A Letter from Joshua Greene Portugal: Rocks

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3 A Letter from Joshua Greene Portugal: Rocks Estremoz is a walled town on Portugal s frontier, a conical rise out of the Alentejo plain, thirty miles from the border with Spain. Marble is everywhere, framing the doors and windows of white houses on the hill, providing stone for the Torre de Menagem and the Igreja dos Congregados, the tower and baroque church at the top of the town. Foz Coa is a border town to the north, at the mouth of the Coa River where it meets the Douro; many of the town s buildings are made of dry-laid schist. It s the center of an archeological park where 25,000-year-old drawings have survived on the rock. Carved into vertical schist outcroppings in the wilds of the desert scrub, these drawings dot a landscape sparsely populated by sheep, olive trees and the occasional farmer, their surroundings not significantly different than they were at the time the art was conceived. The Douro cuts a deep canyon to the sea, a meandering gash where fault lines spilled broken rock out of a vein of schist, girded on either side by solid granite in the rivers and hills of Vinho Verde to the north and west; in the mountains of Dão to the south and east. In Cantenhede, on Bairrada s coast south of where the Douro meets the sea, you can stand on a plain that s blindingly white, pure limestone in every direction. The plain and the low hills that surround it are covered in vines as are the steep schist canyons of the Douro, the granite river valleys of the Minho and Dão, and the sides of the marble hill in Estremoz. Portugal s wines are about rock, how clay and limestone come together to sustain the roots of old-vine baga in Bairrada, how schist crumbles and fractures to hold the cool winter rains, allowing vines to survive the Douro Valley s dry August heat. While there is seemingly infinite diversity in the evolution of the rock and a vast resource of vine DNA that evolved to survive within it Portugal has geologies that are consistent enough in large areas that you can see the rock, taste the wine, and come to some useful conclusions about the way the ground and the vine interact. ortugal is old Europe. There are Ptowns that still look Roman. There are city neighborhoods that can take you back five centuries, to the height of the country s imperial powers. And there s an undercurrent of conservatism: Many growers have sustained agricultural wisdom even as others have tried out trendy vines from abroad and producers have tinkered with new technologies in their cellars. There is enough stubborn resistance to the disruptions of modernity that all of the great wines of Portugal are made in whole, or in significantly large percentages, from the country s own distinctive vine varieties. And many

4 of Portugal s greatest wines are still made with the stone-age technology of lagares, shallow stone basins in which grape bunches are crushed by people marching back and forth in their bare feet. This is not a political movement to return to traditions. It is a continuation of traditions. You will find examples of innovation in Portugal that are tied to this respect for agricultural wisdom. In the Douro, the leading companies have invented mechanical lagares for more efficient production. Rather than work in tall, stainless steel tanks, they have adapted the shape and depth of the lagar, adding mechanical feet that press almost as gently as a team of treaders. They now have the option to foot-tread their top wines in stone, or to mechanically tread, adapting technology to their grapes and their soil, rather than the other way around. t s the respect and honor many of Ithe most talented wine people in the country show to their inheritance that draws me back to Portugal again and again. There s a large community of winemakers and growers dedicated to the wisdom inherent in their soil, their vines and the people who came before them, a community that innovates for the sake of their agricultural inheritance, rather than at the expense of it. That community has come together in the form of the Douro Boys, who make and market table wines in a region still dominated by Porto; in the Baga Friends, who share their infatuation with traditional Bairrada; and in other, less formal alliances that help to share knowledge and create some of the world s most exciting wines. This is the secret of Portugal. The best things are in plain sight, but nobody announces them. If you don t make an effort to know the best of Portugal, nobody will tell you. Several years ago, a friend suggested I check out what was, at the time, the most popular club in Lisbon. He gave me the address and I wandered several narrow streets in search of it. When I did find the place, there was street no street number and no sign on the door. On the other hand, the crowd was immediately welcoming and there was no bouncer outside blocking the way in. A note on the selection process: Marta Galamba, an enologist working for ViniPortugal, organized three sessions of tastings for me; one in Lisbon, two in Porto. I provided a list of wines to include, if the producer had stock and wished to participate. She also solicited wine from producers throughout Portugal, limiting the number of submissions from each producer so the focus could be on what they considered their great wines. Galamba and her team presented the wines to me in numbered glasses, in flights by region, variety and vintage. After I culled 100 or so of most intriguing wines, Galamba requested new samples and I retasted those, again in flights based on region, variety and vintage. My goal was to assemble 50 wines representing the major regions of Portugal, so I left out wines from some regions with wide representation in the final list, in order to include wines from other regions. I did not include any wines that I would not consider great, but diversity is part of the greatness of Portugal and it is, I believe, an important part of the final list. Many of the greatest wines of any country are either very limited in production, or quickly sold out, or both. Some of the wines you may taste here are rare; others are in wide distribution. But some wines are not included due to supply issues. This list represents a snapshot of 50 Great Wines; there are other great wines of Portugal waiting for you to discover them.

