Tried a few Portugese wines over the last week or so:
1. Arco Nova Branco VinhoVerde (10.5%; www.QuintaDasArcas.com; WineBridgeImprts/Davis/CA) Quinta dar Arcas/Sobrado/Valongo/Portugal 2021: Med.yellow color; quiet/low-key stony/chalky slight floral/dandelions rather light nose; quite tart/tangy/metallic/steely slight frizzante brisk/stony/chalky rather green/eviscerated very slight floral/dandelions bit vapid flavor; short frizzante brisk/green some stony/metallic little fruit finish; a rather brisk/vapid VinhoVerde that is quite unthrilling. $11.50 (KK)
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2. Ramos Reserva VinhoTinto Vinho Regional: Alentejano (14%; Trincadeira + Aragonez grapes) Joao P.Ramos/Estremoz/Alentejano/Portugal 2019: Dark color; strong blackberry/blueberry/some Syrah-like bit rustic/grapey slight pencilly fairly fragrant quite interesting/mature nose; lightly tart bit tangy/metallic rather grapey/blueberry/bit Syrah-like rather elegant/complex balaanced/smooth bit rustic mature/complex flavor w/ modest smooth tannins; very l;ong light earthy/rustic rather grapey/blueberry/bit Syrah-like rather mature/oldBdx-like fairly complex finish w/ light tannins; a quite interesting fully mature red that reminds a bit of an oldBdx or oldRioja w/o the oak; nice mature wine at a great price. $15.00 (KK)
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3. Manoella Dd'OC: Duoro Vinho Tinto (14%; 60% Touriga Nacional/25% Touriga Franca/10% Tinta Roriz/5% Tinta Franca; 38 yr old vines; Wine&Soul, www.WineAndSoul.com) Winemakers: Sandra Tavares da Silva/Jorge Serodio Borges/Pinhao; Wine&Soul/Portugal 2018: Very dark/near black color; intense blackberry/boysenberry/grapey/Port-like/overripe/huge fruit some dusty/OV very rich slight earthy intense Port-like nose; soft intense grapey/boysenberry/blackberry/very Port-like very rich/lush totally dry some dusty/OV/earthy huge fruit flavor w/ light very ripe tannins; very long/lingering soft bit porky/overripe strong boysenberry/blackberry/huge fruit/Port-like some dusty/OV finish w/ some very ripe tannins; a dead-ringer for a Port but not the alcohol or the sweetness; huge intense Porto fruit but not particularly interesting; quite intense but a bit boring; fairly priced at $24.00 (SFW&S)
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4. Niepoort Quinta de Baixo Drink Me DOC: Bairrada Nat Cool (11%; Baga grape; Martine's Wines/Novato) Quinta de Baixo/Cordinha/Cantanhede/Portugal 2021: Light color; fairly fragrant cherry/Pinot-like/earthy light toasty/oak bit dusty/OV pleasant/interesting nose; lightly tart spicy/cherry/PN-like mlightweight almost Bojo-like pleasant flavor w/ very light tannins; med.long cherry/Pinot-like/grapey some earthy/dusty bit Bojo-like finish w/ light tannins; a lightweight Vin de Soif that's a pleasant enough red but just a bit unthrilling; overpriced at $22.00 (SFW&S)
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5. Prunus Private Selection DOC: Dao (13%; 80% Jaen/10% TintaRoriz/5% Alfrocheiro/5% others; www.GotaWine.com) 2020: Dark color; very strong plummy/Mourv-like/blackberry some earthy/dusty/OV light Fr.oak bit complex nose; soft slightly tangy/metallic strong plummy/Mourv-like/blackberry/grapey bit toasty/oak bit complex flavor w/ light tannins; long plummy/grapey/Mourv-like soft bit toasty/oak finish w/ light tannins; a rather pleasant plummy/Mourv-like red but nothing really distinctive that says Portugal; fairly priced at $16.00 (KK)
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6. Casa da Passarella Vinhas Velhas DOC: Dao Serra da Estrela (13.5%; Baga/Touriga grapes; www.Casa Da Passarella.Pt; M.Imprts/Dallas/TX) Paulo Nunes/Goveia/Portugal 2017: Very dark color; intense grapey/boysenberry/blackberry almost PasoRobles/jammy huge fruit some toasty/oak slight earthy/dusty/OV bit volatile/alcoholic bit complex nose; lightly tart/tangy intense boysenberry/blackberry/some Syrah-like/intense fruit quite dusty/OV strong toasty/oak flavor w/ ample ripe tannins; very long soft very juicy/blackberry/boysenberry/ripe slight black cherry cola some toasty/oak finish; a big ripe juicy red a bit on the soft/soupy side; this is how they would make Baga in Paso if they could; overpriced at $42.00 (KK)
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7. Cabriz Colheita Selecionada DOC: Dao Vinho Tinto (13%; 30% TourigaNacional/30% Aragonez/40% Alfrocheiro; F.B.McDonald Imprts/Aspen/CO) Global Wines/Carregal Do Sal/Portugal 2017: Dark color; very strong grapey/boysenberry/blackberry/bit Port-like/licorice light toasty/oak/smokey lovely bit complex nose; lightly tart very intense blackberry/boysenberry/licorice/grapey rather dusty/OV bit toasty/oak almost Port-like very rich/lush lovely flavor w/ some soft tannins; very long/lingering soft intense/grapey/boysenberry/blackberry bit Port-like finish w/ light soft tannins; a bit on the soft/soupy side; a lovely rich/lush red at a great price. $14.00 (KK)
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More baggaloeffel from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. I am committed to lead the SantaFeWinos Facebook group in a few weeks on a tour of Portugal. I'm a bit out of my elemnt here so have been exploring a bunch of different Portugese wines. This is some from over the last week.
Thus far, I've not been finding anything that makes the Portugese wines particularly distinctive. Many of them strike me has rather Port-like, but dry & not the alcohol, and the emphasis is on ripeness. Thus far, none of them have really chimed my bell. But I'll keep trying.
Tom