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As much as I would like to discuss the wonderful wine that I had last evening, I will save it for another post. As promised, I’d like to continue my exploration of Portuguese wines.  The Vinho Verde region stretches across the northwest of Portugal which includes nine sub-regions. The popular Alvarinho wines are a specialty of the sub regions Moncao and Melgaco in the northern part of the Vinho Verde region. Lima Cavado and Ave sub-regions are to the south where the main grapes are Loureiro, Arinto and Trajadura.  Quinta da Lixa is an award winning, family run company owned by the Meireles family. It is located in the Sousa sub-region of the Vinho Verde region. Their table was filled with colorful and enticing wine bottles. The Pouco Comum 2014 is 100% Alvarinho. It had floral and fruity aromas with citrus, floral and tropical fruit notes on the palate. It was crisp with a long finish. The Anjos de Portugal 2014 Rosé was quite lively and made with Touriga Nacional and Espadeiro grapes. It was fruity with hints of grapefruit and melon. The Aromas das Castas 2014 is made with Alvarinho and Trajadura grapes. These grapes are considered “two of the noblest “ grape varieties in the Vinho Verde region. The dominant flavor was peach, but hints of pear and herbs came through. It was quite refreshing.  Alexandre Relvas My last stop for today is back in the Alentejo region where I met Alexandre Relvas, of Casa Agricola Alexandre Relvas. He acquired the winery in 1997. It is situated in the municipality of Redondo. In addition to producing around 3 million bottles of wine a year, the owners are dedicated to breeding and conservation of local species. They also breed Merino sheep and sell the wool, which perked my interest as a knitter. Alexandre started me off with a taste of Ciconia Touriga Nacional 2014. This ruby colored wine had intense aromas of dark fruit, earth and spice. The palate offered dark berry, spice and a hint of truffle. It was very smooth with soft tannins. The next pour was Ciconia Reserva Tinto 2013. This red blend of Aragonez, Syrah and Touriga Nacional was filled with ripe berry, spices and medium tannins. It had a richness to it that will certainly improve with age. Although I have to catch up with other wines/countries that I have tasted recently, I will return to Portugal to give you my spin on their wines.
Have a great Thursday! Cheers! Penina  Portugal is located in the Southwest corner of Europe in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the westernmost country of Europe and surrounded by Spain to the North and East and the Atlantic Ocean to the South and West. What makes Portugal so unusual with regards to wine is that it boasts a remarkable number of grape varieties that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. In fact, many of the Portuguese grape varieties are restricted to the national territory. There are 250 indigenous grape varieties officially registered. The Alvarinho, Baga and Touriga Nacional grapes are probably the most widely known by name. Portugal is divided into fourteen Regional Wine areas. Each region has a unique geography and climate, influencing the production of the grapes. I had an opportunity to taste some very interesting wines from these regions at the Wines of Portugal event at the City Winery in New York. Most of the wines I tasted were blended, using several national grape varieties, as is their tradition to combine grape varieties rather than use 100% grape. In fact, some winemakers will blend more than twenty varieties to attain the perfect balance. However, there are a few regions that boast a single variety grape, such as Bairrada, using the Baga grape (red) and Moncao/Melgaco in the Vinho Verde region, using the Alvarinho grape (white). The most “popular” of the white grapes are Alvarinho, Arinto/Pederna, Encruzado and Fernao Pires/Maria Gomes. The popular red grapes are Baga, Casteao, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional and Trincadeira/Tinta Amarela. As I traversed from table to table and region to region I was introduced to a variety of blends. There were 30 tables, with many bottles to sample at each table. Most of the whites were refreshing, a few sparkling wines stood out, as well as some hearty reds and port. My objective with my post today is to touch upon a few of the regions and wineries and to discuss the rest in future posts. Adega de Redondo is one of the largest wine producers in Portugal and is located in the Alentejo wine region which covers a third of Portugal in the southern half. The climate is hot and quite challenging to grow white grapes. I met with Alexandre de Cunha who guided me through a tasting of their wines. I took note of the AR Reserva 2011 made with Touriga Nacional, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet. The color was deep red with intense aromas of dark fruit and cocoa that carried over to the palate. Tannins were strong and he suggested decanting it for an hour prior to serving. The Real Lavrador Branco 2014 was a white wine made with Roupeiro and Rabo de Ovelha grapes. It was dry and zesty but pleasant with citrus and fruit on the palate. The next table offered wines from the region of Porto and Douro. The winery, Quinta Do Portal, is based in the Douro Valley of northern Portugal. Douro was the first wine region to be designated and regulated in 1754. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Douro, known for supplying the world with its production of port is now being regarded for its unfortified wines. Quinta Do Portal has a lovely sparkling wine. It was very appealing, dry and fruity. The Touriga Nacional (100%) 2009 was dark ruby with heavenly aromas of dark fruit. Raspberry and dark currant dominated the palate. Strong tannins made for a chewy finish. The 10-year-old Tawny Port was cherry red in color and was a nice combination of sweet and nuttiness with a long finish.  Carlos Queiros and Filipe Ferreira Quinta Da Foz also located in Porto and Douro was established in 1876 and one of the oldest producers in the Douro. I asked Carlos Queiros to select one wine for me to taste. He poured a Red Reserva 2011, a red blend of very old vineyards. Vinified in granite tanks, it is then aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. Although the tannins were “thick”, the fruit and smokiness came through. It is unfortunate that I didn’t have time to wait for it to open up. And speaking of time, I must end this post with the promise that I will continue tomorrow covering more regions and vineyards.
