With Spring comes the new wine releases and the Grand Tasting tour of the Wines of Portugal. An opportunity to be reminded of old favourites and also discover some new wines. This can be a double edged sword as not all the wines are available to purchase in BC. For this tasting I targeted white and rosé wines with only a small sampling of red wines.
Here is what I tasted and enjoyed:
POUSIO selection white 2017 Regional Wine AlentejoCastesAntão Vaz, Verdelho, Alvarinho
Analytical Data
Alcohol Content 13.5% (v / v) pH 3.36
Total Acidity 5.7 g / l Sugar 0.5 g / l
Service Temperature
9oC to 10oC
Bottle
Bordalesa Seduction
Oenologists
Luís Duarte Nuno Elias
Vinha do Torrão
Regional Península de Setúbal
- Varieties
- 33% Verdelho, 33% Antão Vaz, 33% Fernão Pires
- Harvest
- Late August
- Origin
- Vineyards in Fernando Pó, Palmela
- Soil
- Sandy
- Climate
- Mediterranean
- Vinification
- Fermented in stainless steel vats with controlled temperature, followed by 3 month rest in French and American oak.
- Recommended Storage Time
- 3 years
- Tasting Notes
- A fruity white wine with light-green tints, intense fruity aroma with notes of tropical fruit and honey. In the mouth it’s full with good acidity and freshness. Long, enjoyable finish.
- Alcoholic Content
- 13.5 º vol.
- Total Acidity
- 4.95 g tartaric acid/dm³
- pH
- 3.64
- Residual Sugar
- 4.5 g/dm³
- Drinking Temperature
- 12º C
ANIMUS VINHO VERDE
FIZZY AND FRESH
Vinho Verde (Green Wine) is Portugal’s best-kept secret, and the most popular white wine from Portugal. “Verde” meaning “Green” refers to the fact that these are young wines meant for drinking early.
Light, crisp and delicious, get ready to be surprised.
AROMA
Fruited aroma, with hints of lime, melon and tropical fruits.
FLAVOUR
Refreshing fizz, with a touch of sweetness that matches
perfectly the natural acidity of the young wine.
ENJOY WITH
Sunny days, on a picnic, grilled fish, shellfish and chicken.
Vinho Verde, D.O.C. White Wine
2015
90% Loureiro 10% Arinto
carefully pressed grapes with low pressure, which are then subsequently fermented with low controlled temperature
10 % vol.
6,5 g/l (tartaric acid)
8o – 10o C
enjoy now, but can age up to 3 years
$13.99 plus taxes at BC Liquor Stores. I enjoyed this one and the price point is great. Very refreshing. SKU: 200119
GAZELA
GAZELA VINHO VERDE WHITE
Gazela is a soft, light and refreshing Vinho Verde that goes well with life. Gazela is an uncompromising wine, a renewed classic that confirms all the region´s potential to create light and engaging wines, ideal for everyday drinking.
Serve
Gazela should be served well chilled, in a white wine glass or a flute, at a temperature between 6ºC-8ºC.
Enjoy
Gazela is ideal with salads, light fish or seafood dishes, or just as an aperitif.
Tecnichal Details
Alcohol: 9% | Total Acidity: 7,5 g/L (tartaric acid) | Sugar: 12 g/L | pH: 3,1
The perfect patio wine. So affordable at $11.99 plus taxes from BC Liquor Stores. SKU: 141432
TASTING NOTES
Produced from one of the most noble and emblematic Portuguese grape varieties, this wine presents a pleasant aroma with exuberant citric and floral notes such as passion fruit and lychees.
A wine with an excellent structure and elegance with its acidity well balanced with the fruit.
VARIETIES
APPELLATION
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
HARVEST
Vinho Verde Casa de Vila Triolino Rosé
TASTING NOTES
Beautiful, intense and lively pink colour.
With a very fruity profile this wine offers pleasant notes of red fruits and blackberries.
Very light and refreshing this wine is ideal to drink as an aperitif or pairs with any kind of fish, seafood and salads.
