HAPPY HOUR WINE TASTING FEATURING PORTUGUESE WINES Thursday, July 25, 2024 - 6:00 PM
“Port is not for the very young, the vain and the active. It is the comfort of age and the companion of the scholar and the philosopher.” -Evelyn Waugh
I have often been called a philosopher but not a scholar, except when wine is concerned and tonight, I will continue my study of the subject of Portuguese wines almost immediately after returning from another trip to Oporto, it is clear to me now that Portugal is making some of the best wines in the world and they are unique in terms of varietals and style.
Everyone knows that Portugal makes some of the world’s greatest fortified sweet wine, but tastes have changed a bit and the dessert wine category which port is part of has been shrinking for the last few decades. There are a lot of exciting new unfortified wines made in Portugal today that are relatively unknown here in the states and I will be helping Portugal change that with this event. We have over 20 wines on the table this evening and of course there will be the traditional fortified wines that made Portugal famous along with cigars for after the tasting.
This is a walk around tasting and chef Toni will be making some tasty treats to accompany the new menu items inspired from our recent trip to Oporto. The fee is $75 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.
Happy Hour Featuring Wines from Portugal
Thursday, July 25th
6pm
NV BROADBENT VINHO VERDE
Price: $12.00 Your Price: $10.56
Vinho Verde is traditionally non-vintage and consumed quickly, so the wine on the shelf will always be a fresh bottling. The way to make a proper Vinho Verde is to suppress the malolactic fermentation and inject carbon dioxide at bottling to give the wine its characteristic spritz. We use pneumatic presses for gentle pressing to extract the free run juice and fermentation is around 16 degrees centigrade, which gives a slow fermentation which, in turn, protects the character of the Loureiro grape. We use special yeast QA21 which was developed in our vineyards and is now used all over the world. It gives a special character to our wines, which are produced at Quinta de Azevedo.
2019 BROADBENT DOURO RESERVE RED
Price: $25.50 Sale $22.44
Deep ruby red in color with intense aromas, hints of strawberry and raspberry, and black fruits, such as plum and blueberry. Notes of spices, pepper, ginger, balsamic, mint and a well-integrated woody element.
This wine is firm, yet polished, with round tannins. Further notes of red fruits come to the fore and invite a most elegant finish.
2019 QUINTA LA ROSA RESERVA DOURO
Price: $61.00 Your Price: $53.68
(95 points) This elegant red has a sense of restraint, with vivid acidity and taut, sculpted tannins wrapped in a swath of plush texture that carries notes of crushed black currant and pureed boysenberry, violet and wild sage, sandalwood, slate and smoke. Opens in the glass, expanding on the rich profile to reveal details of ground anise and pink peppercorn, eucalyptus, espresso and toast through the lasting finish. Best from 2025 through 2035. -Wine Spectator.
COSTA DO SOL VINHO VERDE PORTUGAL
Price: $12.00 Your Price: $10.56
Easy drinking, off-dry and fresh, this Vinho Verde is perfect for any time, any day with citrusy ripe golden apple and tropical fruit flavors and a pert, easygoing finish this is a crowd pleaser that will be as at home with a brunch spread or an appetizer or cheese course in an elaborate meal.
2020 Van Zellers VZ Branco, Douro, Portugal
Price: $31.50 Sale $27.72
A blend of a 70 year old vineyard with, Viosinho, Rabigato, Códega, Gouveio and Arinto. Van Zellers & Co VZ Douro White is produced with indigenous Douro grapes, found in older vineyards, grown in the Murça district at around 500 m altitude. This wine is Crafted by Hand, which means that the blending is one of the most important parts of winemaking. We blend different vineyards to produce a wine that is fresh, with lemon zest, lemon tree leaves, a hint of floral notes and a mineral mouthfeel. Long and intense, this wine will age beautifully in bottle.
