This wine came as a shock to me, as you will hear in the video. I was skeptical that this winery could pull it off - but they did, in spades. Now, without further ado I'm looking at the Casa Santos Lima 2021 Taverna da Aldeia
Showing posts with label Wines of Portugal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wines of Portugal. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Monday, May 31, 2021
Vale da Mata 2017 Red WIne of Lisboa (The Wine Review - #300)
Today I hit the big 3-0-0 with this very cool bottle of Portuguese wine:
Vale da Mata 2017 Red Wine of Lisboa (Herdade do Rocim)
available at the winery (and other fine wine stores).
Monday, November 21, 2016
Monday, June 13, 2016
Monday, June 6, 2016
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Monday, October 12, 2015
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Report from: Primium Familiae Vini Lunch - April 23, 2015
Is there any possible way to put into words the amazing wines and breadth of history that packed the room on this day, as the Primium Familiae Vini (PFV) came to Toronto to wine, dine and ... for lack of a good rhyming word ... impress the hell out of all in attendance.
These are all names you'd recognize, no matter what level of wine drinker you happen to be. Names like Pol Roger, Drouhin, Muller, Torres, Antinori, Perrin, Rothschild and more: 11 in total, and the experience and history was enough to put one in awe. So instead of waxing poetic about the what and who let's take a simultaneous look at the lunch (held at the Four Seasons Hotel) and the wines (one from each family).
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| You know it's gonna be a good party when this is the appetizer wine: -------------------- Pol Roger 2002 Sir Winston Churchill biscuity, sour apple, almondine along with notes of toffee and butterscotch **** 1/2 |
The Look of Lunch ...
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| Foie Gras Brioche, Laroda Plum, Lamb's Lettuce |
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| Scallops Kumquat, Baby Leek, Caviar |
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| Cavatelli Pasta Rabbit Confit, Preserved Tomato, Olives |
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| Braised Bison Short Rib Spring Carrots, Pommes Dauphines |
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| Stilton Cheese Fig, Walnut Crostini, Red Watercress |
Wine a Little - Cause there's a lot of them ...
Many of the wines we tried today are no longer in the market place for purchase so no score will be given.
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| Famille Hugel 2010 Riesling Jubilee wine made from top Crus quite lovely with hints of elegant petrol |
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| Joseph Drouhin 2012 Chablis Grand Cru 'Les Clos' made from a 1.3 hectare parcel in Chablis creamy texture, apricot, peach, nice minerality with a hint of oxidation |
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| Egon Muller Scharzhof 1994 Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett the house of Muller dates back to 1797 stunningly young in both colour and freshness |
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| Torres 2010 Mas La Plana represented here today by Miguel Torres - 5th Generation 100% Cabernet Sauvignon - started making this wine in the late 60's lots of dark fruit and spice; great complexity with power and heft |
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| Tenuta San Guido 2009 Sassicaia young by comparison, the winery was established in 1941 earthy, sour cherry, cassis - has the acidity of Sangiovese yet the fruit and force of Bordeaux |
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| Famille Perrin 2005 Chateau Beaucastel dark fruit and spice; a real delicious endeavour |
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| Antinori 2007 Solaia name meaning "looking at the sun" - label started in 1978 this wine has an incredible power in the glass with a long life ahead |
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| Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2005 Pauillac Julien Beaumarchais de Rothschild had plenty of quoteable moments: "wedding between great family and terroir" "way beyond business puposes, it's about the soul" As for the wine: menthol, dark fruit with oak and cassis |
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| Vega-Sicilia 2004 Unico "close to a perfect vintage" - 90% Tempranillo / 10% Cabernet Sauvignon this wine is only produced in the 'great years' a pure delight on the palate and perfect match with the short ribs - but this one was also a wonderful wine on its own |
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| Symington Family - Graham's 1977 Vintage Port if there is a God and he drinks port regularly he's got a few cases of this in his cellar |
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Report from ... Mark Anthony 2nd Annual Portfolio Tasting - November 5, 2014
Below is a look at some of the best wines poured at the Mark Anthony Portfolio Tasting listed by country.
