More Than Port

When thinking of wines of Portugal, Port is the first thing that comes to the mind of most. Not because it's a part of the name but more because it's the wine that put Portugal on the map. Times have changed. Portugal now has several amazing wine regions that produce whites and reds.

I got a taste of the Alentejo wine region here, but tonight was an all over Portugal tasting at Best Cellars in Clarendon with Matthew McGuigan of wine distributor, Suprex. He gave a great history of wines in Portugal, how they started, how they've developed, and where they are headed. With all that talk...I was ready for the wines!


Caves Vidigal Vinho Verde 2009
Grapes: Loureiro, Trajadura, Arinto
So refreshing with its zesty lime notes and a hint of effervescence. Perfect for the summer or to tone down the spice on Indian dishes.

Caves Vidigal Dao 2005
Young black fruit aromas and nicely balanced with tobacco and herbal notes. Very earthy and rich, this wine is perfect for pairing with food.

Casa Santos Lima Bons Ventos Tinto 2008
Bright ruby color and super aromatic. Notes of ripe berry fruit fills the nose while the palate provides red fruit flavors and a soft hint of oak. Great acidity with a little licorice and spice on the finish. Nice! This was my fav of the evening, I went home with a bottle.

Quinta Seara d'Ordens Colheita Seleccionada Tinto 2005
Aged for 10 mos in French oak and then 8 more mos in the bottle, then it was released. It was def worth the wait. An exotic spicy nose, dark fruit on the palate and firm gripping tannins. This wine and grilled meats will make for a nice date.

Quinta Seara d'Ordens LBV Port 2003
Of course there had to be Port at a Portuguese wine tasting! A long sniff of the glass made me feel like I was transported to a forest. I smelled oak, fig, dark fruit. And the taste was so luscious... A great evening sipper for the holidays or a special night by the fireplace.

5 wines plus an in depth and entertaining look into the region and the wines of Portugal...who says that wine isn't fun?!

Falling For Wine

A hot weekend of 90+ temps, and a week in the 70s...I hope Fall is really here this time! I love fall, the leaves change colors, cute sweaters and cardigans, and Fall wine! Didn't know Fall had its own wine? Not technically, but in the Fall I tend to move away from the lighter, crisper, refreshing wines that I enjoyed during the hot Summer days to heavier more full-bodied wines to warm me up on those cold nights.

Today I tried out two wines to see how I feel about these going forward into the Fall season.

2008 Seghesio Dolcetto d'Alba
Piedmont, Italy
Grape: Dolcetto
Very fruity and floral, with violet and berry undertones. Full-bodied, with lots of fruit and a balance of acidity and tannins. Need a heavy food for pairing with this as the tannins are quite high. Steak, stew maybe. This is nice, but maybe closer to winter.

2009 JP Azeitao
Peninsula de Setubal, Portugal
Grapes: Castelao, Aragonez, Syrah
Ripe fruity red wine with decent tannins and acidity. Very food friendly (I drank this with pizza) and easy on the wallet retailing at around $8.

Guess I'm going to have to go with the 2nd one as the best wine for me, right now. But a wine that goes with pizza is pretty much going to be an easy sell for me.

Wines of Alentejo

There are times when I hate living in Washington, DC area.. morning rush hour, motorcade processions, etc. But then DC redeems itself with its magnificent events, like the Wines of Alentejo tasting at the Ambassador to Portugal's residence. Where else would I have this kind of access to an Ambassador, let alone be invited to his residence?! His Excellency Joao De Vallera welcomed us into his home and gave us a warm greeting at the start of the evening.

When most people think of wine and Portugal, they immediately think of Port. But the Alentejo region is quickly becoming recognizable in the international markets. Portugal already knew the value of these wines as 1 in every 2 bottles of wine sold in Portugal comes from Alentejo. The hot sun makes the grapes ripen much more easily, giving a much fruity smooth flavor. While Alentejo is mainly known throughout Portugal for inexpensive everyday wines, they also make some amazing, elegant, sophisticated high quality red wines...they come from the DOC of Alentejo. There are 8 DOC level Alentejo wines - Portalegre, Borba, Evora, Redondo, Reguengos, Granja-Amareleja, Moura, and Vidigueira. Most DOC wines are made from a blend of local grape varieties, Trincadeira, Aragonez (also known as Tempranillo), Castelao, and Alicante Bouschet.

