Red

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.

Organic / Natural

Vinhão 50%, Alvarelhão 20%, Arinto 30%
Grapes are harvested by hand and upon arriving in the cellar are destemmed and moved to amphoras (talhas) to start fermentation and maceration. At this point ground chestnut flower is added (500mg per 1000kg) and mixed into the mass.The whole vinification process is very simple with very low intervetion. The red grapes and 10% of Arinto had a five day maceration then pressed and moved to an amphora to ferment. The other 20% of Arinto was pressed and the must was moved to a stainless steel tank to ferment at 5ºC. Atfer 27 days at this temperature, the residual sugar of the Arinto reached 17g/l, was then blended with the red wine and bottled for the fermentation to finish in the bottle.

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

Organic / Natural

40% Touriga Nacional, 40% Tinto Roriz, 20% Alicante Bouschet aged in large wooden vats called “dornas”. A fresh and bright medium-bodied red with tons of character. 12% abv

Dessert Wine

100% Verdelho
Painstaking manual viticulture on pure basalt
Gentle pressing followed by fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless
Primary alcoholic suspended at about 85 g/L residual sugar with the addition of neutral grape spirit
Aged in used French oak casks for 12 years before bottling
18% ABV
Lajido is the local name for volcanic rock

97 pts Wine Spectator
A beauty in the making, with waves of dark currant preserves, warmed fig and steeped blackberry fruit, all infused with chai spice, tobacco, singed alder and espresso cream accents. Very grippy on the finish, but this is long and smoldering too. Best from 2035 through 2060

Organic / Biodynamic / Natural

100% Baga sourced from limestone vineyards close to sea level ?€? 100% destemmed ?€? individual vineyards fermented separately in stainless steel tank with light extraction over a long maceration but low extraction ?€? final blend made after short elevage in tank

100% Touriga Naçional. Sustainably grown vines on average 30 years old .Tended in schist rocky soil at 300-400 m (984 -1,312 ft) elevation. 30 day maceration with spontaneous wild yeast fermentation. Cold stabilized, and racked to stainless steel for 3 months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Dark purple. On the nose, fresh boysenberry, blackberry, plum and blueberry are commingled with a ferrous mineral note and wild notes of beef blood, anise and rose petals. On the palate, intense and lush, but light on its feet. The blue and black fruit are framed beautifully by fresh flowers and slate-tinged mineral. Finishes long, with a whiff of white pepper.

This is an expression of Portugal’s most well-known grape, Touriga Naçional, that manages to be both evocative of the terroir of the Alentejo and a uniquely fresh take on the “king of Portugal.” Carbonic maceration and careful attention to maintenance of acidity give this wine a beautiful duality of ripe fruit paired with floral and even juicy citrus notes. An excellent red wine for white wine lovers.

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.

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

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.

Organic / Natural

The New York Times article on the 2020 vintage: 20 Under $20: Minimal Effort, Maximum Pleasure.
In most cases, wines with gimmicky names like Nat Cool are a turnoff. They reek of marketing, more than careful winemaking. But Dirk Niepoort is a visionary producer, so don't look at the label, just drink. This is a delicious thirst quencher made of the baga grape, not complex. It's easygoing and low in alcohol at 12 percent, with aromas and flavors of flowers and earthy red fruit. And it comes in a liter bottle.

Very light in color, this wine offers a frank and expressive aromatic profile full of freshness and floral notes. It showcases the character of the Baga grape variety and Bairrada region superbly, with beautiful aromas of strawberries, dried roses and some spice. The wines minerality is reminiscent of the vines calcareous soils and unmistakable Atlantic climate. Fresh, direct and very seductive, this wine is light on its feet and so easy to drink, it will entice you to have another glass. It makes a very versatile food wine just add a good meal and good friends! Serve chilled. All work is done by hand implementing organic and biodynamic principles, utilizing natural fermentation with wild yeast. No sulfur is added. Nat Cool is naturally cool and funky. It represents an innovative concept initiated by Niepoort, in which various producers came together to create light and easy-to-drink wines. In the Bairrada region we have produced the DrinkMe, the first Nat Cool, where we try to showcase a different and elegant side of the Baga grape variety. An incredibly light and accessible wine which just begs to be enjoyed. Welcome to the Nat Cool world! -Winery 

The baga vineyards are farmed organically and are located in Bairrada. All work is done by hand. Soil is calcareous clay. They utilize natural fermentation with wild yeast. No sulphur is added. 11% abv

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.

Organic

With an elegant and attractive profile, it shows our commitment to sustainability and preservation of the environment. A combination of Aragonez, Trincadeira and Alicante Bouschet, the classic and timeless blend from Alentejo from the organic vineyard Vinea Maria. Fermented in stainless steel vats and aged for 12 months in new and used French oak barrels. Notes of black fruit jam, intense earthy perceptions, mint, green coffee and toast. In the mouth, it is structured, elegant, fresh and with a long finish.

90 points Wine Enthusiast
This generous, ripe wine is full of black fruits that have been smoothed by wood aging. Its balanced texture and fruitiness have some of the region's minerality as well as a fresh aftertaste.

90 points Wine Enthusiast
Syrah and Alicante Bouschet give this wood-aged wine great weight. It has a perfumed, spicy character that adds to the richness. It is a fine wine, just ready to drink.

100% Baga made via Methode Champenoise to produce a savory and juicy sparkling red wine. Baga is typically known for its deep structure, but these grapes were chosen for their high acidity and good fruit potential. The base wine was initially fermented in stone lagares then transferred to 3k liter old oak tonels to complete fermentation. Secondary fermentation occurs in bottle to add sparkle. This is a Brut Natural so there is no added sugar. The Bruto Natural Tinto jumps out of the glass with bright and brambly fruit. The palate is generous and savory with excellent length.

90 pts Wine Advocate
The 2020 Meandro do Vale Meão is a blend of 50% Touriga Nacional, 35% Touriga Franca, 10% Tinta Roriz and dollops of Tinta Barroca and Alicante Bouschet for the rest, all aged in used French oak for 14 months. It comes in at 14.2% alcohol. This was in bottle about a month when seen. In the tough vintage, this doesn't seem to miss a beat. It's fresh, understated, elegant and full of great fruit. It has ripe tannins for support and some ability to age too. Most of all, it's another nice bargain in this consistent brand.

Winemaker Notes:
Lovely dark ruby red, clear and bright with garnet reflexes. Intense and involving aroma. It starts with the final notes of red berries and floral aromas, followed by notes of cocoa and spices. In the mouth it is full, embracing and harmonious, with a fine texture, freshness and persistence. Excellent if drunk now but with great ageing potential.

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.