Quinta do Corujão Reserva 2008

15 / 20

Producer:Quinta do Corujão

Region: Dão

Country: Portugal

Interesting nose in this Dão blend, with cocoa and coffee notes, along with jammy blackberries and a slight vegetable/flowery scent.

Less interesting in the palate, coming along as somewhat difuse. The usual fresh acidity from the Dão is here, along with a balanced and elegant feel, but the flavors of the wine seem to be hidden, somewhere in the background.

Dona Helena 2011

15 / 20

Producer: Adega de Pegões

Region: Setúbal

Country:Portugal

A light (both in structure and in alcohol), simple white from Adega de Pegões, near Setúbal, this shows an intense fruit-forward nose, sometime veering into candy territory but managing to keep interesting. There's also a marked citrus feel - notes of orange blossom at first and later even some lemon skin.

Very soft in the palate, it's a simple wine that has a nice, balanced presence. Lots of fruit here, the same candy notes also appearing - but everything backed and balanced by a fresh citrus acidity and a lemony note that helps it gain some interest. Good, simple finish. A good white for the summer or for before meals.

Durbanville Hills Pinotage 2010

15 / 20

Producer: Durbanville Hills

Region: Durbanville

Country: South Africa

The link to Pinot Noir (Pinotage is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut present in South Africa since 1925) is evident in both the color - light, not extracted at all - and in the blend from red cherries, strawberries and an earthier, smokier side that one can feel in the nose. As it was opened, there were some slightly unpleasant rustic and animal notes that overshadowed the rest. But as these became more subdued, hints of vanilla appear that give it some grace.

Not very intense or heavy in the mouth, its standout feature at first is a remarkable acidity. The same rustic, animal notes I found in the nose are also present here in the palate. Again, as time goes by, these recede into the background and some strawberries start to appear in the back of the taste. Definitely gains a lot of balance if enjoyed at a meal, instead of by itself.

Aldeias de Juromenha Verdelho 2011

15 / 20

Producer: Herdade das Aldeias

Region: Alentejo

Country: Portugal

Very clear to the eye, this verdelho from near Elvas starts by reminding me of dried fruits, almonds and nuts, which is kind of surprising since I was expecting a much more fruit-forward wine. There's some tropical fruit in there, but it seems to be hiding in the background.

Soft fruit notes appear as the wine fills the mouth, to be replaced mid-length by some pleasant, bitter, lemony notes. Again, the same notes of almonds and nuts are lurking around, giving this an edge. As it heats up, some shy pineapple starts to appear in the back of the mouth.

Very pleasant by itself, but its light structure doesn't stand up to food, even a lightly seared perch fillet.

Lion's Land Shiraz Pinotage 2008

15.0 / 20

Producer: Lion's Land

Region: Swartland

Country: South Africa

Clear garnet, this is a blend of Shiraz and Pinotage, pinotage being South Africa's signature variety. Apparently, it's a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut. I believe this was the first time I tasted a Pinotage wine and I definitely see the link to Pinot Noir, both in the light color of the wine and in some earthy/smoky scents and flavors that I usually associate with Pinot Noir.

The bouquet brings some dried plums and jam, a bit monotone at first. It becomes a little more interesting as it opens, revealing the afore mentioned earth/smoke notes as well as a spicier, peppery side.

The first taste reveals a light body and a good deal of acidity. Surprisingly, I felt a lot more red fruits here than in the nose. As with the nose, as it opens the palate becomes more revealing and the dried plums and jam in the nose also appear here. Lightly structured and with balanced tannins, both the acidity and the spicier, peppery notes give it some interest. Medium length finish wraps up the taste.

Tasted on 2012-10-20

Monsaraz Millennium 2011

15.0 / 20

Producer: CARMIM

Region: Alentejo

Country: Portugal

Predominantly citrus scented at first, there are also some sweet tropical fruits joining the bouquet later.

Soft in the palate, very balanced and easy to drink, it also shows some light citrus notes along with sweet, meaty fruits. Average length on the ending, this would be a good choice to drink by itself by the pool or beach.

Tasted on 2012-08-15

ACR Touriga Nacional 2006

15.0 / 20

Producer: Adega Cooperativa do Redondo

Region: Alentejo

Country: Portugal

Another varietal from Adega Cooperativa do Redondo, this Touriga Nacional has a nice open ruby color and a pleasant nose where ripe red fruit mingle with some oaky notes and, later on, some faint flowery notes also appear.

Also pleasant in the palate, with nice, ripe raspberries, a nice dryness and a balanced acidity, this is a balanced, honest wine, although it feels somewhat tired sometimes. Good average Persistence with notes of red fruits again, but where the usual flowery notes from the Touriga are absent.

