I really enjoyed presenting this tasting of some great Portuguese wines and they certainly turned a few heads. All wines can be purchased online at The Halifax Wine Company who are Portuguese specialists (with 79 table wines and 63 fortified wines on their list). Here’s the shopping list!
Quinta da Murta 2004 – fresh citrus and limeflower nose with a tangy, lemon and lime fuelled palate – a terrific thirst quencher and great value at £5.99
Esporao White Reserva 2004 – beautifully made wine from Aussie David Baverstock – good fruit purity with melon and peach; creamy vanilla balanced with lemony acidity. Knocks the spots off most chardys at £7.99 – top white of the night.
Quinta dos Roques Encruzado 2003 – a creamy, rich texture with custard apple and juicier pineapple chunks; resinous note on the finish.
Sidonio de Sousa Bairrada Reserva 2000 – most Baga (the grape) needs a bit of time to mellow and 6 years combined with old vine fruit ticked that box. This, the most traditionally styled of the table wines, showed developed dried, spicy fruits, sour cherry and liquorice – a great food match with the backbone and bite to cut through the richness of its classic pairing, spit roast suckling pig.
Pontual Red Reserva 2004 – an inky hue tells a story – this is made from 80% Alicante Bouschet – one of handful of grape varieties which has dark coloured flesh. Blended with the exuberantly fruity Syrah and Touriga Nacional this is a belter with lashings of black fruits, plum, damson and a lick of vanilla. Its ripe, dusty tannins together with liquorice and an earthy note on the finish lend gravitas.
Lavradores de Feitoria Meruge 2003 – a tight nose does not give much away but, with a bit of aeration, the palate shows crushed raspberries, mineral, earth and toast. Gorgeous, velvety texture; a seamless blend of Tourigas Nacional and Franca with Tinta Roriz which will reward cellaring.
Quinta da Terra Feita de Cima Poeira 2003 – a poised, elegant wine with succulent black currant, berry and cherry, discrete mocha notes, mineral and earth. Excellent restraint for the Douro.
The Symington Family Chryseia 2003 – an opulent palate of black berry and ripe plum fruit with liquorice, spice and eucalyptus; long finish with shades of minerality – top red of the night.
Krohn Colheita Port 1967 – this Gold Medal winner at the IWSC 2005 won the most votes of the night and yet who drinks tawny Ports these days???? With 39 years under its belt this is a super-smooth, mellow fellow and relatively dry – terrific, long finish with walnut and dried fig flavours which just go on and on. Superb.
Barbeito Boal 1978 Madeira – the Port was a really hard act to follow for this more spirity, sweeter wine. Classic burnt caramel and orange peel flavours undercut by fresh acidity.
