Now that it’s official, I can reveal the identity of my 50 Great Portuguese Wines below! Intrigued? Click here and, on my Portugal Regional Report page, you’ll find introductory text about my 50 Great quest under the 50 Great Portuguese Wines 2010 link, together with details about what informed my choices and tasting notes for each wine. And, whether you come to the tasting or not, let me know what you think. I’m looking forward to re-tasting them today!
White wines
Lisboa
Quinta do Chocapalha Arinto 2008
Vinho Verde/Minho
Quinta de Ameal Loureiro 2008
Anselmo Mendes Contacto Alvarinho 2008
Quinta do Louridal Poema Alvarinho 2007
Soalheiro Primeiras Vinhas Alvarinho 2008
Tejo
Vale d’Algares Seleccion White
Bairrada
Quinta das Bágeiras Vinho Branco Garrafeira 2007
Beira Interior
Quinta do Cardo Siria 2008
Quinta dos Currais Colheita Seleccionado 2007
Dao
Quinta de Saes Reserva Branco 2008
Duriense/The Douro
Poeira Pó de Poeira Branco 2008
Niepoort Reserva Redoma Branco 2008
Alentejo
J. Portugal Ramos Vila Santa Branco 2008
Adega da Cartuxa Pera Manca White 2007
Red wines
Colares
Quinta das Vinhas de Areia Fundação Oriente Ramisco 2005
The Algarve
Monte da Casteleja Maria Selection 2007
Lisboa
Monte d’Oiro Reserva 2006
Beira Interior
Quinta dos Currais Reserva 2003
Beiras
Filipa Pato Lokal Silex 2008
Luis Pato Vinha Barrosa 2005
Bairrada
D?o Sul Encontro 1 2007
Quinta da Dona Bairrada 2004
The Dao
Quinta Vale das Escadinhas, Quinta da Falorca T-Nac 2007
Dão Sul Quinta de Cabriz Colheita Seleccionada 2007
Quinta da Pellada Tinto Reserva 2006
Vinha Paz Reserva 2005
Quinta dos Roques Garrafeira 2003
The Douro/Duriense
Quinta de S Jose Colheita 2007
CARM Quinta do Coa 2007
Quinta do Noval Cedro do Noval 2007
Quinta do Noval Labrador 2007
Niepoort Redoma 2007
Quinta do Passadouro Reserva Tinto 2007
Lemos & Van Zeller Curriculum Vitae “C.V” 2007
Quinta do Crasto Vinha de Ponte 2007
Quinta Macedos Pinga do Torto 2005
Alves de Sousa Abandonado Tinto 2005
Quinta do Crasto Reserva Vinhas Velhas 2004
Quinta do Vale Dona Maria 2004
Alentejo
Herdade dos Grous 23 Barricas 2008
Terrenus Tinto 2007
Herdade de São Miguel dos Descobridores Reserva 2007
Herdade do Esporão Private Selection Garrafeira Red 2007
Herdade do Rocim Grande Rocim 2007
Herdade da Malhadinha Nova Malhadinha Tinto 2007 (VR)
Herdade de Mouchão Tonel 3-4 2005
Quinta do Zambujeiro 2004
Quinta do Mouro 2004
A sweet farewell
Quinta do Portal Late Harvest 2007
Quinta da Bacalhoa Moscatel de Setúbal Roxo 1999
February 11th, 2010 at 11:23 am
I must try more wines from Portugal Sarah. I used to drink Dao and Quinta de la Bacchaloa (think that is how it was spelled) a few years ago but migrated to Spain and the New World.
I hope Tim Atkin and Jamie Goode like them as well as I hear they are joining you. Look forward to meeting up at the LIWF in May.
Tim
February 11th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Hi Tim
It’s “quinta da bacalhoa”
Try this one, http://www.lusawines.com/vinho.asp?ref=596
“cabeça de burro” reserva 2005
Douro region
I love it!
February 11th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Good Morning, It is quite interesting to see opinions about portuguese wines from outside the country. I would like to ask why you don’t mention the top well knowns red wines: Barca Velha (ferreirinha douro) and Pera Manca(alentejo region) and even charme or Batuta (also from nieport in douro).
to answer the previous comment: quinta da bacalhoa.
February 11th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
The good thing about a list like this is that it’s subjective and there’s nothing one can say about that. But even though in my opinion I’d place many of these list in the top 50, there are some which should make the list.
Whites:
Esporao reserva
Verdelho (Esporao)
Reds:
Quinta do Vale Meão
Charme
Chryseia
Batuta
Quinta do Vesuvio
February 11th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
HI!!
I am Portuguese and I hope that more people knows the potuguese wines.
In my opinion, ours wines in quality, are in top, but few people knows the real value of them.
Try more portuguese wines and i am shure that you will never want other!!
Tiago F.
February 11th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Hello Sarah,
I’m amazed with the majority of your options concerning the red wines – my favourites.
