect with such a global spread, this is a bright, accessible wine. Youthful raspberry, blackberry, wild blueberry and thorns ride a juicy and jubilant palate, brought back to earth by earthy, savoury and youthfully fierce, fine tannins. Based on Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Amarela and Tinta Barroca, the destemmed grapes fermented in stainless, where 95% remained for a year (the remainder in older French oak barrels). This achieves enough savoury seriousness while achieving juicy drinkability ― no small feat.
Portugal’s Douro Valley is the home of the fortified wine, port — but today some 50% of the wines produced in this region are table wines, made from the same grapes as port. Deep ruby in colour, the wine has a dusty, earth, blackberry bouquet with a note of oak; it’s full-bodied, dry and savoury, with plum and mulberry flavours tinged with oak spice and ending with supple tannins.