2021 CASTELLO D'ALBA TINTO RESERVA, DOURO, PORTUGAL
Price: $20.25 Your Price: $17.82
(93 points) This vineyard in Douro Superior has produced fruit for a fine, full-bodied and structured wine. With its black fruits, firm tannins and concentration, the wine will age. Drink from 2024. Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Apr 2022)
2020 DONA MARIA AMANTIS RESERVA TINTO PORTUGAL
Price: $33.00 Your Price: $29.04
Beautiful dark ruby color. Very complexed mix of ripe raspberries and blackberries. Rich and spicy with red berries flavor, very elegant with silky tannins and very long finish.
2020 VAN ZELLERS VZ TINTO, DOURO, PORTUGAL
Price: $31.50 Your Price: $27.72
Around 30 different grape varieties, planted in different field blends in vineyards in several areas of the Cima Corgo, in the Douro region. Van Zellers & Co VZ Douro Red is a wine Crafted by Hand, where the blend of different grapes and vineyards from three main valleys: Torto, Pinhão and Douro. This blend produces a wine that is marked by red fruit aromas, is full-bodied, round and with a long finish.
2020 VAN ZELLERS & CO. CURRICULUM VITAE DOURO RED
Price: $123.00 Your Price: $108.24 Quantity in Stock: 3
More than 25 different varieties – including Rufete, Tinta Amarela, Donzelinho Tinto, Tinta Francisca, Sousão, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, and Touriga Nacional , among others.
During the life of any winemaker, there are wines and moments that mark our lives, which deserve to remain on our curriculum. This wine is one of them. We called it CV - Curriculum Vitae. Violet, dark red colour, with black currant, black cherries, plums and spices on the nose and an extremely balanced and fine wine with a long fruity finish. Perfect to pair with game meats, veal and pork, grilled, steamed or stewed, with oven baked vegetables or spicier side dishes. Serve at 16oC.
VAN ZELLERS & CO. 40 YEARS OLD TAWNY PORT, DOURO, PORTUGAL
Price: $189.00 Your Price: $166.32
A blend of more than 30 different traditional Douro red grape varieties, from old vines and more recent single variety vineyards located in the Cima Corgo, mainly in the rio Torto and the Pinhão valleys.
Over 40 Years Very Old Tawny Port is a blend of old Ports with an average age of over 40 years, aged in very old wooden casks. Van Zellers & Co. Over 40 Years Very Old Tawny Port is bottled on demand, making it possible for all to enjoy this beautiful Port over many years, sharing with us their natural evolution throughout time. Powerful fragrance, delicate fruit and raisins, toasted toffee and chocolate, a touch of spice, rich, intense, voluptuous. Serve slightly chilled.
2022 CAMALEAO ALVARINHO, VINHO VERDE, PORTUGAL
Price: $20.2 Your Price: $16.20
Citrus yellow color. Intense and pleasant aroma of orange blossom, bay leaves and stone fruits. Fresh with balanced vivacity, medium body with a long and pleasant finish.
The 2018 Liquen Alfrocheiro was aged for 14 months in used French oak and comes in at 12.9% alcohol. Lively and even a little tart as it airs out, this relies on freshness and structure more than the big flavors this grape often shows. That said, on the first pour or two it is just laced with delectable raspberry and cherry nuances. It tastes great, even while made in a somewhat understated and always controlled fashion. While there is a little bite on the finish, this is quite drinkable now, as the tannins are rather ripe. It has decent but not exceptional concentration. It is a perfect food wine with a Burgundian flair that should age throughout the decade. Wine Advocate
2018 QUINTA MARIA IZABEL 'MARIA IZABEL' BRANCO, DOURO, PORTUGA
Price: $45.00 Your Price: $39.60
Greenish citrus in color, it has a fresh aroma denoting complexity. It has an intense mineral character, which gives it freshness, along with notes of orchard fruit – white plum, citrus fruit – lime zest, light aroma of smoke and spices. Frank in the mouth is mineral, engaging with acidity tempered by the slight unctuousness granted by the malolactic partial made in barrel.
2015 QUINTA MARIA IZABEL 'MARIA IZABEL' TINTO, DOURO, PORTUGAL
Price: $45.00 Your Price: $39.60
Deep ruby color, with aromas of tobacco, involved by notes of wild berries, forming a typical Douro set. Seductive in the mouth, with some rusticity from the grapes' stem, combined with an intense minerality, this wine has a modern, long and fine profile.
