Esporão 2020 Loureiro Vinho Verde: This is a mealy 2020 Loureiro pulsing with the vibrant flavors of pluots, yellow plums, donut peach skin and white flowers. A hint of almond skin provides a pleasant dryness on the lingering finish. This is a sleek, juicy wine with a surprisingly pronounced medium body, given it is only 11% abv. Wholesome and full-flavored with excellent balance thanks to the integrated acidity, this is delightful now and will hold nicely a few years.
Read MoreI fell in love with the dry table wines of the Douro in the early aughts, just as I was getting into the wine business. On my first trip to Portugal, I visited the Douro and was lucky enough to visit Quinta do Crasto, whose single vineyard wines I thoroughly admired. If my memory serves me correctly, the Vinha do Ponte and Vinha Santa Teresa wines cost only about $60-70 a bottle at the time. Today they go for over $200 - if you can find them. Here is a selection of more accessibly-priced wines - all from local grapes, including a lovely dry white that offers tremendous value.
Read MoreThere's nothing like bucking the trend to attract attention. Unsurprisingly, when I read about Quinta d'Aguieira focusing on Touriga Nacional in a region - Bairrada - dominated by Baga, I was hooked. Moreover, the estate formerly was better known for its high quality white wines; this in a region known almost exclusively for reds! Additionally, I love seeing wines released with some bottle age. That's the case here with these inaugural releases, and the estate will continue this pattern to show more nuanced expressions of Touriga Nacional and Maria Gomes. The 2021 launch of these new wines show there is reason to be excited by the Arco d'Aguieira Red 2016 and Arco d'Aguieira White 2017.
Read MoreThis broad selection of Portuguese wines offers a variety of styles and a price point for everyone. What I especially love about the reds is that they have almost all been aged at the winery until they were ready to drink. That is a rarity - and a treat for the consumer - these days as most wineries rush their wines out the door!
Read MoreQuinta do Ameal's focus on Loureiro made former owner Pedro Araújo something of a local hero, even if some of the same locals surely thought he was crazy when he began bottling ambitious, varietal Loureiro wines. Perhaps he believed that the Benedictine monks of the Convento de Refóios - which is believed to have owned the property as far back as 1710 - must have known what they were doing in their vineyards; monks usually did!
Read MoreI often resolve to drink more Port. I love it in all its manifestations (white, ruby, tawny, vintage and, especially, colheita. Yes, there are even a few affable rosé versions but those are brand one-offs.) I always resolve drink a few of them in the upcoming winter. This winter has been no different than the last many.
Read More