2018 Herdade de São Miguel Colheita Seleccionada Tinto, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

This is a blend of 50% Alicante Bouschet, 30% Touriga Nacional, 10% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from Portugal.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is lighter with cherries, some spice, and a slight chocolate note.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Fresher on the palate with cherries and black cherries.  Moderate finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work nicely with meat or fowl dishes.  A nice choice with Chili.  Drink over the next three to five years.

2021 Herdade de Rocim Alicante Bouschet, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

This is 100% Alicante Bouschet.  Purple in color with ruby and some blue swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with boysenberries, black cherries, spice, and slight vanilla notes.  Medium to firm tannins.  Full bodied.  Well balanced.  On the palate, black raspberries, black cherries and char.  Long finish.  This is a robust wine that drinks well on its own and can hold up to big (and spicy) foods.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2021 FitaPreta Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$27.00USD

40% Aragonez, 30% Alicante Bouschet, 20% Trincadeira, and 10% Castelao.  Purple/ruby/blue in color, mostly opaque although slightly flat.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, spice and slight char.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, black raspberries, anise and char.  Good finish.  This is a very solid wine that is drinking well now.  It is a great value.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  A nice mid-week pizza wine, this should work well with meats or fowl or even roasted veggies.  

2017 José Maria da Fonseca Vinho Regional Alentejano José de Sousa, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
83
Grade: 
B-
Current Price: 
$19.00USD

This is a blend of 58% Grand Noir, 22% Trincadeira and 20% Aragonês (Tempranillo) made in amphora from Portugal.  Purple/ruby in color, flat and partially opaque.  The nose has some red fruit qualities with spice and tobacco.  Light to medium bodied with lighter tannins.  On the palate, a bit more alive.  Tart cherries with a bit of a cough drop finish.  I have had this wine before and it seems this wine or at least this bottle is just past prime at this point.  Probably best to look for younger vintages as this is usually a nice wine and a great value.  

2021 Quinta da Fonte Souto Branco, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$29.00USD

This is a blend of 75% Arinto and 25% Verdelho.  Light golden in color with  yellow hues.  The nose has citrus (tangerine?), wax and slight floral notes.  Light bodied.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, tangerine, pith and slight peach.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  It would go well with lighter foods and sea food.  Scallops would work well.  Drink over the next five years.  

Esporão 2021 Colheita

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

The grape Antão Vaz is believed to be native to Portugal and definitely thrives here in warm dry climates, and is one of the most common grapes in this region. Here it delivers a light, clean and bright acidity leading into lychee, light lemon-lime, guava, apricot, mild resin, wildflower, and lemon candied almonds. The beauty of a good white wine is that the acidity makes it appropriate for a diversity of foods, and this 2021 has an abundance of acidity to work with lighter dishes as well as heavier meals.

2019 Herdade do Rocim Vinho Regional Alicante Bouschet, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

100% Aicante Bouschet raised in 300L French oak barrels.  Purple in color, garnet at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, spice and slight earthiness,  Firm tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, more like black cherries with underlying char.  Depth if tight.  Long finish,  Some warmth,  This needs some cellaring or air but is still delicious,  Drink over the next ten to twelve years although the winemaker told me 15 years plus!  This would go nicely with Korean BBQ short ribs or other food off the grill,  

2019 Herdade do Rocim Touriga Nacional Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

This is 100% Touriga Nacional.  Raised in large barrels for 11 months. Garnet in color with some magenta swirls, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, violets and slight spice.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Creamy texture.  On the palate, black cherries, slight cough drop note and anise.  Nice finish in which the tannins come out more,  Some warmth,  This is great on its own but would be nice with roasted duck or chicken.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  Great value.

2019 Herdade do Rocim Alentejo Vinho Branco Amphora

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

 This is a blend of Antão Vaz 40%, Perrum 20%, Rabo de Ovelha 20%, and Monteudo 20%.  Very interesting and good!  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has lemons, lemon verbena, minerals and summer savory.  Velvety texture.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, minerals and lemons.  Lots of depth and complexity.  Semi-tart lemons on the finish.  I was told in other vintages this is done as an orange/amber wine.  This is very clean, but the complexity is great no matter what color.  Great on its own but this should be very food friendly.  Seafood is a great choice.  

2021 Herdade do Rocim Mariana Rosé, Portugal, Alentejo, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

This is 60% Touriga Nacional and 40% Aragonez grapes.  Salmon pink in color, clear and bright.  The nose is tight but opens to show orange zest and slight cherries.  Nice slightly oily but creamy texture.  On the palate, quince, cherries and slight herbal note.  Enough acidity to put it all together.  Nice finish.  Very refreshing.  Very nice on its own, this would also work with a Margharita pizza.  Drink over the next few years.  

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