Tasted on 2012-08-13

Vinha Val dos Alhos 2010

15.0 / 20

Producer: Casa Agrícola Horácio Simões

Region: Setúbal

Country: Portugal

A 100% Sémillon, this white wine from near Setúbal has a balanced, somewhat subdued bouquet where flowers mingle with white fruits along with a scent of lemon.

Shows a good structure on the palate, but the most remarkable sensation in the palate is its dryness which, combined with a fresh acidity, brings out the citrus, lemon-like notes. Some notes of white fruit and a touch of oak also appear in the background all the way to the medium-length, very dry finale.

Tasted on 2012-07-21

Dona Mécia Reserva 2008

15.0 / 20

Producer: Divinis

Region: Lisboa

Country: Portugal

Clear ruby in the glass, this red from Ourém, near Fátima but still on the Lisbon DO, shows at first a bouquet where a slightly herbaceous, green feel is mixed with a leathery, rustic aroma. Given time, red fruit - in a jammy, although not overly heavy interpretation - appears and a nice touch of oak/toast that gives it some grace.

Average bodied in the mouth, it also benefits from some breathing time. Starting very tamed and showing the leathery, almost old wine notes it grows with time, red fruits and oak also start to appear in the palate along with the presence of velvety, very present tannins that give it some structure. Good acidity helps it move along to an average length, enjoyable finale.

Tasted on 2012-06-27

Vinha da Malhada 2011

15.0 / 20

Producer: Quinta do Montalto

Region: Lisboa

Country: Portugal

With a nice, fresh yellow color with lots of green reflections, the nose on this biological farming white from near Ourém, Fátima is very fresh, with tropical fruits and flowers and a hint of wet stones.

Soft and fresh in the palate, showing a nice amount of fruit in a soft, light body, this is an easy to drink, honest wine. Lightly persistent, this will be a great wine to enjoy by itself by the pool on a lazy summer afternoon.

Tasted on 2012-06-17

Chateau Sainte-Marie Vieilles Vignes 2007

15.0 / 20

Producer: Chateau Sainte-Marie

Region: Entre-Deux-Mers

Country: France

I approached this wine with a bit of caution. Although I liked the 2009 vintage I had tasted a while ago, I did not feel this was a wine made for aging, so at five years old, I was concerned this had long gone downhill.

As I poured it, a deep golden color did nothing to make me more comfortable. On first impact on the nose, a glyceric feel coupled with a lot of boiled pears and apples seemed to hint at a wine past its prime. Fortunately, as time goes by, a nice lime aroma permeates wine and still later, the sauvignon blanc comes forward, with tropical fruits and a touch of vegetable notes.

In the mouth, this is a soft, delicate wine seeming somewhat tired, missing some acidity and freshness. At first, it has a strong citrus feel that, as time goes by, is replaced with some vegetable notes that accompanies the taste till the average length wine that also shows some improvement given breathing time.

Although it was not as evolved as I expected, I would recommend younger vintages if you want to really appreciate this wine, as I found this a bit lacking on acidity and freshness.

Tasted on 2012-06-11

Gaivosa Primeiros Anos 2009

15.0 / 20

Producer: Alves de Sousa

Region: Douro

Country: Portugal

The second bottling for this Quinta da Gaivosa wine, coming from newly planted vines, this has a nice open ruby color. The nose is somewhat confusing at start, without a clear direction, hinting at dried leaves, surprisingly a bit of leather, then some crushed red fruits. As it opens, it gets more precise, bringing out some peppery notes and violets. There's also a strong hint of curry - the spice - which at times is strong enough to overwhelm the rest of the bouquet.

Becomes a little more consensual in the palate, showing a balanced, average structured wine with some nice fruit coming up, not too ripe and not too acid. Balanced tannins give it some dryness and structure, finishing fruit-forward with an average length.

Tasted on 2012-06-03

Pradalupo Roero Arneis 2009

15.0 / 20

Producer: Fontanafredda

Region: Roero

Country: Italy

An italian white made from Arneis - grown in Piedmont - this has a greenish tinge on the glass, with a bouquet reminiscent of sweet white fruits, some flowers and a faintly perceived mineral backdrop.

Feeling very fresh in the mouth, although it shows some rich, sweet fruits. But these are kept in place by a crisp, citrus-like acidity.

Dry and refreshing, the ending is also very interesting as it cleanses the palate in a remarkable way, leaving some lingering lemon notes.

A good wine for summer, to drink by itself or before meals.

Tasted on 2012-04-16

Moscatel de Setúbal Venâncio da Costa Lima 2010

15.0 / 20

Producer: Venâncio da Costa Lima

Region: Setúbal

Country: Portugal

A young Moscatel from Setúbal, this has a nice orange color and a nose where orange skin mingles with sweeter, honey like notes.