Saúde! Penina  It’s been a beautiful weekend. The weather, the foliage and company have been stellar. Apple picking, sight seeing and possibly one too many orchards were all part of the package. But the “holiday” isn’t over yet. The skies are blue and I’m off on another adventure. I’ll return on Wednesday with my take on “Wines of Portugal Showcase”.  And yes...I finally made the pumpkin muffins with pomegranate infused cranberries! Happy Monday!
Cheers! Penina  Friday was a warm but stormy day. Unfortunately, most of my afternoon business took place outside. At one point I was hoping to be transported to a tropical island with blue skies, sand and gentle surf. Didn’t happen.  By the time evening rolled around I was happily transported to Jumilla, a wine DO title of Murcia that is a small region on the Mediterranean coast of southeastern Spain. It was about as close to water as I was going to get.  The wine we opened was a 2013 Bodegas de Juan Gil. The Monastrell grape (also known as Mourvedre grape) was hand picked from 40-year old parcels in their estate vineyards and kept in French oak barrels for 12 months. The color was dark red, bordering on purple. Aromas of ripe cherry, blackberry and herbs were dominant. The palate was layered with cherry, candy apple, licorice, plum and was quite succulent. As the wine opened over the course of an hour, cherry and pepper pushed it’s way forward with a hint of clove, leaving a much sweeter and jammy finish, along with soft tannins. http://bodegasjuangil.com/en/ It’s going to be a busy weekend filled with house guests and fun activities. And just maybe…I’ll squeeze in some time to make the pumpkin muffins!
Happy Saturday! Cheers! Penina  The weather has been beautiful for the past few days and I am enjoying the subtle changes of the foliage around me. And so are Ethel and Fred, long time friends that appear on my doorstep every fall season.  Being in a “fall” mood, I wanted to make my famous pumpkin muffins yesterday. But as usual, life got in the way. Perhaps I can make a batch in the next day or so.  To celebrate my victorious “win” in court yesterday over an undeserved ticket, a friend and I went out to dinner. We dined at a local restaurant specializing in southern Italian cuisine. In addition to a superb dining experience, we drank a very nice wine. It was a 2009 Piccini Villa al Cortile Brunello di Montalcino, DOCG. The wine was 100% Sangiovese grape and dark ruby in color. A mosaic of aromas included blackberry, dark cherry, spices and herbs. The palate delivered licorice, dark berry, mushrooms and a hint of vanilla. As the wine opened, the flavors got more intense with a touch of tobacco on the finish. I found this to be a bold wine with round tannins. The wine was aged in oak for 26 months and is 14% alcohol. The Piccini family has been producing wines since 1882. http://www.tenutepiccini.it Enjoy this lovely Thursday!