Canada ...
Argentina ...
France ...
Italy ...
Spain ...
South Africa ...
Canada ...
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| Mission Hill 2010 Quatrain ($45.95) 40% Merlot / 20% Cabernet Sauvignon / 20% Cabernet Franc / 20% Syrah 12 months new French oak - fruit from Southern Okanagan blueberry, cocoa, vanilla backed by black cherry and touch of spice (****) |
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| Mission Hill 2010 Compendium ($45.95) 41% Cabernet Sauvignon / 38% Merlot / 21% Cabernet Franc 13 months new French oak - fruit from Black Sage and Osoyoos vineyards sweet black cherry, vanilla, creamy smooth with a silkyness that contains cocoa and a touch of smoke (**** 1/2) |
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| Mission Hill 2010 Oculus ($80.95) 51% Merlot / 26% Cabernet Sauvignon / 23% Cabernet Franc 14 months new French oak - the wine is always Merlot dominated chocolate and black cherry with an element of spice that tickles and plays across the tongue (****) |
Argentina ...
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| Dona Paula 2012 1100 Elevation ($19.95) 60% Malbec / 30% Cabernet Sauvignon / 10% Syrah single vineyard wine made from the Uco Valley smooth, raspberry, cherry, chocolate and peppery notes that really punch on the finish ... very enticing. (****) |
France ...
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| Louis Latour 2008 Volnay 1er Cru "En Chevret" ($70.21) A nice blend of cherry and spice but with a smooth palate that shows acidity and cranberry cocktail. (****) |
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| Lanson 2006 Tsarine Blanc de Blanc ($59.95) This is a mineral dominated 100% Chardonnay Grand Cru sparkler with big green apple and lemon that's mouth-puckering with good acidity. (****+) |
Italy ...
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| Eugenio Collavini 2012 More ($16.95) blend of 40% Refosco and 60% Merlot - aged 12 months in oak Blackberry and rich cassis with blueberry and black cherry; smooth and quite supple (****) |
Spain ...
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| Vivanco 2007 Crianza ($27.30) 100% Tempranillo aged 16 months in most American oak lots of nice spicy notes but all backed by vanilla and spiced cherry (*** 1/2+) |
South Africa ...
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| Nederburg 2011 Motorcycle Marvel ($24.95) Grenache / Carignan / Syrah / Mourvedre / Cinsault Smoky dark fruit and elegant spice (*** 1/2+) |
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| Nederburg 2011 Manor House Cabernet Sauvignon ($16.95) Cocoa, smoke, vanilla, blackberry, cassis and black pepper (*** 1/2+) |
United States ...
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| Davis Bynum 2012 Jane's Vineyard Pinot Noir ($36.95) Sweet cran-cherry with raspberry, strawberry, nice spice and good acidity (*** 1/2+) |
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| Rodney Strong 2010 Brothers Ridge Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($99.95) 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from 1200 foot elevation with 21 months in French oak Juicy with vanilla and smoke backing; black cherry and blackberry are the fruits - this one is most definitely smooth, sultry and sexy. (**** 1/2) |
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| Rodney Strong 2011 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($27.95) 91% Cabernet Sauvignon with Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot also in here Nice cherry and black cherry with sweet cherry and vanilla (****) |
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| Rodney Strong 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve ($59.95) 100% Cabernet Sauvignon - 21 months French oak Smooth, almost creamy upon entry with a hint of spice on the finish, all wrapped around lovely black and blue fruit (****+) |
New Zealand ...
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| Sacred Hill 2013 "Halo" Pinot Noir ($22.95) Pinot Noir made from 9 year old vines - aged in new and 1 year old oak Great fruit with a cherry-cranberry cocktail; nice tannins, good acidity, touch smoky with great red fruit. (**** 1/2) |
Australia ...