Unctuous in the palate, showing a full body, marked by sweet, honeyed notes. It's a nicely made Moscatel, but I think it would benefit from a greater acidity, maybe some more citrus notes in the palate. Finishes long and sweet, in the same full, heavy approach.

Will work well as a digestive or side by side with egg-based desserts.

Tasted on 2012-04-12

Attems Ribolla Gialla 2008

15.0 / 20

Producer: Attems

Region: Venezia Giulia

Country: Italy

A white from the Venezia Region, northern Italy, made exclusively with a local grape type - Ribolla Gialla, this white showed a light golden color, hinting at some evolution. Discreet and subdued in the nose, it showed some vegetable hints, along with some flowers and spices hiding in the background.

Soft bodied, again not showing a lot of expression in the taste, it shows some more evolution notes - an unctuous, honeyed feel that is balanced out by a lemony, fresh side. As time goes by, this citrus feel - along with some flowers - gains more momentum.

Definitely not one to age, hunt the more recent vintage as this wil probably make for a nice aperitif if drunk young.

Tasted on 2012-04-01

Quinta do Gradil Touriga e Tannat 2009

15.0 / 20

Producer: Quinta do Gradil

Region: Lisboa

Country: Portugal

Dark purple, this red from Lisboa has a intense, ripe nose but somewhat undefined and not very complex. A hint of vegetable, lots of oak, coffee and some chocolate, followed by some dark plums.

Hard, tough wine in the palate with some young, lively and tough tannins very much in the foreground. Fresh acidity that is maybe a bit too much for the wine's structure. Lots of oak notes in a taste that clearly shows a growing, evolving wine.

Needs time to settle down.

Tasted on 2012-03-29

Chateau Marjosse 2007

15.0 / 20

Producer: Pierre Lurton

Region: Entre-Deux-Mers

Country: France

A blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, this french white from Entre-Deux-Mers, near Bordeaux, shows a light golden color, hinting at some evolution.

Discreet cooked apples in the nose, along with a glycerin feel lead the way to an unctuous, fat wine in the palate, with some sweet notes and only a dash of fruit. Balanced acidity keeps it alive throughout the taste that finishes long.

I think this is close to the end of its drinking window. I certainly felt that it could be a bit more lively and fresh. Right now, it is still a pleasurable drink but I don't think that will hold for much longer.

Tasted on 2012-03-25

Chateau los Boldos Cuvée Tradition Sauvignon Blanc 2010

15.0 / 20

Producer: Chateau los Boldos

Region: Valle de Cachapoal

Country: Chile

Light golden in the glass, this Sauvignon Blanc from Chile has and interesting, although restrained bouquet. On first impact, a lot of tropical fruits - pineapple and passion fruit - appear. Discreetly, a vegetable streak also comes up.

Lightly structured in the palate, with vegetable and tropical fruit notes in a soft but interesting body. Acidity is quite controlled and there's a definite round feel to this. Average length finale wraps up an interesting, if not overwhelmingly exciting taste.

Tasted on 2012-02-02

Domaine Chandon de Briailles Premier Cru Ile des Vergelesses 1993

15.0 / 20

Producer: Domaine Chandon de Briailles

Region: Pernand-Vergelesses

Country: France

An older Bourgogne recently picked up at an auction, this had a clear red color with some brownish tinges.

Smoky at first on the nose, it later opens to sweet crushed red berries and cocoa/oak notes. Still later, a hint of dried leaves and leather come into play in a composed bouquet that is maybe a bit unidimensional.

In the mouth, it feels older than in the nose. Soft and delicate, as expected, it still shows a hint of tannins, relying mostly on leather and spicier notes to compose the taste. Finish is average and leaves yet more leather notes in the palate.

Still very drinkable, it nevertheless feels that it has peaked and is on its way down. Still, a nice experience with an older Pinot Noir.

Tasted on 2012-01-11

Burmester Selected Tawny 2001

15.0 / 20

Producer: Burmester

Region: Porto

Country: Portugal

Probably an older bottling, since the current Burmester brands do not include a Selected Tawny, this was probably a young tawny, since its color is still very much on the red side with some brown hue - older tawnies usually are more amber or orange.

Dried plums and yellow sugar on the nose, some toffee, almonds and hazelnuts and a background of spices combine into a nice, yet a bit sweet bouquet.

The sweetness is also prevalent on the palate, although a still decent acidity helps to balance it. Soft bodied and sometimes letting the alcohol feel a bit too harsh, I think it would benefit if it had a bigger structure.

Nice, solid finish that leaves toffee and spices notes in the palate.

Tasted on 2011-12-28