I’m not what people may call as ‘une connaisseure’, even less a specialist on this matter, but Douro and Alentejo regions were always my 1st choice when choosing a bottle of red wine…
My family comes from a long tradition of farmers and wine producers, in Douro region (between Santa Marta de Penaguião e Lamego/ Régua). My parents are not related to that choice of life, but my uncles (and a few cousins) still work on their lands.
That’s why I like it so much – was the 1st ‘taninos’ I ever tried. Later on, my father also brought some bottles from Alentejo, where he worked for some time.
In conclusion, thank you so much for letting the world to know the portuguese wines are so outstanding.
Congratulations for your excellent work.
Best regards,
Raquel
February 11th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
É uma escolha respeitavel. Conheço poucos destes vinhos porque normalmente só bebo vinhos do Douro que são para mim dos melhores da europa. Não vejo grande relevancia aos grandes nomes do vinho portugues.
Cumprimentos
João Vasco
February 11th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Excelent job, go ahed Sarah.. we need more blind tests
February 11th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
I think there are a lot of exceptional, and better than these, wines in Portugal not mentioned on the list.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
The best wines in the world
February 11th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Hi – for a sweet wine – have you tried Grandjo Late Harvest 2004 and from Palmela – Pegos Claros 1999. I have both in my wine cellar and I think for the price they are real bargains. I also have Chryseira, Poieira and Xisto – all wines that have great body and potential. I will certainly use your list next time I am in Portugal to have a tasting – many thanks Mike
February 11th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Correction: Alves de Sousa Abandonada Tinto 2005 you should read “Abandonado” instead of “Abandonada”… and its defenitely a great wine.
Thank you
February 11th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Well, half of those wines are really good, but some of them are not that good, and problably couldn’t enter the top 300 in each category.
I’m portuguese, and i can recommend to your 2 superb red wines…Quinta da Mimosa and Falcoaria, both reserve, at least with 3/4 years of age
RA
February 11th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Good work!
February 11th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Some good wines selected there. I haven’t had them all (yet) but I will look out for the ones I haven’t. Cheers and have a great re-tasting. I am sure they will be as good if not better.
February 11th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
Am surprised not to see Quinta do Vale Meão here…what are your thoughts abou it? i tasted the 2005 and 2006 vintages and, differences aside, they were both delicious
February 12th, 2010 at 8:04 am
Hi Evandro. I’m a big fan of Meão too – see my web report of a vertical tasting at the link below. It was such a tough job choosing “my 50 Great Wines” – not “Portugal’s 50 Top Wines” by the way – a very different exercise. I took it as an opportunity to flag up some trends to the UK market, e.g. the massive progress with white wines and more great wines in the middle price bracket (not just top of the shelf prices), also to draw attention to some under the radar regions and producers, otherwise every year 50 Great would more or less be the same. The feedback from everyone attending was fantastic, so I reckon mission accomplished! But I’ll be trying to keep my finger on the pulse!
http://www.thewinedetective.co.uk/regional-reports/portugal/the-douro-boys-2007-table-wines-port/
February 12th, 2010 at 8:13 am
Thanks Chris – interesting to taste them all together – lots of people commented on the a common thread of elegance, minerality, florality (if there is such a word). I’m very happy with that because these characteristics are such a strength of Portuguese wines and for me, the more introducing producers aren’t just trying to make “international wine styles with an eye to the export market.
February 12th, 2010 at 8:13 am
Thank you Jancis!
February 12th, 2010 at 8:17 am
Hi Ruben, I reckon everyone will have a different 50 Great and that’s what makes this annual tasting so interesting. A fabulous opportunity to share mine through the tasting and my site and prompt others to recommend their personal favourites too – thanks for sharing some of yours!
February 12th, 2010 at 8:22 am
Ah Ricardo thanks for the spell check – updated! It showed really well – I love its individuality and wildness.
February 12th, 2010 at 8:27 am
Hi Mike, thanks for your suggestions – I know Grandjo Late Harvest but haven’t tasted it, so will make sure I do next time. I agree, all the other wines you mention are impressive – I particularly like Poeira for its elegance and actually the 2nd wine of Chryseia, Post Scriptum is great value. Jorge doesn’t make much of his white wine, Po de Poeira – but if you have the chance to taste it, it’s a beautiful wine.
February 12th, 2010 at 8:31 am
Hi MG, you are right, Portugal has so many terrific wines and to be honest, I was glad the brief was “Sarah Ahmed’s 50 Great” and not “Portugal’s Top 50″ – that would have been even tougher! But the brief gave me lots of freedom to highlight trends and show what Portugal is doing across a range of price points, styles and regions. It’s so important to tell that story in the UK because, as always, the icon wines are well known anyway and you have to have deep pockets to afford them, so this was about bringing a bigger audience to Portuguese wines and it deserves it in the UK.
February 12th, 2010 at 8:34 am
Thanks Paulo, though I ought to say not a blind tasting, though the Vinipax blind tasting did bring one of my choices,Grande Rocim, to my attention.
February 12th, 2010 at 8:36 am
Thanks João – some big names and some little names – balance, just like a great wine!