VARIETIES
APPELLATION
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
HARVEST
QUID PRO QUO RESERVA
VINHO REGIONAL ALENTEJANO
Tasting Notes
A truly fragrant and aromatic wine bursting with lavender and violet notes. A very special wine with a deep ruby colour and complexity that can be appreciated by all. After a long ageing period in oak barrels this is a full-bodied wine that will be perfect to serve on special occasions.
Vinification
This wine was made by our best selection of Touriga Nacional and Petit Verdot Grapes grapes. The grapes, which were previously de-stemmed, went through a pre-fermenting maceration at low temperatures during 24 hours. The alcoholic fermentation was done in stainless steel vats with temperature control to 28º. C for 14 days. The wine was aged during 14 months in French and American new oak barriques.
Viticulture
Density of 3000 Plants/ha. Shale and clay soils.
Vintage
End of August until the middle of September.
Colour
Dark Rubi
Wine analysis
Alcohol: 14% vol.
Total Acidity: 5,8 g/l
Another excellent choice.
Colossal Reserva
Vino Regional Lisboa
Tasting Notes
With an intense ruby colour, this wine presents itself with a great concentration in the nose. Extremely rich aroma with predominance of red ripe fruits and some floral notes, well integrated with notes of spices coming from the ageing in French and American aok barrels. In the mouth it shows great complexity with notes of plums and blackberries. The finish is rich and elegant.
Vinification
The grapes, previously destemmed, went through a pre-fermentative maceration at low temperatures for 24 hours. The fermentation occurred in 10,000 litre vats with temperature control, not exceeding 28ºC. After the fermentation the wine stayed in a prolonged maceration (cuvaison) for 15 days. The wine aged for 8 months in French and American oak barrels.
Viticulture
Density of 4.200 Plants/ha. Clay and limestone soils
Vintage
End of August until the middle of October
Colour
Dark Ruby
Wine analysis
Alcohol: 14% vol.
Total Acidity: 5,6 g/l
pH: 3,73
This wine takes best in show. It was excellent. $18.98 plus taxes at Everything Wine.
VINHO REGIONAL LISBOA
LAB
GRAPES
Castelão, Camarate, Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting Notes
A lively rosé with very aromatic notes of ripe red fruits and flowers. In the palate, juicy strawberries and pink mulberry flavours with plenty of fine tannins take over at the finish, along with flavours of liquorice.
Vinification
The grapes were destemmed, and pressed. Fermentation took place in stainless steel vats of 10.000 litres with temperature control to 18.ºC.
Viticulture
Density of 4.200 Plants/ha. Clay and limestone soils
Vintage
End of August until the middle of September
Colour
Pink
Wine analysis
Alcohol: 12,5% vol.
Total Acidity: 5,0 g/l
pH: 3,40
pH: 3,59
Also a hit.
COMPANHIA AGRICOLA DO SANGUINHAL
SÔTTAL LISBOA
WHITE
Classification:
IG Lisboa
Climate:
Atlantic
Varieties:
Moscatel (50%), Arinto (40%) and Vital (10%)
Colour:
Pale citrine, deriving from its method of vinification.
Aroma:
Fresh aroma, with an appealing and fragrant aroma of Muscat grape.
Tasting Notes:
Fresh and light, with notes of tropical fruits. Well balanced finish for a wine with 9,5% alcohol content.
Gastronomy:
Should be served well chilled (6-8ºC). Easy to drink at any time of the day, with snacks, salads, “tapas” and sea food.
At time of publication I am sourcing outlets to purchase the wines featured in this article.
Tasting notes and remarks in italics courtesy of the wineries.
[wdi_feed id=”2″]
Related posts:
Ancora False Creek Spotlights Portuguese Wines During Exclusive Dinner on April 2
Starbucks Canada perks up your morning with more than coffee!
Quails’ Gate News & Events happening in March
Tacofino Brings Popular Monthly Beer Dinner Series Back to Hastings Location Starting March 28
Coolshanagh Joins Trialto Wine Group