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Organic

#41 on The Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2023!

90 points Wine Spectator
There's a flinty underpinning to this fragrant white, which shows a succulent range of ripe apricot, blood orange, white blossoms, lemon peel and pickled ginger. Sleek and linear, with a hint of saline on the finish. Alvarinho and Trajadura. Drink now

#81 On The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines Of 2024!

90 points Wine Spectator
Bright, buoyant acidity supports a pretty mix of ripe nectarine, Gala apple, blood orange pith and almond blossoms in this lithe, light-bodied white, with a salty undertow. Drink now.

This is an incredible buy in crisp refreshing white wines. Their Alvarinho is citrus in color, aromas reveal classic tropical and mineral notes. The wine is clean and fresh on the palate with a subtle intensity about it. The bright acidity makes this quite refreshing and easy to drink which is ideal as an aperitif or to accompany seafood dishes, fish or poultry dishes.

Hot days and cold nights, not only makes for good sleeping weather but also ideal for growing Alvarinho. This Portuguese grape thrives in those conditions, producing wines with open aromatics, round balanced fruit, and tart racy acidity.

Melgaco, the most northern region of Portugal, is protected by the surrounding mountains that allow a perfect marriage between rainfall, temperature and the number of hours of sunshine needed for the better maturation of the Alvarinho grapes. This climate characteristic during ripening is frequently associated with the microclimate of Moncao and Melgaco, where hot days alternate with cold nights. Soalheiro is perfectly situated to take full advantage of this.

A light, delicate pink hue with a lively effervescent palate. Fruit forward and delicious without being sweet.

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This is a concentrated wine that has fine tannins that are integrated with the ripe blackberry flavor. It is rich and dense in feel, with a succulent texture. A fruity blend of four varieties, including the rare Caladoc, the wine is lightly structured with spice and tannins to support the red-berry fruits. Drink now.

Classic fermentation method with destemming and pre fermentative skin contact followed of the application of dry yeasts. Fermentation up to 30º C in the first 2/3, and lowering down to 20º C during the last 1/3. During the whole fermentative process, pumping over 2 times per day, using each time half of the volume contained in the vat. After the alcoholic fermentation, the cap is plunged for 30 days, and during that period, extraction of the gentle tannins is conducted, along with the malolactic fermentation and the natural stabilization of the wine.

Wine is aged in French oak barrels from Seguin Moreau of 225 Lt for 3 months.

Organic

Well-rounded and harmonious with concentrated fruit flavors of peaches yellow plums, apricots and floral notes while mineral on the palate with long mouth-watering finish. 50% Encruzado, 15% Malvasia Fina, 15% Bical, 15% Cerceal Branco, 5% others (co-ferment). After harvest, some grapes undergo 24 hours of skin contact, with the remainder pressed whole-cluster into cement and steel tanks. Following spontaneous fermentation, the wine ages on its lees for six months.

Natalia Jessa is the mastermind behind Gota which has a simple yet bold objective: craft aromatically-driven, authentic fine wines of Portugal, while remaining value-conscious. Her many prior travels throughout Portuguese wine country on behalf of one of Europe?????s major food markets enabled Natalia to develop invaluable relationships and gain access to some of the most exciting and as-of-yet undiscovered wineries and vineyards. She collaborates with them, as negociant, to select grapes that capture the optimal expression of a vintage. Vineyards are dry-farmed. Vines are ungrafted. To preserve fruit aromatics, winemaking utilizes ambient yeast and minimizes oak use. Adhering to tradition, wines are varietal blends and grapes are only native (no international varietals). Gota means "drop", referring to the humble origins of this project.

This blend brings together the aromatic intensity of Touriga Nacional, sophisticated delicacy of Tinta Roriz (better known in Spain as Tempranillo), and the structure and elegance of Touriga Franca. Fresh red fruits on the nose persist through the palate, announcing a young, energetic wine with swirling, well-integrated tannins and a lovely, long finish. - Winery

Organic

A blend of the native varietals Ja??n and Tinta Roriz. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks and traditional, open-topped stone lagares. Most of the grapes are destemmed before fermentation. The grapes undergo seven to 28 days of skin contact. aging for 6 months in cement and used barrel. A full but restrained mouthfeel reveals delightful plum and black currant notes. Intriguing herbal, or garrigue, element coyly pokes its head out. This is a dry, easy-drinking value from Portugal that may surprise you with how much it has to offer. It surprised me!