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| Tyrrell's 2011 Winemaker Selection Vat 8 Hunter Shiraz-Cabernet ($17.08) Rich in fruit touched by white pepper (*** 1/2+) |
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| Tyrrell's 2012 Lost Block Shiraz ($17.08) Chocolate and white pepper with plenty of blackberry and black cherry (****) |
Portugal ...
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| Cockburn's 2000 Quinta dos Cannais Vintage Port ($39.95) Already aged and ready to buy and drink now ... chocolate, black cherry, spice, sexy and smooth with enough acidity and spice to keep you coming back for more (****+) |
Monday, December 8, 2014
Report from ... Port & Douro Tasting - November 17, 2014
A month (or so) before Christmas and the Portuguese came to town for a minor tasting of Douro wines and their most well-known, and winter-ready wine, Port.
The majority of the wines were red, I think there was but one white in the whole place, and it wasn't all that impressive anyway ... but there were some very good Ports on the tables and some pretty decent red wines.
Alas the organization of the event was pretty shoddy - no booklet about the wines, or to even list the wines being poured, doors were 20 minutes lat in opening and there was a surprising/shocking lack of nibblies - the Port should have at least had some blue cheese to go with it. Good thing I found the best value LBV I've tasted in quite a while and that made this tasting so worthwhile.
The Table Wines of Note ...
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| Bulas 2009 Grande Reserve Touriga Nacional black cherry, plum, spice and good acidity for backbone *** 1/2+ |
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| Vila Regia 2012 Reserva, Douro spiced cherry and plum *** 1/2+ |
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| Quinta de Azinhate 2007 Reserva nice dark fruit, plum, cherry, mocha and silky tannins **** |
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| Prats & Symington 2011 Post Scriptum de Chryseia smooth and sexy - plum, blueberry, black cherry and chocolate; a real beauty and a must try wine ****+ |
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| Quinta do Portal 2008 Mural Red a mix of cherry and sour cherry with a hint of herbal and plum *** 1/2+ |
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| Quinta do Portal 2012 Colheita Tinto smooth and silky with mocha-coffee hints and blackberry and red plum **** |
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| Quinta dos Murcas 2011 Assobio Red nice, almost creamy, cassis, raspberry and cherry with elements of plum and chocolate (this is a special label to stop the dam of the Tua River "Salver o Tua") *** 1/2+ |
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| Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Old Tawny creamy cherry, hint of almond, smooth mid yet with good acidity **** |
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| Taylor Fladgate 2008 Late Bottled Vintage Port rich cherry, smooth yet with good acidityalong with plum and chocolate **** |
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| Taylor Fladgate 2009 Late Bottled Vintage Port richer, creamier, plummier with deep black cherry, a chocolate seam - pure hedonistic Port pleasure The best value LBV I've tasted in a long time ... **** 1/2+ |
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| Sandeman 2009 Late Bottled Vintage Port silky smooth cherry with a lovely length *** 1/2 |
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| Sandeman 2000 Vau Vintage ready to drink with nice sour and spiced cherry with notes of almond and hazelnut **** |
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| Bulas 2009 Vintage Port rich and juicy cherry/blackberry, plum, chocolate and well-balanced acidity **** |
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| Senhora do Convento Ruby light and flavourful with plenty of cherry, a Port for those just starting out with the style *** 1/2+ |
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| Senhora do Convento Tawny spearmint/menthol/slightly medicinal very young with decent acidity *** 1/2 |
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| Warre's Optima 10 Year Old Tawny cherry, plum, spice, plus a chocolate mid-palate **** |
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| Warre's Optima 10 Year Old Tawnyunctuous, cherry and spice with a lovely almond woodsy-cherry-caramel finish **** |
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| Quinta do Portal 1999 Vintage Port pepper-cherries, creamy smooth mouthfeel, good acid for balance **** |
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