From Carregal do Sal in the Dão region. The grapes were destemmed. Aged 8 months in French Allier oak barrels and 10 months in the cellar after bottling. At 1 gram of residual sugar a dry wine! The soil is granitic, sandy, slightly acidic and poor in nutrients. A blend of Touriga Nacional and theContinue reading “RKS 2025 PORTUGUESE Wine: Pedra Cancela Vinha Da Fidalga from the Dão”
Tag Archives: Wines Of Portugal
RKS 2024 Wine: A Babu Reserva from Portugal’s Tejo Appellation: Another Purchase at Your Own Risk?
I tried the 2018 Babu Reserva and it fared so poorly I used the mercy rule and did not give it a numerical score instead stating, “purchase at your own risk”. I am sure that when RKS Wine speaks with such unflattering remarks a team of blending specialists descended on the winery to fix theContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: A Babu Reserva from Portugal’s Tejo Appellation: Another Purchase at Your Own Risk?”
RKS 2023 Wine: Mencía by Another Name: Dão Meia Serra Jaen: CODE RED!
In the Bierzo region of Spain not that far from the Dão region in Portugal the Mencía grape in the king of red wine. In the Dão region of Portugal the Mencía grape is known as Jaen and in the Dão it is most often blended with other grapes. We try a Meia Serra 2018Continue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Mencía by Another Name: Dão Meia Serra Jaen: CODE RED!”
RKS 2023 Wine: Delving into Vinho Verde: Ho Hum Maria Papoila
Yes from a Portuguese tourism perspective there is more than Porto, Lisbon and the Algarve. I was playing some catch today and as the baseball was zipping to and fro I looked over to the hockey rink resting for the summer and I saw some graffiti on the wall “Pickleball is the new virus!”. WellContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Delving into Vinho Verde: Ho Hum Maria Papoila”
RKS 2023 Wine: Alentejo Love Affair with Alicante Bouschet: Alentejo Love Affair with Alicante Bouschet
Red wines from Portugal’s Alentejo are tied at the hip to the Alicante Bouschet grape known more for imparting colour to red wine than for its delectability. Whatever the reason as far as Alentejano blends if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Here we have a Herdade do Rocim a Vinho Regional Alentejano being aContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Alentejo Love Affair with Alicante Bouschet: Alentejo Love Affair with Alicante Bouschet”
RKS 2023 Wine: A Douro White: Três Bagos
We see very little white wine from Portugal’s Douro region here in Toronto. Red is king there but it is not a quality issue. Could it be “the curse of the high reputational wine”. As far as table wines go the Douro produces the highest quality reds so has that frightened off wine drinkers fromContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: A Douro White: Três Bagos”
RKS 2023 Wine: Herdade do Sobroso from Portugal’s Alentejo
I have made previous comments concerning the surge of red wines from the Alentejo region of Portugal leaving the Douro somewhat behind. In the 27May2023 LCBO Vintages release catalogue of the Portuguese reds 3 are from Alentejo and 1 from the Douro. The Herdade do Sobroso is a blend of Aragonez, Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet SauvignonContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Herdade do Sobroso from Portugal’s Alentejo”
Porthead Alert: Offley 10-Year-Old Tawny: Port Attention Deficit Syndrome
Offley is a Sogrape brand. Pre-Covid I recall going out with the Sogrape folks to the Bolsa (Old Stock Exchange) in Porto for some stellar Portuguese beef…prime rib roast I recall and we had Port with the beef. It worked perfectly and I won’t forget that match. But mention it to just about anyone inContinue reading “Porthead Alert: Offley 10-Year-Old Tawny: Port Attention Deficit Syndrome”
RKS 2023 Wine: It Seems Portugal’s Alentejo is Coming on Strong
Is there an offensive launched by Portugal’s Alentejo region these days in Ontario? Is the Douro taking it on the chin? Alentejano reds completely outnumber whites and while they may utilize mostly indigenous grapes the Alicante Bouschet grape features predominantly in the red blends. Alicante Bouschet is a cross of Grenache and Petit Bouschet crossedContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: It Seems Portugal’s Alentejo is Coming on Strong”
RKS 2023 Wine: Colossal Reserva from Lisbon: Big Name but What Quality?
Red wines from the Lisbon appellation in Portugal are not timid about blending with Syrah, Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon aside native indigenous varieties but all we can read on the label is that it is made from “typical grape varieties planted in the region”. A trip to the Casa Santos Lima website reveals the grapesContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Colossal Reserva from Lisbon: Big Name but What Quality?”
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