2018 JOAO CABRAL ALMEIDA LIQUEN ALFROCHEIRO, DAO, PORTUGAL
Price: $61.50 Your Price: $54.12
(90 Points) From a single parcel, this perfumed, light wine has an attractive spiciness and acidity. Red fruits and touches of wood aging come from an attractive wine that is unusual for being 100% Alfricheiro. Drink now. — Roger Voss Wine Enthusiast
2018 J. CABRAL ALMEIDA DAO TINTO MUSGO FIELD BLEND TINTO
Price: $24.75 Your Price: $21.78
Clear, dark ruby red appearance. Restrained, fresh and floral aroma with red fruit and vegetable nuances. Good volume, fresh and long and pleasant finish.
NV RAMOS PINTO WHITE PORT (PORTO TONICO)
Price: $18.50 Your Price: $16.28
Golden yellow colour. It presents an aroma that is both fine and intense. Somewhat complex, it features a mixture of citrine aromas with a hint of honey and almond. Its attack is fresh and delicate. Some resinous hints can be detected along with a rich buttery taste on the palate. Dry in the mouth with a flavour of fresh fruit.
2019 RAMOS PINTO DUAS QUINTAS RESERVE DOURO
Price: $60.00 Your Price: $52.80
(93+ Points) “The 2019 Duas Quintas Reserva is a 70/20 blend of Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, with Tinta da Barca for the rest, all aged for 18 months in 20% new French oak of various sizes. It comes in at a hefty 15.7% alcohol. A big Reserva, this has fine depth and concentration, big fruit flavors and pungent aromatics. There is a serious backbone too. It is, though, the highest I've seen in alcohol (although some might have more generic and less accurate label numbers rather than the actual analytical numbers I seek now). So far, this seems to handle its size and alcohol very well, even if it is a bit of an outlier (but not as much for the Reserva, as the regular in this report is for that lighter-styled brand). In fact, it seems rather delicious and still focused. It's tightly wound but not harsh. Right now, I have to lean up on this but not quite all the way. I'm sure some will find it sensational, but I would like to see some evidence it can hold its balance. The tannins are not hard, so you can try this now. It will still be better in a couple of years, if all goes well.” July 29, 2022, Mark Squires, The Wine Advocate
2000 RAMOS PINTO VINTAGE PORT
Price: $112.50 Your Price: $99.00
(92 Points) The 2000 Vintage Port was bottled in 2002. It is a blend of 60% Touriga Nacional, 15%Tinta Roriz, 10% Tinta Barroca and 15% old vines, aged in large wooden vats (balseiros) for 18 months. It comes in at 89.2 grams per liter of residual sugar. Drinking rather well now, this has seductive texture and a balanced presentation, finishing with a touch of sugar and nuances of gracefully maturing Port. Laced with a touch of chocolate, it shows more power and grip as it airs out. When it was tasted again the next day, after plenty of air on Day 1, this showed even better, fresher and steelier. That's a good sign. It demonstrates that it has plenty of life left (hardly a surprise), but it has already acquired necessary complexity and seems fine now. Drink it or hold it. It's in a good place, but it can still improve. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
RAMOS PINTO 20 YEAR TAWNY PORT
Price: $96.75 Your Price: $85.14
This is from one of their four quintas the Do Bom Retiro, producing a more serious wine with more structure, a more nutty and dried fruits with carmel toffee notes very complex. Very smooth and creamy on the tongue with an array of toasted nutty and caramel toffe like notes to the fig and date fruit, nice complexity here through the finish, nice length and balance. Finish 45+ Total production 1 million bottles, 800,000 bottles of unfortified wines Excellent
Menu
Prosciutto fig and Goat Cheese Pizza
Mini Bite Sixe Franscinger Sandwich
Tomato Rubbed Toast with Avocado Tartar garnished with Capers and Red Onion
Sardine Tacos with Olives, Capers and Fresh Mint
Portuguese stuffed Clams
Chorizo Empanadas
The fee for this Happy Hour Wine Tasting is $75 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com
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