Portugal

• Alentejo
• Bairrada
• Dao
• Douro
• Madeira
• Pico
• Ribatejo
• Vinho Verde

This is a white blend from Portugal made from 70% Arinto, 15% Antao Vaz, and 15% Viognier.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has lemons, toast and almonds.  Balanced acidity.  On the palate, lemons with a slight bitter almond note.  It turns to lemon hard candy on the finish.  A tart note at the end makes it very food friendly and refreshing.  This  is nice on its own but better with food.  It would be great with scallops.  

This is a white blend of Verdelho 40%, Arinto 30%, and Antão Vaz 30% from Portugal. Yellow gold in color, clear and bright. The nose is nice with peach and honeydew. Nice creamy texture. On the palate, this has loads of peach. Balanced acidity. A bit of lemon tartness on the finish. This drinks nicely on its own and will work with lighter foods. Anything featuring peaches would work well. Drink over the next few years.

This is a white blend that is 40% Arinto, 20% Fernão Pires, 20% Roupeiro, and 20% Bical from Portugal.  Hay/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has melon, slight pineapple and peach.  Light bodied.  Slightly oily texture.  Light tannins.  On the palate, lemons and slight lime notes.  Finish has some lemon hard candy qualities.  This will work better with food.  Baked Sea Bass would work well.  Drink over the next few years.  

This is a white blend from Portugal made from 60% Antão Vaz,  30% Arinto and 10% Alvarinho grapes.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is interesting with wintergreen, slight citrus and slight floral notes.  Light bodied.  Creamy texture. Good acidity.  On the palate, lemony with good acidity.  Slight mint towards the finish which is long with good acidity.  This is refreshing and nice on its own but better with food.  Seafood is a natural, perhaps grilled trout with lemon.  Drink over the next few years.  

What a treat.  This is 122 years from vintage.  McKinley was president when the grapes were grown.  The color of dark iced tea, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has Tootsie-Rolls, toffee, orange marmalade and slight bitters.  Full bodied.  Vibrant acidity.  Fresh and delicious.  On the palate, toffee, orange peel, slight coffee and slight alcohol heat.  Long, long finish.  Complex.  A contemplative experience for sure.  This could likely go another 100 years.  While it would work with a less sweet dessert, this probably is best consumed on its own to really appreciate.  

A very nice affordable way to end a meal.  20% abv.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black currants, slight chocolate and slight figs.  Full bodied.  Slightly viscous.  On the palate, this is lightly sweet.  Black currants and slight chocolate.  Some alcohol showing especially on the finish.  This went very well with some hard cheeses and also some blue cheese.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

This is 100% Touriga Nacional and only made in the best vintages.  Deep garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, spice and walnuts.  Full bodied.  On the palate, lots of black raspberry fruit with underlying spice.  Thick tannins.  Long finish.  Great acidity.  Still young, this could use a few more years of cellaring.  Drink over the next ten to twelve.  Great on itss own, this will work well with lamp chops.  

Portugal continues to supply some of the best red wine values anywhere.  This is a blend of Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Roriz from Portugal.  Carnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has raspberries with some spice and a touch of mint.  Light to medium bodied.  No tannins.  The raspberries continue thru to the palate.  This is  an easy drinking red that is nice on its own and will work just fine with a burger.  Drink over the next few years.

This is 100% Boal grapes aged for thirty plus years in cask before bottling.  For a Madeira it is young, but a lovely way to end a dinner.  Deep amber in color, clear and bright.  The nose has espresso, toffee, tiramisu, and oranges.  Full bodied.  Just a hint of sweetness.  On the palate, toffee, chocolate and orange with some alcohol and heat.  Long finish.  This worked well with chocolate desserts.  Very nice on its own as well.  Drink over the next hundred years.  

Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is sweaty with black raspberries and char.  Light tannins.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, nice black cherry fruit with underlying char.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Drinking well now and seems to be mature.  Drink over the next five years.  Better with food, this would work well with roasted chicken.