5 50 GREAT PORTUGUESE WINES Selected by Joshua Greene The index below is sorted alphabetically. In the following pages, the wine notes are sorted by tasting order as suggested by Joshua Greene Adriano Ramos Pinto Collection, Douro 2009 Aliança Quinta da Dôna Red, Bairrada 2012 Anselmo Mendes Vinhos Contacto, Vinho Verde 2012 Casa de Mouraz Encruzado, Dão 2010 Casa de Mouraz Elfa, Dão 2011 Casca Wines Monte Cascas Malvasia de Colares Branco, Colares 2009 Duorum Vinhos Reserva Vinhas Velhas, Douro 2012 Enoport United Wines Quinta do Boição Reserva White, Bucelas 2008 Folias de Baco Olho no Pé Grande Reserva Red, Douro 2011 Fonseca Vintage Porto, Douro 2009 FTP Vinhos Quinta do Serrado Reserva Red, Dão 2008 Herdade de Vale Barqueiros Reserva Red, Alentejo 2010 Herdade do Esporão Reserva Red, Alentejo 2012 Herdade do Esporão Verdelho, Alentejo 2010 IdealDrinks Eminência, Vinho Verde 2011 João Brito e Cunha Quinta de S. José Touriga Nacional, Douro 2010 Jorge Nobre Moreira Poeira, Douro 2012 Jose Maria da Fonseca Vinhos Domingo Soares Franco Colecção Privada Moscatel Roxo Rosé, Península de Setúbal 2009 Luís Pato Vinha Pan, Bairrada 2010 Lusovini Pedra Cancela Seleção do Énologo, Dão 1996 Madeira Wine Company Blandy s Colheita Bual, Madeira 2010 Monte da Ravasqueira Vinha das Romãs, Alentejo 2011 Muxagat Vinhos Red, Douro 2010 Niepoort Vinhos Batuta, Douro 2011 Niepoort Vinhos Vintage, Douro 2009 Quinta da Alorna Portal da Águia Red DOC, Tejo 2012 Quinta da Lixa Aromas das Castas Alvarinho Trajadura, Vinho Verde 2010 Quinta da Plansel Marquês de Montemor Colheita Seleccionada Touriga Franca, Alentejo 2007 Quinta da Ponte Pedrinha Vinhas Velhas, Dão 2008 Quinta da Sequeira Reserva Red, Douro 2009 Quinta das Bágeiras Garrafeira Red, Bairrada 2004 Quinta das Bágeiras Garrafeira White, Bairrada 2011 Quinta de Chocapalha Arinto, Lisboa 2008 Quinta de Chocapalha Red, Lisboa 2012 Quinta de Gomariz Avesso, Vinho Verde 2011 Quinta de Paços Casa do Capitão-mor, Vinho Verde 2008 Quinta do Noval Red Wine, Douro 2011 Quinta do Pinto Estate Collection Red, Alenquer 2008 Quinta do Portal Reserva, Douro 2007 Quinta do Sagrado Mutante, Douro 2010 Quinta Seara d Ordens TalentVs Grande Escolha, Douro 2011 Rui Reguinga Enologia Terrenus, Alentejo 2012 Secret Spot Wines Vale da Poupa Moscatel Galego White, Douro 2012 Soalheiro Alvarinho, Vinho Verde 2012 Soalheiro Primeiras Vinhas, Vinho Verde NV Sogevinus Fine Wines Burmester Tordiz 40 Year Old Tawny Port, Douro 2012 Solar das Bouças Loureiro, Vinho Verde 1969 Symington Family Estates Graham s Single Harvest Tawny Port, Douro 2010 Vidigal Wines Brutalis, Lisboa 2010 Wine & Soul Quinta da Manoella Vinhas Velhas, Douro

6 01 Producer: SOLAR DAS BOUÇAS Wine Name: LOUREIRO Vintage: 2012 Varietal(s): LOUREIRO Region: VINHO VERDE Production: 80,000 BOTTLES Winemaker: ÁLVARO VAN ZELLER This Loureiro grows on a hillside north of the Cavado River, in the center of the Vinho Verde region. It s made by Alvaro van Zeller, who began his winemaking career at Quinta do Noval in Douro, a property his family owned until His young white has the clarity of a Vinho Verde without any overt sweetness; instead, it delivers a blast of coastal briskness, its pear-like fruit reflecting the granite soils in which it grows as a crystal refracts light. The flavors are harmonious and lasting, with lime-zest freshness. Rua do Crasto 1415, Prozelo Amares, Portugal Fernando van Zeller solardasboucas@mail.telepac.pt Phone: US Importer: Regal Wine Imports, Inc US 2 Commerce Drive, Suite 3, Moorestown, NJ Phone:

7 02 Producer: QUINTA DE GOMARIZ Wine Name: AVESSO Vintage: 2012 Varietal(s): AVESSO Region: VINHO VERDE Production: 10,000 BOTTLES Winemaker: ANTÓNIO SOUSA Avesso thrives in the mountainous, inland reaches of Vinho Verde, producing a more substantial white than many of its coastal counterparts. This one grows in Ave, in the center of the region, at a 40-acre estate close to the sea. It s a different take on Avesso, presenting an herbal white with the scent of meadow flowers and the bitterness of cauliflower. The fruit has a toasty character, bringing grilled peach to mind. It s a salty wine with frisky acidity and touches of CO2 to clean up the finish. Rua de Sergidos, Sequeirô Santo Tirso, Portugal Tiago Lopes tiagolopes@quintadegomariz.com Phone: US Importer: PR Grisley Michael Grisley US 1485 South 300 West Salt Lake City, Utah Grisley3@gmail.com Phone:

8 03 Producer: QUINTA DA LIXA Wine Name: AROMAS DAS CASTAS ALVARINHO TRAJADURA Vintage: 2012 Varietal(s): ALVARINHO (50%), TRAJADURA (50%) Region: VINHO VERDE Production: 30,000 BOTTLES Winemaker: CARLOS TEIXEIRA This melds Trajadura s scents of talc with the supple juiciness of Alvarinho, combining in a gentle, peachy white with fresh, coastal minerality. This 25-acre estate is located on a north-facing granite hillside. The harvest team works to get the grapes pressed quickly, and then ferments the wine at a low temperature to sustain its freshness. Monte Lixa, Portugal Carlos Teixeira carlosteixeira@quintadalixa.pt /info@quintadalixa.pt Phone: US Importer: Wine in Motion Pedro Veloso US 2421 Lorio Court Suite A Union, NJ pedro.veloso@wineinmotionusa.com Phone:

9 04 Producer: QUINTA DE PAÇOS Wine Name: CASA DO CAPITÃO-MOR Vintage: 2011 Varietal(s): ALVARINHO Region: VINHO VERDE Production: 6,600 BOTTLES Winemaker: RUI CUNHA Deeded in the 14th century to a knight of King Afonso III, this estate in Mazedo takes its name from the high commander (Capitão-mor) of Monção, who took it over in The granitic soils are covered in smooth rocks deposited by a long vanished river that once fed into the Minho, a half-mile away. Rui Cunha makes this wine in stainless steel, where it rests for six months on the lees, developing the broad, toasty depths of flavor that contrast the wine s tart flavors of lemon, woodland cherries, fresh almond and peach. It feels walled off behind a block of granite; then the flavors explode through the rock, brisk, clean and oceanic. R. José de Carvalho, 68, Portugal José da Silva Ramos quintapacos@gmail.com Phone: US Importer: US Phone: Currently seeking US importer

