Not Douro!!

Great tasting downtown at my fave winestore where I help out at tastings. Stand up, 7 wines from areas such as Lisboa, Dao, Tras-os-Montes. Annabelle from Portugal is a store co-owner and presented all the wines in a very informative manner. Food was cheese etc, 10% discount on wines purchased.

1) 2017 Viuva Gomes Patrao Diogo Branco Lisboa


One of the oldest wine areas. Saline, mineral, nutty, good depth. Zesty, would be good with shellfish..nice mineral finish, serve not too chilled. $27 Cdn

2) 2016 Case de Mouraz Encruzado, Dao.

New grape for me. Hazelnut, creamy, gd acidity. 30 yr old vines, some though nice and rich.\
Fire has devastated the area of late. $35.

3) 2015 Casa de Mouraz Tinto, Dao.

Top drawer here! Good aromatics, light red ruby, dryish, excellent tannins. Forest area, 9 varietals. $30.

4) 2016 Terras de Mogadouro Tinto, Tras-os-Montes.

High elevation, sparse vine growing area, small productionI guess. Almost opaque, solid red here, grippy tannins, nice acidity and well integrated. Must buy, $27.

5) 2015 Valle de Passos Tinto, Tras-os-Montes.

Opaque, 13.5%alc, tannic.... QPR for sure. Tinta Franca, Amarele, Nacional.

6) 2016 Case de Passarella O Oenologo VV Dao.

Owner won the lottery yrs ago so huge investment. Oak induction here, cool climate area, 80 yr old vines. 2 hr decant, 14% alc, Deeper red ruby, v nice herbal on the nose, cherry and raspberry. $47.

7) 2015 Viuva Gomes Patrao Diogo Tinto, Lisboa

Nice fresh fruit, soft tannins, well balanced, very entry level. $27. Would go good with pork for sure.

TN: 2017 Mogadouro Branco Tras-os-Montes.

I am always on the look out for new whites from Portugal and this one sure caught my eye!
Remote area, sparse vineyards, north east, granite, high elevation. 13% alc, $26, good quality cork, opened one hour. Grapes..Viosinho and Gouveio.
Greenish yellow tinges, nose has some creamyness, apple, lemon, apricot, "floral" from across the table.
Bright, fresh, mineral, peach, dry, good acidity here soft finish on day 1. Certainly different and of real interest.

Interesting tasting there, Bob. I don't see much Portuguese wine since I left Belgium but did manage to pick up some very nice Vinho Verde at a Foire aux Vins for c.€6!

I have had some good experiences with Dão including Encruzado. Did they say how much of the area had been devastated by wild fires? These seem to be increasing occurrences in wine growing areas. As well as destruction of vines, those which escape can produce smoke tainted grapes for one harvest. Did they talk about that at all at your tasting?

I wish I had more experience of Portuguese wines.

2017 Caves Vidigal Vinho Regional Lisboa Porta 6

Really enjoyed over new years. Easy drinking, with pronounced aromas and flavors. Light-bodied with a herbal and spicy lingering finish. from a magnum.

Surprised the Gomes wines were not labeled as Colares as that is all I've seen from them, but maybe they have some grapes planted outside of that zone now?