Cheers! Penina  Monday began with a bundle of energy called “Patriot”. She is a six month old service dog in training from the Puppies Behind Bars Program. As always, my time spent with these special puppies is awesome! Patriot certainly gave me a run for the money with her boundless enthusiasm and curiosity. After returning her to the facility, I “rebooted” and flew through the rest of the day.  I barely had enough time to race home, change and jump back in the car to attend a small dinner party. Once I arrived, I was immediately handed a Grey Goose on the rocks. My friend knows me so well!  Our host made a delicious meal! We started with local farm tomatoes, roasted beets and arugula salad. The entrée was seared scallops with braised cabbage and roasted asparagus. And, the wine was a 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, J. Lohr Carol’s Vineyard located in St. Helena, Napa Valley. The color was pale straw with aromas of citrus, herbs and grass. On the palate, grapefruit dominated with mango and tart apple following. Someone said they tasted gooseberry. Having never had one, I couldn’t comment. The wine paired beautifully with every course. This was a clean, crisp wine and quite enjoyable! In the recent past, I’ve reviewed J. Lohr Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon with much enthusiasm. So I was not surprised by my enjoyment of last night’s wine! http://www.jlohr.com Happy Tuesday!
Cheers! Penina Here it is Sunday evening and I’m finally catching my breath.  Saturday was a challenge of squeezing twelve hours of “busy” into a window of six hours, but somehow I managed to do it. After meeting a friend for a bon voyage lunch, I ran to the Art Show reception to meet and greet. I was quite pleased with the positive feedback of my art wear.  When the reception was over, a friend and I celebrated the end of the day with a glass of wine. We opened a 2013 Stag’s Leap Karia Chardonnay from Napa. The name Karia is derived from the Greek word meaning graceful. And that is just what this wine was. It had pleasing aromas of apple, pear and spice. The palate offered citrus, tart apple, honey and a hint of oak. This was a clean, well-balanced wine with stone fruit and a creamy finish. It was the perfect way to begin and end the evening! http://stagsleap.com Sunday turned out to be a beautiful day and perfect for taking a power walk. I have quite a busy week ahead. And it’s almost bedtime!
Sweet dreams! Cheers! Penina  Thanks to Hurricane Joaquin, a deluge of rain has prevented many outdoor festivities from taking place this weekend. So, I am grateful that the Art Show that I am exhibiting in is indoors.  With the rain, wind and chilly temperatures last evening, it was nice to be inside. My friend opened an exceptional bottle of wine and all that was missing was a roaring fire.  We drank a 2009 Viña Alicia Las Compuertas Malbec. This wine comes from Luján de Cuyo in the foothills of the Andes and was designated as Mendoza’s first appellation in 1993. The wine is sourced from vines that are up to 150 years old. This was a very captivating and full-bodied wine. The deep ruby color bordered on purple with intoxicating aromas of dark berries, spices, oak and a hint of herbs. The palate was layered with sweet berries, especially blackberry and spice. There was a strong earthiness to it, with smooth tannins and a long “jammy” finish. Yummy! http://www.vinaalicia.com I have a busy day ahead of me.
Have a great Saturday! Cheers! Penina  After a day filled with putting out “mini” fires and successfully keeping deals on the table, I looked forward to the thought of a relaxing evening at home, a glass of wine, a good movie and an early bedtime.  However, towards the end of the day, I received a phone call from a friend to come join him and a few others for drinks and food. I just couldn’t say no!  My glass of “wine” turned into Grey Goose on the rocks. My relaxation took the form of easy conversation and my friends were riotously entertaining. We enjoyed a delicious meal and then it was time for me to go home. I was still hoping for that early bedtime.  Although I have no wine reviews today, I’m quite happy with how Wednesday turned out! Sometimes it’s not about a particular bottle of wine, spirit or food that makes the experience so special or memorable. I think that some of the time it is truly about who you share the experience with that makes it all the more palatable. Happy Thursday!
Cheers! Penina  By yesterday afternoon the humidity had crept back in and the temperature was on the rise. So when my friend came over in the early evening to catch up on life, I went straight to the refrigerator for a perfectly chilled bottle of wine.  We opened a 2013 Nicky Hahn Chardonnay from Hahn Winery, Monterey. While he regaled me with stories, I contentedly listened while sipping this delicious wine. The color was soft lemon with aromas of citrus, pineapple, pear and grass. The palate offered a mosaic of tropical fruits, herbs, caramel, a floral essence and a hint of oak that carried into a long finish. It was crisp and quite refreshing. I’m thinking of buying a few more bottles. http://www.hahnwines.com/  An interesting note about the label…Nicky Hahn’s native language is German. “Hahn” translated means rooster, which is why an illustration of the bird is seen on every bottle produced by the winery. Have a great Tuesday!
Cheers! Penina |
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