10 05 Producer: SOALHEIRO Wine Name: ALVARINHO Vintage: 2012 Varietal(s): ALVARINHO Region: VINHO VERDE Production: 100,000 BOTTLES Winemaker: LUIS CERDEIRA Luis Cerdeiro makes this wine from his family s vineyard as well as those of his neighbors in the hills and granite soils of Melgaço. Handharvested into small bins, the grapes arrive quickly at the winery and are immediately pressed. Then the chilled must rests for two days, allowing the heavier solids to settle out of the wine before fermentation begins without added yeast (he uses a parallel process for the Primeiras Vinhas). The 2012 is his 30th vintage, and may be one of the best yet, its dark-toned, umami earthiness contrasting vibrant notes of litchi, bitter melon, peaches and cream. The gentleness to this wine defines Alvarinho on the Portuguese side of the Minho, a formidable structure with delicate freshness that lasts. Alvaredo-Melgaço Melgaço, Portugal Luis Cerdeira quinta@soalheiro.com Phone: US Importer: Wine in Motion Pedro Veloso US 2421 Lorio Court Suite A Union, NJ pedro.veloso@wineinmotionusa.com Phone:

11 06 Producer: SOALHEIRO Wine Name: PRIMEIRAS VINHAS Vintage: 2012 Varietal(s): ALVARINHO Region: VINHO VERDE Production: 12,000 BOTTLES Winemaker: LUIS CERDEIRA Selected from the oldest vines on the Cerdeiro s family estate in Melgaço, planted in 1982 and farmed organically, this is the grand cru of Alvarinhos. The wine s fruit complexity comes across in a sour cherry scent and pink grapefruit pith flavors, turning toward paler notes of Brazil nuts and pear skin in the finish. It captures the granitic soils of Melgaço in its acidity, potently wrapped within the wine s beautiful freshness. Luis Cerdeiro makes most of this wine in stainless steel, with 15 percent fermented in older oak barrels; it rests on its fine lees until bottling the May after harvest. This will age with grace and harmony for ten years or more. Cerdeiro s top vintages, including the 1994, are still gaining momentum in the bottle. Alvaredo-Melgaço Melgaço, Portugal Luis Cerdeira quinta@soalheiro.com Phone: US Importer: Wine in Motion Pedro Veloso US 2421 Lorio Court, Suite A, Union, NJ pedro.veloso@wineinmotionusa.com Phone:

12 07 Producer: ANSELMO MENDES VINHOS Wine Name: CONTACTO Vintage: 2012 Varietal(s): ALVARINHO Region: VINHO VERDE Production: 60,000 BOTTLES Winemaker: ANSELMO MENDES Anselmo Mendes gives this wine 12 hours of skin contact at 12 C before allowing a spontaneous fermentation to begin. The wine remains on the lees for four to five months, stirred once a week. The process gives this Alvarinho a fascinating earthiness, focused on lotus root and litchi. It feels cool and juicy, with a zesty spice. Mouthwatering layers of flavor develop, from chamomile to beeswax and honey. This grows at four sites in alluvial soils derived from granite, with a lot of rock in the vineyards. Zona Industrial de Penso, Lote Melgaço, Portugal Anselmo Mendes Anselmo.mendes@netcabo.pt Phone: / US Importer: Wine in Motion Pedro Veloso US 2421 Lorio Court, Suite A, Union, NJ pedro.veloso@wineinmotionusa.com Phone:

13 08 Producer: IDEALDRINKS Wine Name: EMINÊNCIA Vintage: 2010 Varietal(s): LOUREIRO Region: VINHO VERDE Production: 20,000 BOTTLES Winemaker: CARLOS LUCAS A portion of this wine ferments and ages on the lees for six months in stainless steel, while another portion undergoes a parallel process in older French oak barriques. Malolactic is blocked in both lots. Blended together and bottled, the wine ages another year before release, developing a richness and intensity that s unusual for Loureiro. This takes on the nobility and power of a classic, terroirdriven white, tasting as much of the earth as it does of juicy pear-like fruit. Scents of chamomile, beeswax and dried peach last with the wine s mineral austerity. Rua Principal São Lourenço do Bairro, Portugal Filipe Pereira geral@idealdrinks.com / filipe.pereira@idealdrinks.com Phone: / US Importer: Strategic Importers Alejandro Ferrari US 6453 West Rogers Circle, Suite 1, Boca Raton, Fl strategicimporters@gmail.com Phone:

14 09 Producer: Wine Name: Vintage: 2012 Varietal(s): Region: Production: Winemaker: CASA DE MOURAZ ENCRUZADO ENCRUZADO DÃO 3,666 BOTTLES VINES AND WINES AND ANTÓNIO LOPES RIBEIRO António Lopes Ribeiro farms this vineyard under organic and biodynamic principles, and then ferments the must without added yeast in stainless steel vats. Gentle lees stirring for three weeks seems to enhance the wine s minerality, while not diminishing the clarity of its fruit expression a cool sensation of lemon peel and orange oil. The texture plays off Encruzado s unctuous richness while still feeling as clean as spring water. The flavors last, with the granitic spice of the grapes. R. do Outeiro, 111, Mouraz, Portugal Sara Dionísio casademouraz@sapo.pt Phone: / US Importer: Savio Soares Selections Danielle Rosenberg US 10 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY savio@savioselections.com Phone:

15 10 Producer: QUINTA DAS BÁGEIRAS Wine Name: GARRAFEIRA WHITE Vintage: 2004 Varietal(s): MARIA GOMES, BICAL Region: BAIRRADA Production: 3,200 BOTTLES Winemaker: RUI ALVES The coastal region of Bairrada is best known for long-lived reds from the Baga grape, but the whites can share that longevity, especially when grown on centenary vines. Mario Sergio Alves Nuno tends two small parcels of ancient bush vines, mostly a mix of Maria Gomes and Bical growing in the clay limestone soils of Bairrada. He uses a vertical press to gentle drain the juice from the bunches, and lets it settle for a day. The juice then ferments without added yeast in 100-year-old Portuguese oak vats (2,500 liters each), where the wine remains in contact with its fine lees for five months, eventually bottled without fining or filtration. This is a tannic white, robust and seemingly sherried when first poured. Decant it to bring oxygen into the wine and you ll find fresher citrus notes, as well as deep tones of roasted almonds and cream. The texture feels as smooth as suede, weaving all the meatiness and earthiness into the saturated flavors. Rich enough for roast pork, this is probably best with grilled langoustines or other meaty shellfish. -Joshua Greene Fogueira Sangalhos, Portugal Mário Sérgio quintadasbageiras@mail.telepac.pt Phone: US Importer: US Aidil Wines/ Wine Wise Phone: Pedro Carvalho/ Hiram Simon 574 Ferry Street, Newark, NJ 5655 College Avenue Oakland, CA pedro.carvalho@aidilwines.com hiram@winewise.biz