Natalia Jessa is the mastermind behind Gota which has a simple yet bold objective: craft aromatically-driven, authentic fine wines of Portugal, while remaining value-conscious. Her many prior travels throughout Portuguese wine country on behalf of one of Europe?????s major food markets enabled Natalia to develop invaluable relationships and gain access to some of the most exciting and as-of-yet undiscovered wineries and vineyards. She collaborates with them, as negociant, to select grapes that capture the optimal expression of a vintage. Vineyards are dry-farmed. Vines are ungrafted. To preserve fruit aromatics, winemaking utilizes ambient yeast and minimizes oak use. Adhering to tradition, wines are varietal blends and grapes are only native (no international varietals). Gota means "drop", referring to the humble origins of this project.

A wine which pays homage to the adventure of the Portuguese sailors that explored the world in the XV Century. The route from Europe to the Indian Ocean - known as the "Silk & Spice Route" - was pioneered by Vasco da Gama who rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1498. Flavors like nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper changed world cuisine, while silk from China became prized for its luxurious touch. An original XV century map on the label shows the Bay of Bengal, separating South and Southeast Asia, and the Portuguese coat of arms, a historical graphical element dating to 1248.

A slightly sweet red.

This blend of wines from Dao, Bairrada and Lisboa is ripe, full of black fruits and with subtle signs of the wood aging.... it is warm with its own spiciness as well as as a juicy aftertaste.

It's a touch ironic that Portuguese reds have been somewhat of a rarity on these shores, considering the long history the country has of producing exciting wine. Here's a chance to jump in and see what the quaint country next to the Atlantic has to offer. - PJ

Blend of: Tinta Roriz, Periquita (Castelao), and Cabernet Sauvignon

#26 On The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines Of 2024!

93 points Wine Spectator
Sleek and fresh, with dark plum and blackberry notes laced with singed alder and ganache. Shows nice drive through the polished finish as the fruit expands. Drink now through 2031.

Light straw. Perfumed, spicy aromas of ginger, quinine, lime zest and jasmine. Offers excellent energy on the palate, with pronounced spicy ginger lifting the fruit flavors of tangerine and fresh pear. A wonderfully fresh rendition of Vinho Verde, with good purity and precision. - IWC88

A batch of Aragonez and Trincadeira and a small percentage of Alicante Bouschet. After fermentation in stainless steel vats, a small part ages in French oak barrels. Aroma of ripe plums, black fruits, spices, a set with freshness structured with irreverent young tannins without losing the seduction of the warm lands of the Alentejo.

#76 on The Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2023!

93 points Wine Spectator
Lovely, with a mix of persimmon, white peach, hazelnut, green tea and singed alder notes all moving together in streamlined harmony. The long, elegant finish has nice latent energy. Drink now.

This is rich on the nose, with candied fruit, fruitcake, toffee and maple syrup. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with a brilliant aftertaste of fruit and caramel. Lasts for minutes on your palate. - WS92

80% Aragonez, 20% Alicante Bouschet. Vines planted in 2002. Tended in sandy and loam soil at 250 m (820 ft) elevation.

Dark garnet tinged purple. On the nose, lush blueberry, plum and red cherry aromas, overlaid with slate mineral. On the palate, a core of red cherry and blueberry fruit is wrapped with hints of fresh tobacco, black pepper and spice. Plush and refreshing all at once.

The fruit for Aplanta comes from a community vineyard, creating a liquid link between the person enjoying this wine and the beautiful story of Aldeia da Luz and its people. Emblematic of the style of the area, this wine is proof that ?????it takes a village!????? Aplanta is also part of the "Vinos Regionales" collection by Vinos del Atlantico. This special collection celebrates the natural beauty of each region in its purest form without manipulation. The wines are balanced, ready to drink, yet they are full of soul and character. The mission of this regional collection is to preserve the land, its people, and their traditions.

