Alentejo

Altano Douro White 2016, Portugal (£8.50-£9.99 Tanners, The Wine Society, winedirect.co.uk, Auriol Wines) Like a herb-strewn Sauvignon Blanc bolstered by some spicy, grapey notes and with hints of woodsmoke, vanilla and [pretentiousness alert] carbon steel, really interesting youngster. S- Esporão Reserva Branco 2015, Alentejo, Portugal (£13.99-£15.99 Cambridge Wine Merchants, Field […]

Two Portuguese Whites – Douro & Alentejo

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Tons de Duorum Red 2014, Douro, Portugal (£8.90 Tanners) Young, juicy style, fleshy berry to the fore, notes of liquorice, vanilla and herby in the background. Should appeal to Argie Malbec fans. B+ Ramos Reserva 2014, VR Alentejano, Portugal (£6.99 Majestic) A plusher, plummier wine than the above, still spicy, […]

Two reds from Portugal

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Both of these had my mouth watering Anselmo Mendes ‘Muros Antigos’ Loureiro Vinho Verde 2013, Portugal (£11.50 Bottle Apostle, Theatre of Wine) Clean, fresh style, with zesty citrus and apple flavours but also a pithy bite – think grapefruit pith – that would suggest some skin contact has brought a […]

Portuguese Whites from the Alentejo & Vinho Verde

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More wines to celebrate the week in which Australia Day falls. This time, it’s Shiraz, with a European version making its way into the line-up… Smart Dog Syrah 2013, Alentejano, Portugal (£8.99 Adnams) Sweet, almost smoky notes alongside the cinnamon and clove aromas, but while there’s no shortage of flavour, […]

Shiraz from Australia & Portugal

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Bit of a bargain… Tagus Creek Shiraz/Trincadeira 2012, Alentejo, Portugal (£4.50 Asda Direct) I think of Trincadeira as being a bit like Carignan, and here, it gives similar peppery violet and blackcurrant notes to the sweet berry-roundness of Shiraz, with a note of vanilla making its presence felt too. B+

Tagus Creek Shiraz/Trincadeira 2012, Alentejo, Portugal

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