16 11 Producer: QUINTA DE CHOCAPALHA Wine Name: ARINTO Vintage: 2011 Varietal(s): ARINTO Region: LISBOA Production: Winemaker: SANDRA TAVARES DA SILVA Arinto thrives in the coastal hills of Alenquer, where the Tavares da Silva family farms a north-facing hillside of calcareous clay soils. The vines, now 25 years old, benefit from the winds off the coast, sustaining freshness in the grapes. Sandra Tavares ferments this wine in stainless steel, and then ages it on the lees for six months. The wine s breezy feel meanders past delicate nutty scents toward peach pit and pale kumquat flavors, with a cool buzz of acidity to leave the mouth feeling refreshed. -Joshua Greene Aldeia Galega Da Merceana, Portugal Alice or Andrea Tavares da Silva chocapalha@chocapalha.com/ andreatavares@chocapalha.com Phone: US Importer: Solstars Ltd. Haim Hassin or Anne Rodeman US 575, Madison Avenue Suite 1006 New York, NY hhassin@solstars.com/ arodeman@solstars.com Phone:

17 12 Producer: ENOPORT UNITED WINES Wine Name: QUINTA DO BOIÇÃO RESERVA WHITE Vintage: 2012 Varietal(s): ARINTO Region: BUCELAS Production: 15,600 BOTTLES Winemaker: JOÃO VICÊNCIO Bucelas was once known as a super-long-lived white, and this one shows the age-worthy character of Arinto grown well. Grown on 25-year-old vines planted on clay soils, this starts a slow fermentation in stainless steel, finishing in new French oak barriques with 15 days of lees stirring. It s tightly structured, saturated with smoky, meaty fruit flavors that coalesced during its time in French oak. It finishes clean, lasting on pale peach and almond flavor. -Joshua Greene Rua Mariano de Carvalho, Apartado Rio Maior, Portugal Maria José Viana Enoport.sgps@enoport.pt Phone: US Importer: Prestige Wine Group Kevin Campbell US 1999 Shepard Road St. Paul, MN kcampbell@prestigewinegroup.com Phone:

18 13 Producer: CASCA WINES Wine Name: MONTE CASCAS MALVASIA DE COLARES BRANCO Vintage: 2011 Varietal(s): MALVASIA DE COLARES Region: COLARES Production: 450 BOTTLES Winemaker: HELDER CUNHA AND FREDERICO GOMES Federico Carnall Vilar Gomes and Helder Cunha are partners in Casca, making wines from throughout Portugal. Gomes has family ties to Colares, and he is personally committed to sustaining what is left of the Ramisco and Malvasia on this sandy spit of land, the westernmost vineyard land on the European continent. He works with three adjacent vineyards- their 80-year-old vines growing horizontally along the white sandy soil and their roots digging deep into limestone. The wine ferments in two old French oak barrels, then ages in old oak for 18 months before bottling by hand. After aging in bottle, it turns out spicy and cool, expressing its minerality in saline notes and sandy acidity. The fruit comes across in scents of fennel, beeswax and the floral spice of linalool. A rarity and a Portuguese original. Rua Romano Esteves nº 276, Cascais, Portugal Helder Cunha info@cascawines.pt Phone: US Importer: Matador Vino Michael Hutchinson US 6501 Crown Blvd # 106 A5 San Jose, CA michael@matadorvino.com Phone:

19 14 Producer: Wine Name: Vintage: 2011 Varietal(s): Region: Production: Winemaker: RUI REGUINGA ENOLOGIA TERRENUS ARINTO, FERNÃO PIRES, BICAL, ROUPEIRO AND OTHER VARIETALS ALENTEJO 5,000 BOTTLES RUI REGUINGA A field blend of at least eight Portuguese white varieties including Arinto, Fernão Pires and Roupeiro, these bush vines grow at five different sites near the Serra de São Mamede outside Portalegre, their ages ranging from 80 to 100 years old. The soils are granite and schist. The wine rests with its lees for six months, sixty percent of the blend in stainless steel, the rest in a mix of new and older French barriques. The result is a rich, robust, gastronomic white, its dense texture and floral spice targeted to braised pork shoulder. Zona Industrial, Lote 81, 2080 Almeirim, Portugal Rui Reguinga rui.reguinga@mail.telepac.pt Phone: US Importer: Currently Seeking US Importer US Phone:

20 15 Producer: HERDADE DO ESPORÃO Wine Name: VERDELHO Vintage: 2012 Varietal(s): VERDELHO Region: ALENTEJO Production: 5,000 BOTTLES Winemaker: DAVID BAVERSTOCK AND SANDRA ALVES Verdelho, a variety from Madeira, is new to the vineyards at Esporão (planted in 2001). Growing in an area of the estate where the soil transitions from schist to granite, it has settled in quickly, sustaining its acidity in the region s heat. It s a wine based on shapely curves and mineral edges, the fat of the grape cut by the wine s persistent acidity, woven into the finish so the wine feels warm and spicy without feeling hot. 80 River Street Suite 306 Hoboken, NJ Pedro Vieira Pedro.vieira@esporao.com Phone: US Importer: Aidil Wines Pedro Carvalho US 574 Ferry Street, Newark, NJ Pedro.carvalho@aidilwines.com Phone:

21 16 Producer: SECRET SPOT WINES Wine Name: VALE DA POUPA MOSCATEL GALEGO WHITE Vintage: 2012 Varietal(s): MOSCATEL GALEGO BRANCO Region: DOURO Production: 15,000 BOTTLES Winemaker: RUI CUNHA AND HUGO LINTON Secret Spot is a partnership between Gonçalo Sousa Lopes (a viticultural consultant in the Douro Valley) and Rui Cunha (a consulting enologist working in the Douro Valley and Vinho Verde). They make this lively, fresh Muscatel Gallego from fruit grown in Favaios, at 1,950 feet. It ferments in stainless steel without added yeast and ages for five months on the fine lees, enhancing the wine s bright spice and balancing its sweetness Favaios, Portugal Rui Cunha ruicunha@secretspotwines.com Phone: US Importer: US Phone: Europvin Paul Sharp Stagg St. Suite 200 Van Nuys, CA psharp@europvin.com