But not only was this a wine tasting, but a gastronomic experience! They truly wanted us to know how well the wines of Alentejo paired with the foods of Alentejo. Young (and hot) chef Jose Avillez, whose restaurant Tavares in Lisbon has a Michelin star, prepared the food to pair with the wines. And he had quite a feat ahead of him! Most of his authentic Portuguese foods and spices were unable to make it past customs, so Chef Avillez had to create a Portuguese meal from foods he found at Whole Foods Market! Rui Falcao, Portuguese wine critic and Jay Youmans, MW of Washington, DC walked us through the region on Alentejo and its wines.2009 Paulo Laureano

Grape: Antao Vaz
Pairing: Sauteed scallops, mushrooms, pineapple and aromatic herbs
Very reminiscent of a viognier or tropical fruit chardonnay, this wine had bright, crisp flavors of pineapple and citrus fruit rind. A nice hint of spice was found on the finish.

2008 Pera Manca
Grapes: Antao Vaz, Arinto
Pairing: Bacalhau a Bras (Codfish in Bras's Way)
Full-bodied with an oaky texture, the acidity paired up nicely with the salty codfish. Green apple and citrus fruit aromas make this a wine I would love to have a bottle of to enjoy at home.

2008 Adega Cooperativa de Borba Reserva
Grapes: Trincadeira, Aragones, Castelao, Alicante Bouschet
Pairing: Stuffed Tomatoes with Alheira (Sausage) and Sprouts
Aromas of strawberry and dark cherry made provided a great backbone for this wine and the tobacco notes added a bit of complexity. Its strong acidity made this pairing melt in my mouth! And what a finish!

2006 Herdade Perdigao Reserva
Grapes: Trincadeira, Aragones, Cabernet Sauvignon
Pairing: Stuffed Tomatoes with Alheira (Sausage) and Sprouts
Deep color with a nice full body. Dark fruit flavors blend with spicy chocolate and tobacco to provide great structure and a long finish

2007 Herdade do Esporao
Grape: Alicante Bouschet
Pairing: Lamb with Chickpea Puree
Alicante Bouschet is such an aromatic grape. Aromas of dark berry, stone fruit, coffee, and vanilla hit my nose with just a quick sniff. On the palate was a rustic spicy flavor. And a hint of cherry licorice...who would've known that would pair so well with lamb!

2007 Herdade Sao Miguel Riserva
Grapes: Alicante Bouschet, Aragones, Cabernet Sauvignon
Pairing: Lamb with Chickpea Puree
Deep and dark colored in the glass, a bouquet of plum, vanilla, and coffee. An excellent match with the lamb as the spice and mocha flavors played very well together

2007 Marques de Borba Reserva
Grapes: Trincadeira, Aragones, Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon
Pairing: Prime Rib with Quail Egg & Vegetables
Notes of jammy red fruit and spices. Very elegant, this wine will get even better if left to age for a few years

2008 Herdade dos Grous Riserva
Grapes: Alicante Bouschet, Tinta Miuda, Touriga Nacional
Pairing: Prime Rib with Quail Egg & Vegetables
Another deep dark colored wine, perfect for pairing with the proteins in the prime rib. Hints of toast and spices, possibly from wood aging, and rich flavors of plum.

2007 Marias da Malhadinha
Grapes: Aragones, Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon
Pairing: White Bean Stew with Pork
Dark fruits and toasted aromas where present at first sniff, 2nd sniff revealed almonds and tobacco notes. The flavor was rich and elegant with strong minerality leading to a long finish.

2005 dona Maria Reserva
Grapes: Alicante Bouschet, Petit Verdot, Syrah
Pairing: White Bean Stew with Pork
Meaty, spicy aromas lead into flavors of cherry and raspberry. A very well balanced wine with silky tannins and a persistent finish. The fruit in the wine paired well with the salt from the pork.

2007 Herdade do Mouchao Tonel #3-4
Grapes: Trincadeira, Aragones, Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon
Pairing: Stewed Beef with Marrow
This wine is almost purple in the glass! Little fruit on the nose, mostly eucalyptus and mint. But with heavy tannins on the palate tasted and flavors of dried red fruit, great match with beef. I asked for a little bit more in my pour since this wine retails for about $120.

2005 Quinta do Mouro Rotulo Dourado
Grapes: Alicante Bouschet, Aragones, Touriga Nacional, Cabernet Sauvignon
Pairing: Stewed Beef with Marrow
Earthy with hints of mushroom and oak on the palate but very closed on the nose.

This was an amazing experience! We didn't just have the opportunity to taste some amazing wines from Alentejo, but they were expertly prepared and paired with authentic Portuguese cuisine! And if you didn't notice, my wine notes became shorter as my stomach got fuller! I thought they were going to have to roll me out of the Ambassador's house. The Alentejo region of Portugal is definitely up and coming in the US and one to look out for when looking for an easy drinking, affordable wine to pair well with your meal.