February 12th, 2010 at 8:39 am
Thanks Raquel – it’s always a great pleasure to taste Portuguese wines – I was sad to hand on the baton to Tom Cannavan (http://www.wine-pages.com/). He makes the choice next year, but I’m sure he’ll come up with another fab 50.
February 12th, 2010 at 8:43 am
Hi Philip, I know, all of Niepoort’s wines make the grade for me – I chose Redoma because it’s the first time Niepoort have used 2000l foudres as well as barrels and, for that reason, I think it’s just a masterful expression of an elegant vintage and Douro terroir. I wanted to highlight that shift away from big oak. On Esporao, you might enjoy reading my report of a visit in December – consistently good wines from top to bottom.
http://www.thewinedetective.co.uk/regional-reports/portugal/the-douro-esporao-alentejo-in-december/
February 12th, 2010 at 8:47 am
Hi Eugenio, thanks for your question – you can probably pick up the answer from my replies to other posts, but the brief was “Sarah Ahmed’s 50 Great” and not “Portugal’s Top 50? – that would have been even tougher! But the brief gave me lots of freedom to highlight trends and show what Portugal is doing across a range of price points, styles and regions (so Pera Manca white, not red). It’s so important to tell that story in the UK because, as always, the icon wines are well known anyway and you have to have deep pockets to afford them, so this was about bringing a bigger audience to Portuguese wines and it deserves it in the UK. I was very selective in my choice of “top” wines and ran with my own favourites.
February 12th, 2010 at 8:52 am
Hi Tim, yes you should and so many new names now. It’s a challenge to draw something new to Jamie’s attention, especially on Portugal, so I’m delighted I succeeded – it’s what this tasting is about. You can see his pick of the bunch here http://www.wineanorak.com/blog/.
February 12th, 2010 at 10:08 am
Excellent work Sarah.
February 12th, 2010 at 10:15 am
Thanks Claudio – how many of the wines are you listing at Castas?
February 12th, 2010 at 10:56 am
with the second year of Castas we had 3 in first year and this year 4.
I think its shows how hard we are working to promote Good Portuguese wines in UK.
February 12th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Poema 2007
Vale D’ALgares selection White 2008
Quinta de Saes Reserva Branco 2008
Quinta da Pellada 2006
February 12th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Can I just point out that the ’50 Great’ came out of an initiative suggested by the Association of Portuguese Wine Importers. It is very deliberately not the ‘Top 50′ or there would be too much permanence on the list and it would quickly become stale as an annual event. The winning journalist in the annual awards gets to make their very individual selection and the only brief is that it is a ‘qualitative’ tasting – we are not necessarily looking for value for money at such a showcase event. We have the annual trade tasting for that.
I thought the selection was excellent, thought provoking, and extremely well received by all that visited. And with Sarah’s permission (may I?) the winner of this year’s journalism award, announced last night at the Ambassador’s dinner, is Tom Cannavan
February 12th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Thanks Nick – all the 2010 award winners are listed on my blog today – click here
February 12th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Hi Sarah
There it goes some of my favourites… should consider this ones as well.
- Quinta das Marias, Touriga Nacional, Dão
-Chryseia 2003, Douro
-Quinta do Vale Meão, 2005
-Quinta da Levandeira do Roncão, Douro
- Quinta dos Carvalhais, Único, 2005, Dão
Best regards
February 12th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Hi Ricardo
I’m loving all these recommendations and don’t know Quinta da Levandeira, so next time I’m in the Douro…thanks!
February 14th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Great choices, I admire your choice of white wines,and the redsof 2007,not all the top but the top of the reds CV 2007.
February 15th, 2010 at 8:48 am
Thanks Jose – on the day, the whites provoked lots of positive comment from the UK press and trade too.
February 16th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Hi Sarah,
A very good and interesting list! Most of your great choices are my favourite too.
Congratulations.
Best regards,
Mário
February 16th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Hi Mário
Thanks and great to hear from you on I didn’t include which would have made your hitlist!
Best
Sarah
February 21st, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Vinho Verde/ Minho – two must taste Alvarinho wines;
Palácio da Brejoeira
Deu la Deu
Cheers
February 21st, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Thanks Ruben, I know Palácio da Brejoeira but not Deu la Deu – one for my next quest.
March 12th, 2010 at 11:15 am
Vinho Verde/Minho (not Alvarinho) caste Loureiro (under 12º) ;
Muralhas
Cheers
March 21st, 2010 at 9:51 am
A Quinta da Aveleda, Penafiel, tambem tem alvarinhos (follies) premiados em diversos eventos por esse mundo fora. Não esqueçam que o Alvarinho não é vinho verde! Só existe alvarinho em Monção e Melgaço.
Acho que desvalorizamos os nossos vinhos espumantes. Pricipalmente os brutos.
March 30th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Try Quinta do Barranco Longo- Algarve.
Red, white or Rose!
March 31st, 2010 at 6:07 am
Hi Teresa thanks – tasted them at ViniPax last year – promising modern styles but just a bit too much winemaking for me at this stage but definitely a producer to watch.