22 17 Producer: JOSÉ MARIA DA FONSECA VINHOS Wine Name: DOMINGOS SOARES FRANCO COLECÇÃO PRIVADA MOSCATEL ROXO ROSÉ Vintage: 2012 Varietal(s): MOSCATEL ROXO Region: PENÍNSULA DE SETÚBAL Production: 8,500 BOTTLES Winemaker: DOMINGOS SOARES FRANCO Domingos Soares Franco, winemaker at J.M. da Fonseca, has access to half of the Moscatel Roxo in Portugal, 20 out of the 40 hectares planted. His father worked to save the variety from extinction, and used it to produce a rare, delicious fortified wine (the 1964 is one of the most memorable Portuguese dessert wines I ve tasted, on par with the greatest older Tawnies from the Douro; the family is currently selling an older vintage, the 1960). Soares Franco believes this is a natural mutation from Muscat of Alexandria and, in addition to using it for fortified wines, he has been tinkering with a macho rosé. This is the color of a saignée Champagne, the flavors intriguingly spicy and floral, with a touch of grape skin tannin balanced by an equally subtle sweetness. It delivers potent flavors in a wine that s easy to drink, especially in the company of a country pâté or cured linguiça sausages. Rua José Augusto Coelho 11/13, Azeitão, Portugal António Maria Soares Franco Antonio.sfranco@jmfonseca.pt Phone: US Importer: NLC Wines Naâma Laufer US 649 Morgan Avenue, Suite 4E8, Brooklyn, NY Naama.laufer@nlcwines.com Phone:

23 18 Producer: Wine Name: Vintage: 2009 Varietal(s): Region: Production: Winemaker: QUINTA DA ALORNA PORTAL DA ÁGUIA RED DOC TINTA RORIZ, CASTELÃO, SYRAH, ALICANTE BOUSCHET TEJO 230,000 BOTTLES MARTTA REIS SIMÕES Built in 1725 by Pedro de Almeida Portugal, the Marquis of Alorna, this grand quinta has been in the Caroça family since Located near Santarém, close to the Tagus River, the 6,900-acre property includes 540 acres of vines as well as cork forests and other crops. This wine is a blend of four varieties that thrive in Tejo (Tinta Roriz, Castelão, Syrah and Alicante Bouchet), the percentages varying with the vintage. The 2009 is dominated by the purple-fruit character of Syrah and Alicante, emphasizing its oak when first poured. It begins to show its elegance with air, developing scents of cracked green peppercorn and a full-on juicy texture. Tightly built, this will age well over the next several years Almeirim, Portugal Telma Moura or Dora Martins geral@alorna.pt Phone: US Importer: Regal Wines Patrick Bautista US 2 Commerce Drive Suite #3, Moorestown, NJ info@regalwineco.com Phone:

24 19 Producer: Wine Name: QUINTA DE CHOCAPALHA RED Vintage: 2008 Varietal(s): Region: Production: Winemaker: TINTA RORIZ (33%), SYRAH (22%), TOURIGA NACIONAL (22%), TOURIGA FRANCA (11%), CASTELÃO (10%), ALICANTE BOUSCHET(2%) LISBOA SANDRA TAVARES DA SILVA Alice and Paulo Tavares da Silva bought this estate in the 1980s and have planted 111 acres of vines. This year, they built a new winery into the hillside where their daughter, Sandra, makes the Chocapalha wines. (Sandra Tavares also makes the Quinta da Manoella and Pintas wines with her husband, Jorge Serodio Borges, in the Douro). This blend, including Tinta Roriz, Syrah, Touriga Nacional and Franca, ages in older French oak and has a traditional feel to it, with delicate floral notes of violets and heather alongside a spicy crushed peppercorn scent that lasts. A touch of earthiness adds to the wine s smoky richness and complexity Aldeia Galega Da Merceana, Lisboa, Portugal Alice or Andrea Tavares da Silva chocapalha@chocapalha.com or andreatavares@chocapalha.com Phone: US Importer: Solstars, Ltd. Haim Hassin or Anne Rodeman US 575, Madison Avenue, Suite 1006, New York, NY hhassin@solstars,com or arodeman@solstars.com Phone:

25 20 Producer: Wine Name: Vintage: 2011 Varietal(s): Region: Production: Winemaker: QUINTA DO PINTO ESTATE COLLECTION RED TOURIGA NACIONAL (25%), ARAGONEZ (20% ), CASTELÃO (10%), ALFROCHEIRO (10%), TINTA MIÚDA (10%), SYRAH (25%) LISBOA 150,000 BOTTLES TIAGO BELLEGARDE MACHADO From an estate that has produced wines since the 17th century, this grows at a 130-acre vineyard just south of Alenquer. The soils are comprised of clay and limestone on a south-facing slope planted to Aragones, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Miúda, Alfrocheiro, and Syrah. It s fermented in concrete tanks without added yeast, and then aged for nine months in older French oak barrels. The spicy aroma of the grapes becomes more layered and compelling with air, adding elegance to the purple fruit and lending the wine power without weight. Aldeia Galega da Merceana, 2580 Alenquer, Portugal Ana Cardoso Pinto ana.cardosopinto@quintadopinto.pt Phone: US Importer: Currently seeking US importer US Phone:

26 21 Producer: Wine Name: Vintage: 2010 Varietal(s): Region: Production: Winemaker: VIDIGAL WINES BRUTALIS ALICANTE BOUSCHET (85%), CABERNET SAUVIGNON (15%) LISBOA 30,000 BOTTLES ANTÓNIO VENTURA, RAFAEL NEUPARTH AND ARNALDO SIMÕES Vidigal is a Norwegian Portuguese joint venture with a winemaking team that includes António Ventura, Rafael Neuparth and Arnoldo Simões. They blend this wine from Alicante Bouchet and Cabernet Sauvignon grown on a north-facing hillside of clay-limestone soils. It presents the bold, floral black fruit flavors of Alicante Bouchet under the richness of French oak (the wine aged 17 months in barrels, 40 percent of them new). With some air, the cabernet emerges in hints of leather while Alicante s fruit supersedes the oak, turning sleek and spicy. Estrada da Ribeira, 230, Cortes, Leiria, Portugal Ricardo Daniel Marques daniel@vidigalwines.com Phone: US Importer: Portugal Wines Sar Perlman US 2951 MacDonald Street Oceanside, CA sar@portugalwines.org Phone:

27 22 Producer: QUINTA DA PLANSEL Wine Name: MARQUÊS DE MONTEMOR, COLHEITA SELECCIONADA TOURIGA FRANCA Vintage: 2010 Varietal(s): TOURIGA FRANCA Region: ALENTEJO Production: 4,000 BOTTLES Winemaker: DORINA LINDEMANN Winemaker Dorina Lindemann ferments this in stainless steel with a three-day cold soak beforehand and three days of maceration afterward. She ages the wine for 15 months in French oak, 20 percent new, turning out Touriga Franca that tastes like a peppery claret, with little of the overt warmth of the Alentejo. It s ripe and velvety, lasting with fragrance rather than heat. The Mediterranean grasslands that produce this franca also produce delicious pork, including the traditionally long-braised trotters with which this would be delicious. Apartado 2, Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal Dorina Lindemann ormarisa Parreira quintadaplansel@plansel.com Phone: US Importer: Savio Soares Selections Savio Soares US 10 Jay Street No. 722 Brooklyn, NY saviosoareswine@gmail.com Phone:

