origin: Portugal

Quinta Vale D. Maria Red Blend Superior

93
Quinta Vale D. Maria
Fanciful Name: Superior
Varietal: Red Blend
Country of Origin: Portugal
Appellation: Douro
Retail Price: $20.00

Tasting Notes: Produced from a combination of typical Douro Valley varieties — touriga nacional, touriga franca, tinta roriz (tempranillo) and alicante bouschet — the blend creates a wine with complexity, accessible tannins and dark fruit. A great wine to accompany a wide range of meats and cheeses.
Quinta Vale D. Maria Red Blend Superior

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Quinta da Pedra Alvarinho Milagres 2019

94
Quinta da Pedra
Fanciful Name: Milagres
Varietal: Alvarinho
Vintage: 2019
Country of Origin: Portugal
Appellation: Vinho Verde
Retail Price: $29.00

Tasting Notes: Produced with a combination of stainless and older used barrels. The lees are stirred in the barrel for half a year, adding complexity to the nose and palate, as well as weight and texture. Brilliant yellow in color, the nose provides lots of peach and apricot notes, and the palate follows suit, with a lovely touch of minerality.
Quinta da Pedra Alvarinho Milagres 2019

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Anselmo Mendes Alvarinho Monção e Melgaço 2023

94
Anselmo Mendes
Fanciful Name: Monção e Melgaço
Varietal: Alvarinho
Vintage: 2023
Country of Origin: Portugal
Appellation: Vinho Verde
Retail Price: $22.00

Tasting Notes: From the man known as “Mister Alvarinho,” this wine eloquently demonstrates why he has earned that distinction. With a purity of fruit, due to cool fermentation in steel tanks, the wine showcases the variety’s characteristics. Beautiful peach and citrus notes on the nose and palate create an enticing, refreshing delicious wine, which confirms that the region of Monção e Melgaço provides the perfect conditions for top class alvarinho.
Anselmo Mendes Alvarinho Monção e Melgaço 2023

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Paulo Laureano Red Blend 2021

92
Paulo Laureano
Varietal: Red Blend
Vintage: 2021
Country of Origin: Portugal
Appellation: Alentejo
Retail Price: $17.00

Tasting Notes: Produced in one of Portugal’s most prolific regions, this blend of regional varieties provides plenty of depth of fruit, mostly aragonez, and trincadeira with some alicante bouschet and tinta grossa. All of the components work together to create a wine with great complexity, and a supple and mid-weight mouthfeel. Very flexible, with its ability to pair well with a wide range of foods, only adds to its high-quality nature.
Paulo Laureano Red Blend 2021

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Artesania Portugal Alvarinho Alvarinho 2022

90
Artesania Portugal Alvarinho
Varietal: Alvarinho
Vintage: 2022
Country of Origin: Portugal
Appellation: Vinho Verde
Retail Price: $14.99

Tasting Notes: Juicy and fresh. This white wine shows notes of peach, apricot and white blossoms that practically jump out of the glass. The long, lingering finish is brought to life by rich citrus flavors like orange and lemon. A creamier mouthfeel than expected, this would pair well with any seafood dish.
Artesania Portugal Alvarinho Alvarinho 2022

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Vinhos Sogrape White Blend Nobilis

90
Vinhos Sogrape
Fanciful Name: Nobilis
Varietal: White Blend
Country of Origin: Portugal
Appellation: Vinho Verde
Retail Price: $10.99

Tasting Notes: Pale yellow gold color with aromas of citrus, orange and grapefruit rinds. This is a “better for you” take on vinho verde with a lower 9% alcohol and only 84 calories. The palate is light and almost effervescent with a light lime zest finish.
Vinhos Sogrape White Blend Nobilis

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Quinta de Ventozelo Touriga Franca

96
Quinta de Ventozelo
Varietal: Touriga Franca
Country of Origin: Portugal
Appellation: Douro
Retail Price: $25.00

Tasting Notes: A wonderful example of a wine produced from a variety that deserves much more attention and respect. Deep and brilliant ruby/garnet in the glass, the entrancing nose of elegant black fruit and spice is attractive and alluring. In the mouth, the wine is supple with an underlying power, showcasing its potential for aging. At this price point, it's a superb value.
Quinta de Ventozelo Touriga Franca

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Herdade do Rocim Red Blend Rocim Clay Aged Tinto

96
Herdade do Rocim
Fanciful Name: Rocim Clay Aged Tinto
Varietal: Red Blend
Country of Origin: Portugal
Appellation: Alentejo
Retail Price: $63.99

Tasting Notes: A very-modern wine, produced using ancient techniques. After crushing, the wine is aged for over a year in clay containers, which contributes to the wine's smooth texture, along with weight on the palate, allowing the red fruits prevalent on the nose to echo on the palate. Lovely now, worthy of some aging.
Herdade do Rocim Red Blend Rocim Clay Aged Tinto

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Quinta do Crasto Touriga Nacional 2016

97
Quinta do Crasto
Varietal: Touriga Nacional
Vintage: 2016
Country of Origin: Portugal
Appellation: Douro
Retail Price: $79.00

Tasting Notes: Exceptionally dense bright purple in the glass, the nose is dominated by dark berry fruit, with a subtle floral hint. Lush and weighty on the palate, with rich fruit and tannins, the finish lingers and lingers. Delicious now, it's also a great candidate for aging.
Quinta do Crasto Touriga Nacional 2016

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Pedra Cancela Touriga Nacional Rosé 2022

94
Pedra Cancela
Varietal: Touriga Nacional
Vintage: 2022
Country of Origin: Portugal
Appellation: Dão
Retail Price: $12.00

Tasting Notes: Produced entirely from touriga nacional, one of Portugal's iconic grape varieties, this supple and graceful rosé provides plenty of fresh berry and bright red fruit. The superb finish just confirms that this is a GREAT BARGAIN.
Pedra Cancela Touriga Nacional Rosé 2022

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Herdade do Rocim Mariana Rosé 2022

95
Herdade do Rocim
Fanciful Name: Mariana Rosé
Varietal: Rosé Blend
Vintage: 2022
Country of Origin: Portugal
Appellation: Vinho Regional Alentejano
Retail Price: $17.00

Tasting Notes: A blend of touriga nacional and aragonez provide a solid core of fruit and structure. Bright pink to the eye, the nose and palate exhibit plenty of bright red fruit, with floral notes. Exceptionally versatile, and an excellent value.
Herdade do Rocim Mariana Rosé 2022

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Herdade do Rocim Mariana Blanc de Blancs Bruto Espumante

94
Herdade do Rocim
Fanciful Name: Mariana Blanc de Blancs Bruto Espumante
Varietal: Sparkling
Country of Origin: Portugal
Appellation: Vinho Regional Alentejano
Retail Price: $20.99

Tasting Notes: Clean, bright, elegant. All apt descriptors for this superb sparkling wine. The nose is dominated by tree fruit notes, with subtle floral hints. The focus on the palate keeps things lively, with balancing acidity and a longer finish, balancing the fruit and subtle toastiness.
Herdade do Rocim Mariana Blanc de Blancs Bruto Espumante

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