December 2023 - Clube de Vinhos
Twisted Red 2020 By Niepoort
Region: Douro.
Grape varieties: Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela.
Winemaker: Dirk Niepoort.
Soil: Schist.
Vinification: After arriving at the Quinta de Nápoles, the grapes were carefully destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks under controlled temperatures for approximately one week. A portion of the wine was matured in French oak barriques whereas the rest of the wine remained in stainless steel for about 6 months.
Notes: The wine has a beautiful, intense ruby colour. The aromatic profile of the wine is elegant, boasting mineral notes in perfect harmony with balsamic, floral and fresh red fruit aromas. The palate is light and elegant, with smooth but persistent tannins and a pleasant acidity which makes the wine easy to drink and enjoy.
Suggested Serving Temp: 55º F.
Food Pairing: White meats, pasta and vegetarian dishes.
Pomares White 2021
Region: Douro.
Grape varieties: Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela.
Winemaker: Dirk Niepoort.
Soil: Schist.
Vinification: After arriving at the Quinta de Nápoles, the grapes were carefully destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks under controlled temperatures for approximately one week. A portion of the wine was matured in French oak barriques whereas the rest of the wine remained in stainless steel for about 6 months.
Notes: The wine has a beautiful, intense ruby colour. The aromatic profile of the wine is elegant, boasting mineral notes in perfect harmony with balsamic, floral and fresh red fruit aromas. The palate is light and elegant, with smooth but persistent tannins and a pleasant acidity which makes the wine easy to drink and enjoy.
Suggested Serving Temp: 55º F.
Food Pairing: White meats, pasta and vegetarian dishes.
Portal Red Douro 2020
Region: Douro-Cima Corgo ("above Corgo").
Grape varieties: Tinta Roriz (35%), Touriga Nacional (35%), Touriga Franca (30%)
Vineyard: The average altitude is 500m and its vineyards have an Eastern exposure. The average age of the vines is 25 years.
Winemaker: Paulo Coutinho.
Soil: Schist.
Vinification: Alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel vat with maceration at 70ºF. It has aged for 9 months in new and used French oak barrels.
Notes: Full bodied with a ripe berry colour and fruity aromas marked by Tinta Roriz that is responsible for the intense aroma of young fresh fruit and by floral notes from the Touriga Nacional. Excellent freshness, toasty and appetising in the mouth, with an attractive and elegant finish. It's a wine that we can enjoy from now but it will also age a few years very well.
Suggested Serving Temp: Enjoy at 55 to 60ºC
Food Pairing: Cheese or meat during the first years. . It will be lovely with game after aging in bottle.
Pormenor Red 2019
Region: Douro.
Grape varieties: Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca, Rufete.
Winemaker: Pedro Coelho.
Vineyard: The vines are east and north faced with more than 60 year old planted over 500 m in Sutelo do Douro - Corgo de Cima.
Soil: Schist.
Vinification: Harvested in the last week of August in in order to achieve a good and natural acidity with a balanced maturation. spontaneous fermentation with native yeats, no yeast additions and part of the volume with stalks. Maceration was done throughout the course of four weeks with light pumpovers in order to achieve round and smooth tannins. Aged in French oak for 20 months.
Notes: violet in coulour, on the nose reveals discreet with predominant freshness, green minerality a light hint if wood. On the palate keeps fresh, light, predominantly with a strong minerality, elegant and not very lush. Also red and black fruits and a hint of wet stone.
Suggested Serving Temp: 55°F.
Food Pairing: Goat Cheeses. canned sardines in tomato sauce, grilled bacalhau (salted cod).
V.Z White 2020
Region: Douro Doc
Grape varieties: A blend of a 70 year old vineyard with, Viosinho, Rabigato, Códega, Gouveio and Arinto.
Winemaker: Cristiano van Zeller and Joana Pinhão.
Vineyard: Produced with indigenous Douro grapes, found in older vineyards, grown in the Murça district at around 500 m altitude.
Soil: Schist.
Vinification: All grapes are hand picked and selected before being de-stemmed and slightly crushed by a pneumatic press. The acidity of the must is carefully measured and only the very first juice is fermented and eged in new and one year old French oak barrels (225 and 500 litres). The wine ages in the same barrels for another 9 months with battonage, before the final blend.
Notes: Fresh, with lemon zest, lemon tree leaves, a hint of floral notes and a mineral mouthfeel. Long and intense, this wine will age beautifully in bottle.
Suggested Serving Temp: 50ºF to 55°F,
Food Pairing: Excellent with cheeses, specially Serra da Estrela DOP. Grilled Octopus or Caldeirada (fish stew).
Broadbent 10 Year Tawny Porto
Region: Douro.
Grape varieties: Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, & others.
Winemaker: Luis Sottomayor.
Vinification: The grapes are hand harvested and softly crushed after partial destemming. The wine was fermented in lagares and on the grape skins, allowing for their important flavor compounds to be extracted. This is done under temperature control so that the winemaker can keep an eye on the alcoholic fermentation to ensure that the addition of aguardente (grape spirit) is added at just the right time. This addition of aguardente halts the fermentation and is the key to creating Port wines sweetness. After fermentation, the wine is aged in wood. The final wine is a blend of multiple vintages of oak aged reserve wines, that have been aged 8 to 15 years.
Notes: Good depth of color. The best tawnies show some good fruit on the nose. The palate is rich, long and deep. Serve at room temperature or on the rocks. Can be kept open for several months.
Suggested Serving Temp: Great chilled or 60°F.
Food Pairing: It is a desert on its own, although it has really good structure, very well balanced acidity and even smooth tannins which will make it a very easy desert pairing. I love it with creme brulee or a pastel de nata. But also with some cheeses like Sao Miguel black aged 9 months.