28 23 Producer: Wine Name: Vintage: 2010 Varietal(s): Region: Production: Winemaker: MONTE DA RAVASQUEIRA VINHA DAS ROMÃS SYRAH, TOURIGA NACIONAL, ALICANTE BOUSCHET, TOURIGA FRANCA ALENTEJO 30,000 BOTTLES PEDRO PEREIRA GONÇALVES Silky smooth, this has the warm, almost peachy ripeness that the Alentejo brings to its red grapes. The flavors are bright, with jasmine and rose highlights on its supple black fruit. A blend of syrah, touriga nacional, touriga franca and alicante bouchet, this was grown in clay limestone soils over granite. It should develop well over the next several years. Santana do Campo, Arraiolos , Portugal Joaquim Guimarães jguimaraes@ravasqueira.com Phone: US Importer: Winresources USA Arlindo Correia US 688 Columbia Road, Suite 2, Boston, MA acorreia@winresourcesusa.com Phone:

29 24 Producer: Wine Name: Vintage: 2010 Varietal(s): Region: Production: Winemaker: HERDADE DO ESPORÃO RESERVA RED ARAGONÊS, TRINCADEIRA, ALICANTE BOUSCHET, CABERNET SAUVIGNON ALENTEJO 50,000 BOTTLES DAVID BAVERSTOCK AND LUIS PATRAO This is a dark and supple blend of Trincadeira, Aragonês, Alicante Bouchet and Cabernet Sauvignon, from a vast vineyard project in Reguengos de Monsaraz. It grows in a part of the vineyard where the soils are clay loam with schist over basalt, the vines monitored for soil moisture in the arid heat of the region. Winemakers Luis Patrao and David Baverstock produce it in a number of small-scale fermentations to control the extraction, and then age it in French and American oak, 30 percent new. The wine delivers immediate richness, taking time to show its subtle tannic detail. There s a touch of volatility to point up the complex scents of leather, earth and black peppercorn, then the finish holds firm and stony. 80 River Street Suite 306 Hoboken, NJ Pedro Vieira Pedro.vieira@esporao.com Phone: US Importer: Aidil Wines Pedro Carvalho US 574 Ferry Street, Newark, NJ Pedro.carvalho@aidilwines.com Phone:

30 25 Producer: HERDADE DE VALE BARQUEIROS Wine Name: RESERVA RED Vintage: 2008 Varietal(s): ALICANTE BOUSCHET, TRINCADEIRA Region: ALENTEJO Production: 14,400 BOTTLES Winemaker: PAULO LAUREANO A family-owned estate with 300 acres of vines near Alter do Chao, west of Portalegre in the northern Alentejo, Vale Barqueiros includes cork forests and 800 acres of olive trees. Paulo Laureano blends this from Alicante Bouchet and Trincadeira grown in granitic soils, and ages it for 12 months in French oak (50 percent new). It carries the heat and sun of the Alentejo in spicy scents of cracked green peppercorns and crushed thyme. The wine s supple red raspberry flavor gets an electric jolt from some volatile acidity, giving it a classical Alentejana profile. Travessa da Prelada, Porto, Portugal Miguel Trancoso mtrancoso@valebarqueiros.pt Phone: US Importer: US Phone: Currently seeking US Importer

31 26 Producer: Wine Name: LUSOVINI Vintage: 2010 Varietal(s): Region: Production: Winemaker: PEDRA CANCELA SELEÇÃO DO ENÓLOGO TOURIGA NACIONAL, ALFROCHEIRO, TINTA RORIZ DÃO 200,000 BOTTLES JOÃO PAULO GOUVEIA Nuno Cancela de Abreu grew up in a winemaking family in Dão, and started his own project there in He has since expanded to other regions, including Lisboa, where he consulted on the viticulture and winemaking at Quinta da Alorna, another winery among the 50 Great. This wine is his personal selection from his vineyard in Dão, a blend of Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro And Tinta Roriz, aged for eight months in new French oak barriques. It has soft flavors of red plum and the cool, earthy feel of a cave a brisk, granitic Dão presented fresh and light. Av. Da Liberdade, nº 15, Nelas, Portugal Sónia Martins Soniamartins@lusovini.com Phone: US Importer: Wine in Motion Pedro Veloso US 2421 Lorio Court, Suite A, Union, NJ pedro.veloso@wineinmotionusa.com Phone:

32 27 Producer: Wine Name: CASA DE MOURAZ ELFA Vintage: 2010 Varietal(s): Region: Production: Winemaker: FIELD BLEND OF 30 DIFFERENT GRAPE VARIETALS DÃO 6,666 BOTTLES VINES & WINES AND ANTÓNIO LOPES RIBEIRO António Lopes Ribeiro converted this mixed planting to organic viticulture in 1990; while the 80-year-old vineyard is now certified organic, he has been farming it with biodynamic practices since He ferments the wine without added yeast in stainless steel, where it rests until bottling. It s a simple vinification that allows the explosive complexity of the 30 varieties in the vineyard to blast out of the glass, vibrant in its flavor detail, monumental in its granitic power. A modern classic from the terroir of Dão. R. do Outeiro, 111, Mouraz, Portugal Sara Dionísio casademouraz@sapo.pt Phone: / US Importer: Savio Soares Selections Danielle Rosenberg US 10 Jay Street Brooklyn NY savio@savioselections.com Phone:

33 28 Producer: FTP VINHOS Wine Name: QUINTA DO SERRADO RESERVA RED Vintage: 2009 Varietal(s): TOURIGA NACIONAL, ALFROCHEIRO, JAEN Region: DÃO Production: Winemaker: ANTÓNIO MACHADO Starting out with delicate floral intensity, this wine s austere tannins meet broad, rich blue fruit. It s a full-bodied Dão, opening into a racy finish. A blend of Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro and Jaen, this grows at a vineyard in Penalva do Castelo, redeveloped by Carvalho, Ribeira & Ferreira in the 1980s, now in the hands of FTP Wines, part of Tavfer, a Portuguese group that started investing in wine properties in Penalva do Castelo, Portugal Gabriel Pereira geral@ftpvinhos.com Phone: US Importer: US Phone: Currently seeking US importer

