Portuguese Red Wines – Episode #476

June 2, 2008

Gary rants and raves about Portugal as the next coming so lets see what these wines have to offer.

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“yah!…” by DDB
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Tinto Da AnforaOther Portuguese Red Wine
2005 Bafarela RedOther Portuguese Red Wine
2007 Sanguinhal CerejeirasOther Portuguese Red Wine

Links mentioned in todays episode.

204 Responses

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June 8, 2008

Tommy Vernieri
QOTD: Wow, just checked CellarTracker and I’m surprised. The only Portuguese wines I’ve had are Port and Vinho Verde. I’ve got to get on that.
June 8, 2008

elron
Loved the show Gary. After growing up in a Portuguese neighborhood(Newark’s Ironbound), marrying into a great Portuguese family and having a wine importer relative, I have tried many wines from there. Most times, I don’t even remember the names of the wines I drink from there neither. Example, just had two really good ones(a white and a red) at a cousins Christening last Sunday and have no clue what they were. All I know is, they were nice!

When we go visit Portugal, we visit the North and South family members so we get different tastes the whole trip. However, as good as some of their wines are, it isn’t “my” first wine country of choice. Oh oh, I think I might be in trouble now.

Cartuxa, Primavera Reserve(although, bottle to bottle it varies), and one with some Cabernet in it that I can’t remember the name that I drink all the time are some of my favorites besides others.

p.s. Like Pedro said, wine has been made there for a stupendous amount of time.
June 7, 2008

*/^_^\*
qotd: i do not remember if i’ve had a portuguese wine but i will buy one the next time i’m at the store just to be sure
June 7, 2008

Pedro
Tinta Roriz is Tempranillo in the North of Portugal, in the South of Portugal it is known as AragonÃªs.
Actually Portugal has over 500 grape variatals.
Wine has been produced in the region where Portugal is located, known previously as Lusitania, since the time of the Romans or be it over 5000 years ago!
June 7, 2008

Pedro
Dona Maria Reserva – Alentejo
June 7, 2008

vivaitalia
Didn’t read through all the comments so i’m not sure if anyone’s covered this but tinta roriz is tempranillo. I know one or two of the others are also common varieties (cab sauv and fran i beleive). An episode educating us on the dozens of grapes of Portugal would be sweet.
June 7, 2008

vivaitalia
2004 Quinta val meo duoro. Excellent balance and pure fruit. A little more expensive but great is the 2005 quinto do chocopalha. Stellar and available widely here in Tampa Bay.
June 6, 2008

Robert Celli
Love this episode!…I’ve been watching for the past year and the passion you have can not be denied. I’ve been trying Portuguese wines as of late in San Francisco. Couldn’t agree more, Great value, at a realistic price point. Bummed I missed your book signing recently but I’m spreading the word. I would love to hear more food pairing recommendations with your reviews, but that’s just me…Bring the THUNDER!!
June 6, 2008

PSPatrick
QOTD: Casa Santos Lima “Quinta de Bons-Ventos” 2003 (Estremadura – Alenquer IPR). Stunning QPR. EURO 4.90 a bottle. Tried one bottle, ended up with 19 bottles before the vintage was no longer available. Enjoyed them on summer evenings with friends, all of them fell in love with this wine for its balance and silkiness. Probably the best under ten dollar wine I ever had.
June 6, 2008

Susan
Gary-WWWWHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOO??? WWWWWWHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO??????????????? gave you the green owl shirt???
June 6, 2008

T. Bone
Ok, splitting hairs over $6-7 wine versus $10 is asinine. Give me a break, pay the extra $3. It’s not an $80 ream-you meritage, come on.

Portuguese wines just rock, excellent topic. I hope you do many, many more shows on these wines.

Have had many Syrahs from this neighborhood recently. Mixed bag, really, as it is an “international” varietal. Invariably in a blend with Touriga Nacional. Some really good stuff. Many local varietals, especially some of the whites, are rocking. But when it comes to Portugal, you’ve got to go for the Tawny’s. Vintage ports are good too, but I love Tawny, and it won’t break the bank like the VPs do.

Seriously, though, stop with the $10 is overpriced thing, that sets the wrong expectation. If you can get a really good wine for $10 and that’s a couple bucks more than the $$$ you spend on your usual crap, then don’t buy the pack of cigs and spring for the better vino. $10 is not a lot to pay for real wine, I don’t care who you are. Don’t train people to go for happy meals when for a few bucks more they can support real, biodynamic/organic producers who care about their product.
June 6, 2008

jeremiah
QOTD: Charumba for $7dollars. Is the best $7dollars i spent on a wine.
June 5, 2008

Susan
Gary-Who knew that you would leave us hanging?????????????
June 5, 2008

Zk
QOTD: I promise to try a new Portuguese red wine this week. I love Tawney port but have not gotten into Portuguese red wines, I’ll try to find some around the same $8-$10 price range. Great Show!
June 5, 2008

damien
promise to try some portuguese! that’s right chone figgins is the man. hey g, here is so cal we call him “sean” figgins. ran in to him at the local mall during the off season and said hi. real nice guy, he pronounses his name sean though? go figure
June 4, 2008

Tom Cihil
I first enjoyed Portuguese wines while working in the Azores years ago and have appreciated them ever since. Sadly, the selection of these fascinating wines is not very good in the antiquated PA liquor system.
June 4, 2008

Stryker
QOTD:
Charumba.

For the price it’s pretty good. I really should get more experience in the Portugues wines, though.
June 4, 2008

Karpacz Noclegi
NICE GOOD SHOW
June 4, 2008

LauraG
QOTD: Quinta do Zambujerio.
June 4, 2008

wayno da wino
Yooo Geee, Aaaaaaawesome Thunder/Energy in da Hizzy!!!!

QOTD: Favorite Portuguese Red Vino??? Don’t got none. Had some Port
loooong time ago, but dat type of Vino usually knocks-me on me ass, tooo
potent!! Did get da Alvarinho Dorado Vinho Verde (white) 2005 from Ya a
couple months back. Haven’t tried it yet. Think i’ll crack one a dhose Puppys open tonight…YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH !!!!!!
June 4, 2008

lurkdawg
My favorite has probably been the Quinta do Crasto 2004. I’m not sure if they make more than one light(non-fortified) red wine, but the one I had (about $36) was great. The ‘03 was also very good.
June 4, 2008

bangkokbabay
Thanks Gary! I will be picking some some Portugese Reds this week – to keep my PAL happy and entertained! I will be keeping an eye out for the ones you tried especially Tinto da Anfora -
June 4, 2008

Justin L Ove
QOTD: Adriano Douro, 2005. 10 bones, I can dig it.
June 4, 2008

YoungDave
QOTD: I’ve had a few, but other than port, I haven’t had a solid red Douro or other Portuguese wine as of yet, and the last one I had (to expand my palate) was pretty bad- over-extracted and no transition from the berry fruit to the finish, resulting in a flavor profile much like a raspberry-flavored rum or vodka…ugh. BUT, my search is not over, and I PROMISE to buy another this week and will continue to try different (under $13) Portuguese reds until I find a few solid representations of the level of quality that the country can produce. Cheers, Big G..
June 4, 2008

Michael DeFino
Quinta do Crasto blend was one of my favorites for a long time. Portugal Rocks!!!!