Lean and restrained, with focused spicy plum and chocolate flavors, gaining some interest in the tension between sweetness and alcohol. - WS78

Organic / Natural

The wine is made in a the very typical and traditional way for the region. Wild yeasts are used and the wine is bottled before it is dry with some residual sugar and the fine lees. The wine then re-ferments in the bottle leaving a little bit of spritz and a cloudy appearance. No sulphur is used so malo also takes place in the bottle.

This mineral aromatic delight bursting with grapefruit, stone fruit, and jasmine notes takes the 100% Alvarinho up a notch. Elegant, with a creamier silkier mouth feel than expected from this varietal, and with enough persistent acidity to lead through any meal.

Organic

A light-bodied, chillable red with a crunchy acidity.
Very old vines 80-100+ years old grown on granite slopes of the Serra de Estrela. There are several varieties here but mostly Baga and Jaen. Natural fermentation in lagares with 20% whole clusters. A long maceration time but without extraction. The wine finishes fermentation and malo in casks.20 months aging in in old barriques and a 2500L old wooden vat. The wine is bottled unfiltered.
11% abv

Organic

92+ points Wine Advocate
The very young and just bottled 2024 Dócil, still undeveloped, is closer to the original idea to produce a kind of Kabinett trocken with Loureiro grapes with contained ripeness and high acidity counterbalanced by a little residual sugar, only around three grams; they experimented from completely dry to 18 grams, and this is the one they liked the most in terms of balance. They did a soft pressing, no maceration, to have elegance and a little volume. It has very good balance. The source of the grapes changed to a more Atlantic location from this vintage, and the year was also cooler than 2022.

Fresh and fruit-centric, the price here may be super accessible for everyday, but its treatment by this famed Douro producer is nothing less than classically old-school. The point in a young, vintage-blended ruby is to keep the fruit lively and juicy, with a texture that feels velvety-luxurious in your mouth and is nothing less than a pleasure on the tongue. Taylor Fladgate's Special Ruby NV port sees up to four years in large, oak casks and when you sip it, you can really feel that intense softness and supple texture from not rushing it through the process. It's got pretty notes of black and red plums and bright cherry, and is oh-so irresistible alongside some pungent, tangy Cashel blue cheese. -- PJ

Organic

91 points Wine Advocate
The varietal 2024 Muros Antigos Alvarinho is their entry-level Alvarinho, linked to Melgaço, from slopes where there's more granite and less alluvial elements, silt and clay, higher altitude vineyards and shallower soils. In drier years, the vines suffer more, but that's not the case in 2024. This has some austerity and a vibrant palate, serious, still elegant, floral and perfumed, varietal with restraint. It comes in at 12.5% alcohol, with a pH of 3.14 and 5.9 grams of acidity, which means harmony and balance.

Organic

60% Loureiro, 30% Avesso, 10% Arinto
From all native Portuguese grapes, the prevalent grape in this blend is Loureiro. António and Sara vinify their wines by parcel rather than by varietal, which means this Vinho Verde is a direct product of the vineyard from which it came. Biotite, the cuvé’s namesake, is the dominant mineral present in the soils of this vineyard, lending a racy mineral quality to this wine. Grapes are handpicked and pressed in a pneumatic press while cold. Fermentation begins using only natural yeasts in stainless steel vats, after which the wine is aged in steel. Tart and racy with beautiful aromatics. Lovely texture from the lees and a dry crisp finish. Still wine, no effervescence. 12.5% abv

Fresh and fruit-centric, the price here may be super accessible for everyday, but its treatment by this famed Douro producer is nothing less than classically old-school. The point in a young, vintage-blended ruby is to keep the fruit lively and juicy, with a texture that feels velvety-luxurious in your mouth and is nothing less than a pleasure on the tongue. Taylor Fladgate's Special Ruby NV port sees up to four years in large, oak casks and when you sip it, you can really feel that intense softness and supple texture from not rushing it through the process. It's got pretty notes of black and red plums and bright cherry, and is oh-so irresistible alongside some pungent, tangy Cashel blue cheese. -- PJ