34 29 Producer: Wine Name: Vintage: 2007 Varietal(s): Region: Production: Winemaker: QUINTA DA PONTE PEDRINHA VINHAS VELHAS BLEND OF DIFFERENT GRAPES VARIETALS DÃO 8,300 BOTTLES PATRÍCIA CARVALHO, CATARINA SIMÕES AND LAFAYETTE AGRA From an old mixed planting in the Serra de Estrela region of Dão, about 30 percent of this wine is Alfrocheiro, Baga and Jaen, while the rest is made up of a wide range of varieties, all grown on weathered granite. Inoculated with local yeast, fermented and aged in stainless steel, the wine is a silken, old-fashioned Dão. It takes a classical approach to the region, presenting gamey notes and a little healthy sweatiness that could read as salinity or minerality. Austere and meaty, with a crisp line of wild berry flavor in the middle, it finishes clean Lagarinhos Gouveia, Portugal Patrícia Carvalho quintadapontepedrinha@gmail.com Phone: / US Importer: Currently seeking US importer US Phone:

35 30 Producer: ALIANÇA Wine Name: QUINTA DA DÔNA RED Vintage: 2009 Varietal(s): BAGA Region: BAIRRADA Production: 22,687 BOTTLES Winemaker: FRANCISCO ANTUNES Aliança, one of Portugal s largest wine exporters, started as a shipping company in Bairrada in the 1920s. The firm purchased this quinta in 2002, a north-facing hillside on Bairrada s clay-limestone soil where baga reached a fine maturity in The fruit was cold-soaked for five days, then fermented in stainless steel and aged for a year in new French and Russian oak barrels. The quality of the fruit shows in a brisk note of black raspberries, the flavor focused and vibrant. The tannins are soft enough to make this robust wine feel elegant and gracious on release and balanced to gain complexity as it ages. Rua do Comércio nº 444, Sangalhos, Portugal Mario Neves mario.neves@alianca.pt Phone: US Importer: Tri-Vin Imports, Inc. Joao Oliveira US One Park Avenue, MT Vernon, NY info@tri-vin.com Phone:

36 31 Producer: LUÍS PATO Wine Name: VINHA PAN Vintage: 2009 Varietal(s): BAGA Region: BAIRRADA Production: 3,066 BOTTLES Winemaker: LUÍS PATO Luis Pato has been experimenting with Baga since he left his career as a civil engineer to take over his family s old-vine blocks in At the time, most Baga was undrinkable for its first ten years in bottle; it was often grown on high-yielding vines that rarely ripened their grapes before rains began on the coast, leaving the wines severely tannic. His innovative farming and early experiments with destemming the grapes and aging in new French oak has helped reinterpret Baga, his wines developing with age into something akin to Burgundy or Barolo, depending on the season and the site. Pato s vines at Vinha Pan are 33-years-old, farmed with restricted yields to express their claylimestone soil within black-fruited exuberance. This 2009 captures the round, supple character of the vintage in Bairrada; it s fragrant and brisk, a young wine with intensity and gracious tannins. Rua da Quinta Nova, Amoreira da Gândara, Portugal Luís Pato geral@luispato.com Phone: US Importer: Wine in Motion Pedro Veloso US 2421 Lorio Court, Suite A Union, NJ pedro.veloso@wineinmotionusa.com Phone:

37 32 Producer: QUINTA DAS BÁGEIRAS Wine Name: GARRAFEIRA RED Vintage: 2009 Varietal(s): BAGA Region: BAIRRADA Production: 8,676 BOTTLES Winemaker: RUI ALVES A great Bairrada, this wine presents concentric circles of flavor, its fully ripe tannins releasing complex scents that shift from woodland red berries to tangerine pith and cumin-like spice. It smells fantastic and tastes juicy and rich, capturing a classic vintage for Baga in the power and intensity of its tannins. Mario Sérgio Alves Nuno makes this wine from his family s old-vine parcels on the region s clay limestone soils, where he farms the fruit to ripen the stems and uses all of those stems in his fermentations. He ferments the wine in 100-year-old Portuguese oak vats (3,000 liters), where it ages for 18 months prior to bottling. This is one of the most traditional old-vine Bairradas, and consistently one of the best. Fogueira Sangalhos, Portugal Mário Sérgio quintadasbageiras@mail.telepac.pt Phone: US Importer: US Aidil Wines/ Wine Wise Phone: Pedro Carvalho/ Hiram Simon 574 Ferry Street, Newark, NJ 5655 College Avenue Oakland, CA pedro.carvalho@aidilwines.com hiram@winewise.biz

38 33 Producer: JOÃO BRITO E CUNHA Wine Name: QUINTA DE S. JOSÉ TOURIGA NACIONAL Vintage: 2011 Varietal(s): TOURIGA NACIONAL Region: DOURO Production: 2,700 BOTTLES Winemaker: JOÃO BRITO E CUNHA João Brito e Cunha owns this north-facing vineyard across the Douro from Romaneira, where he farms 25 acres of vines organically. His Touriga Nacional vines are now 15 years old, growing on blue and gray schist soils. He ferments this wine in stainless steel then ages it in large (400 liter) second-use French oak barrels; that oak is present in the wine but remains in the background. The foreground is much more complex than most single-variety Tourigas, pulling aside a full drape of purple fruit to reveal a silken fabric of purple black tannins. The tannins seem to refract the broken edges of schist, rounded by oak into richness. The wine has flavor dimensions as well as cut, the structure as tight as the skin around a plump black cherry. Rua Augusto César, Vila Real, Portugal João Brito e Cunha joaobritoecunha@quintasjose.com Phone: US Importer: US Phone: Currently seeking US importer

39 34 Producer: Wine Name: MUXAGAT VINHOS RED Vintage: 2011 Varietal(s): Region: Production: Winemaker: TOURIGA NACIONAL, TOURIGA FRANCA, SOUSÃO DOURO 15,000 BOTTLES MATEUS NICOLAU DE ALMEIDA Mateus Nicolau de Almeida blends this wine from two parcels in the Douro Superior, one near the river at 820 feet facing north, the other at 1,800 facing south. He farms the higher elevation vines sustainably and began farming the riverside parcel under biodynamics five years ago. Nicolau de Almeida harvests early, ferments without added yeast and ages the wine in barrels that average five years old, ranging from 225 to 500 liters. The result is a Douro original, glowing with red fruit shot through with schist. It s a wine of restrained ripeness and textural cool. Avenida Gago Coutinho e Sacadura Cabral Mêda, Portugal Mateus Nicolau De Almeida mateus@muxagat.pt Phone: US Importer: Winebow Inc. Frank Paredes US 75 Chestnut Ridge Road, Montvale, NJ F_Paredes@winebow.com Phone:

