This is a brilliant bargain! It’s a grown-up, proper Douro red for less than a tenner. The Symingtons are the largest organic farmer in the Douro with 126 hectares of…
Two from Niepoort: Bairrada and Dão
Douro star Dirk Niepoort has branched out in recent years, acquiring vineyards in Dão (Quinta da Lomba, an old vineyard purchased in 2013) and Bairrada (Quinta de Baixo, purchased in…
Some remarkable older wines: 1937 Noval Colheita, 1975 Deutz and a 1919 Sherry
Three nice older bottles opened at the Gonzalez Byass 10th anniversary dinner last week: Champagne Deutz Blanc de Noir 1975 France (magnum) This Pinot Noir comes from Grand Cru Aÿ,…
Soalheiro Alvarinho 2013 Vinho Verde
I love Soalheiro. They’re one of the top producers in Portugal’s Vinho Verde region, and it’s time I gave Portugal a bit more love on this blog – it was…
Pre- and post-run wines from last weekend at Pichon
Last Friday night I stayed at Château Pichon in Pauillac, in preparation for the long run the next day. I was intending to drink very little, but in the end…
Covela reborn – Vinho Verde, Portugal
Covela is back. I was a fan of this estate, which was previously owned by Nuno Araújo (related to Pedro Araújo of Ameal), and which made really interesting wines from…
Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 2012
So, Noval has done another ‘eccentric’ declaration, this time of the 2012, and it’s quite early, too. Christian Seely announced the declaration on his blog, earlier this month. His logic…
Churchill’s Quinta da Gricha Vintage Port 2011
OK folks, a real-time tasting note. I’m off early in the morning, but for some inexplicable reason I thought it would be a good idea to open a bottle of…
Este Vinhão, a delicious red Vinho Verde from Portugal
Red Vinho Verde, most of which is made from the Vinhão grape variety (known elsewhere in Portugal as Sousão), is a bit of an acquired taste. It’s hard to get…