40 35 Producer: Wine Name: Vintage: 2010 Varietal(s): Region: Production: Winemaker: QUINTA SEARA D'ORDENS TALENTVS GRANDE ESCOLHA TOURIGA NACIONAL (50%), TOURIGA FRANCA (25%), TINTA RORIZ (25%) DOURO 6,092 BOTTLES LUÍS SOARES DUARTE Luís Soares Duarte makes this wine at a vineyard in the hills northeast of Regua, in the Cima Corgo district of the Douro. This is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz, vinified in stainless steel without added yeast, aged in new barriques for a year and then in bottle for ten months. It s a grand expression of Douro power, fragrant with rose, mulberry and wild blueberry notes, elegant in its layers of schist and new oak tannins Poiares, Portugal José Moreira geral@searadordens.com Phone: US Importer: Emporium Nostrum/ Casa Ventura Imports,Inc Danielle Liagi/ Basilio Rodriguez US 908 Algeria Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida lowa Dr., Bellingham, WA Phone: dliagi@emporiumnostrum.com basi@casaventuraimports.com

41 36 Producer: JORGE NOBRE MOREIRA Wine Name: POEIRA Vintage: 2010 Varietal(s): OLD VINES Region: DOURO Production: 15,000 BOTTLES Winemaker: JORGE MOREIRA An elegant wine with the perfumed scent of sour cherries, this is a soft, gentle red blended from a vineyard of mixed old vines above the right bank of the Pinhão River. Jorge Moreira chose his 22-acre vineyard for table wine as it faces north, so the grapes ripen less quickly than in the surrounding Port wine vineyards, and they maintain their acidity well. His 2010 has the floral spice of Douro s oldvine blends, and compelling schist tannins that lend an undercurrent of power a sunny wine that seems to expand and contract with each breath after a taste of its dynamic flavors. Provesende Sabrosa, Portugal Jorge Moreira poeira@poeira.pt Phone: US Importer: Tri Vin John Oliveira US One Park Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY info@tri-vin.com Phone:

42 37 Producer: Wine Name: NIEPOORT VINHOS BATUTA Vintage: 2010 Varietal(s): Region: Production: Winemaker: TINTA AMARELA, TOURIGA FRANCA, TINTA RORIZ, RUFETE, MALVAZIA PRETA AND OTHERS DOURO 13,014 BOTTLES DIRK NIEPOORT AND TEAM The Niepoort family purchased the Quinta do Carril in 1987, and Dirk Niepoort soon found its north-facing slopes well suited to the style of table wine he hoped to create. The vineyard is near the Tedo River, just upstream of its confluence with the Douro. Niepoort bases Batuta on the fruit of its 70-year-old vines, blending in grapes from 100-yearold vines at two vineyards in the neighborhood. Those vines include Tinta Amarela, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Rufete, Malvasia Preta and a host of others. The age of the vines restricted yields in an otherwise abundant vintage, creating this brisk 2010, fermented without added yeast, macerated on its skins for 60 days, and then aged in French oak for close to two years. It s bursting with fruit complexity (salted plums, green olive notes, pink grapefruit acidity). The finish is fresh, even as it s gripping with the smoke of schist tannins. -Joshua Green Rua Cândido do Reis, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal Verena Niepoort verena@niepoort.pt Phone: US Importer: Martine s Wines, Inc. Gregory Castells US 285 Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Suite Q, Novato, CA greg@mwines.com Phone:

43 38 Producer: Wine Name: Vintage: 2010 Varietal(s): Region: Production: Winemaker: WINE & SOUL QUINTA DA MANOELLA VINHAS VELHAS TOURIGA NACIONAL (60%), TOURIGA FRANCA (25%), TINTA RORIZ (10%), TINTA FRANCISCA (5%) DOURO 10,000 BOTTLES JORGE BORGES AND SANDRA TAVARES Jorge Serodio Borges s great-grandfather planted the Quinta da Manoella after phylloxera, about 120 years ago. Serodio Borges now farms it with his wife and winemaking partner, Sandra Tavares. The oldest vines grow at three blocks at varied altitudes and include a substantial proportion of Tinta Francisca, which Tavares describes as a very fresh variety, with red fruit and beautiful acidity. Listening to old people, they used Francisca in the blend for acidity, for longevity. They ferment their Vinhas Velhas blend in lagares and age it in older French oak barriques. Serodio Borges believes the delicacy of this wine s red fruit is part of the personality of the vineyard; the 2010 vintage leads with that bright red fruit and spice before blossoming with schist tannins, their muscular, sinewy structure holding it tight. Built like a marathon runner, this is set up to age for decades. -Joshua Greene Avª Julio de Freitas 6, Portugal Sandra Tavares sandratavares@wineandsoul.com Phone: US Importer: Winebow Inc. Megan O Connor US 75 Chestnut Ridge Road, Montvale, NJ me_oconnor@winebow.com Phone:

44 39 Producer: Wine Name: Vintage: 2009 Varietal(s): Region: Production: Winemaker: ADRIANO RAMOS PINTO COLLECTION TOURIGA NACIONAL (50%), TOURIGA FRANCA (40%), TINTA DA BARCA (10%) DOURO JOÃO NICOLAU DE ALMEIDA This captures a warm, dry vintage in the Douro with gentleness, a textural pleasure in cushioned velvet and fresh fruit preserved. João Nicolau de Almeida blends this wine from two estate vineyards, Ervamoira in the Douro Superior and Bom Retiro in the Cima Corgo, where a block of 80-yearold mixed vines makes up 25 percent of the blend. He vinifies the old-vine fruit in lagares, while fermenting single-variety blocks of Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca in stainless steel. The freshness of the Bom Retiro fruit melds with the powerful, concentrated flavors of grapes from the Douro Superior, creating a wine with floral scents of blueberries and firm schist tannins, round, smoky and complex. -Joshua Greene Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal João Machete jmachete@ramospinto.pt Phone: US Importer: Maisons Marques & Domaines USA Inc. Ilene Denaro US 383 Fourth Street, Suite 400, Oakland, CA idenaro@mmdusa.net Phone: