Portuguese Wine

Our Professional Review 

Debra of 67Wine.com | This still Vinho Verde white has ripe tropical fruits on the nose and on the palate. It shows great freshness, with generous depth,  mouth coating texture, lively acidity, minerality saline and an energetic finish.  Pair with shellfish, white fish, poultry, salads and cheeses.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

91 Points Wine Advocate | Soalheiro's Alvarinho is a classical wine that made them famous and was first produced at the property in 1982. The 2023 Alvarinho was varietal, as it tends to be the first five years of its life: aromatic, clean and fresh, with moderate ripeness, 12.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.26 and 6.2 grams of acidity—parameters of freshness and balance. It's a bit shy, floral and insinuating, feeling a little reductive at first. This comes from vines up to 200 meters above sea level, on richer soils. The full clusters were pressed, the must fermented in stainless steel without malolactic fermentation and kept with lees for two months.

Wine Spectator 90 Points | Bright, buoyant acidity supports a pretty mix of ripe nectarine, Gala apple, blood orange pith and almond blossoms in this lithe, light-bodied white, with a salty undertow. Drink now. 25,000 cases made, 600 cases imported.

Raspberry pink in color, with a slight prickle of fizz that emphasises its bouquet of red fruits (strawberries) and tropical fruits (banana). It the mouth it is lively and fresh, intense in flavor and well balanced, the overall impression being of lightness and freshness, with an elegant finish.

A fresh, semi-sparkling wine, displaying the best qualities of the Vinho Verde region in northwest Portugal. With a lush green landscape, Vinho Verde may literally mean “green wine” but it translates to “young wine.” Gazela is indeed meant to be drunk young, and is an extremely versatile pairing for all types of cuisine. Winemaker Description.

67 Wine Petit Somm Series® is a project created by our buyer, Oscar Garcia Moncada. The entire lineup of wines provide our customers and wine lovers with a hand-picked selection of wines of great quality and value. The artwork on the labels represent some of the most iconic neighborhoods in NYC, as well as some of our favorite international cities.

This Vinho Verde is deliciously fun to drink! Tropical and citrus notes combine perfectly to a refreshing off-dry finish.

Winemaker Description 

Bin 27 shares the heritage and style of the great Fonseca Vintage Ports, as well as much of their depth and character. However it is bottled when ready to drink and can be served by the glass directly from the bottle. Blended for consistency of character and quintessentially Fonseca in style, this reserve blend provides reliable and affordable value. 

Deep youthful ruby colour. Intense rich fruity nose crammed with pure blackberry, cassis, cherry and plum aromas interwoven with notes of spice. The palate full bodied and round, with a smooth velvety texture balanced by firm mouth filling tannins. The juicy black fruit flavours linger into the rich luscious finish. 

Arinto brings bright acidity and aging potential, Azal is citric and fresh and Loureiro is aromatic and delicate.

Clean, lively flavors of lime, ripe pink and yellow grapefruit. Slight effervescence. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description 

Filipa Pato and William Wouters farm their 30 acres of vines in Bairrada using biodynamic principles, harvesting the fruit for this wine on the early side, then fermenting and aging it in amphorae.

Its complex and layered, with zesty flavors of raspberry and strawberry, rhubarb and Rosa rugosa. 

This superb example of aged tawny Porto is made from selected grapes from the best vineyards of the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior. Taylor Fladgate is an area leader in winemaking technology, as one of only three Porto producers to pioneer the development of piston fermenter techniques, called Port Toes, that extract significantly greater flavor and aroma than conventional pump-over fermentation. Fermentation is halted by the addition of grape spirits before all the residual sugar has been fermented, creating a sweet, fortified wine. Individual wines produced in different vintages are aged in 600-liter oak casks for years, over which time they will lose their young, dark purple-black color to gain the distinctive “tawny” hue from which the wine takes its name. As tawnies age, the wines take on increasingly more nutty flavors and become more concentrated as the barrels lose 3% of their volume every year (the “Angels’ Share”) to evaporation. The 20 Year Old Tawny is a blend created using tawnies with an average of 20 years of aging.

Winemaker Description

An appealing golden colour, with an amber rim. Elegant and complex, it shows aromas of spice, with prevailing notes of dried fruit and elegant hints of wood and honey. Smooth and round on the palate, it shows complexity amidst intense flavours of dried fruit. An excellent finish. 

Expert Review

Decanter 95 Points | Kopke is the oldest of all the Port wine houses having been established in 1638. They produce outstanding tawnies (and aged whites) at all levels, up to and including a new 50 Year Old Tawny. Pale orange -amber in colour, this is gently toasted on the nose with lovely fresh citrus and dried fruit and smooth, savoury complexity on the finish.

Winemaker Description

An exceptionally fine old tawny blend, aged for 10 years in oak casks. Elegant and smooth, combining delicate wood notes and rich mellow fruit, it is bottled for immediate drinking. A superb dessert wine, particularly with dishes made with chocolate, coffee or almonds, Taylor's 10 Year Old Tawny may also be served at the end of the meal in the same way as Vintage Port.

Expert Ratings

93 Points Robert Parker | It is my opinion that Taylor's tawny ports are the best of their type. When tasted against other tawnys, they all exhibit more aromatic personalities, greater fruit and ripeness, and a wonderful sweetness and length. The Ten Year Old Tawny is a personal favorite, as well as the best bargain among these ports.

93 Points James Suckling | Beautiful sweet berries with walnut, toffee and caramel undertones on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with medium sweetness and a chocolate and toffee aftertaste. A richer style of 10-year-old and delicious. Drink now.

91 Points Wine Spectator | This has a nice racy edge to the mix of slightly dried red cherry and raspberry fruit, backed by red tea and singed vanilla. Shows good tension from start to finish. Drink now. 500 cases imported.

90 Points Wine Enthusiast | This ivery complete aged tawny has all the right nuts and fruit characters that show a Port that still looks back to its fruity origins. The style is ripe, full and sweet, a mellow wine that only hints at the spirit behind it.

Winemaker Description 

Selected from the lighter Porto of each year, these wines are chosen for ageing in small oak casks to develop their style. Sandemans Original Fine Tawny has the fruit and style of great Porto - but with an added finesse.

Pale in colour and light in body this Port is superb as chilled aperitif, yet satisfying when served at the end of a meal. 

Winemaker Description 

Dow's Tawny offers a great entry level Port for the shopper looking for value. It has bright citrus, caramel and almond flavors and the drier finish characteristic of Dow's Ports.
Serving and pairing suggestions

Dow's Tawny is bottled ready to drink after an average of three years of cask aging. It has a t-cap closure, which means that you don't need a corkscrew to open it and that it will stay fresh for four to six months if stored in a cool, dark place or refrigerator. Serve it in a glass with at least a six ounce capacity so that you may appreciate the wine's aromas. Dow's Tawny is delicious with soft ripened cheeses, flan or fruit tarts. In warmer months, try it chilled for a refreshing dessert in a glass. 

Winemaker Description

Casa da Passarella is one of the oldest and most important producers in the region. It is located in the Serra da Estrela sub region of the Dao. If that sounds familiar, you are right, one of the most famous cheeses from Portugal comes from the same region and carries the Serra da Estrela DOP. The Dao is a special region, it is surrounded by mountains that not only protect it from the vagaries of the Atlantic but the harshness of the Continental climate that defines the Douro, the Masseta of Spain and Southern Portugal. The protected climate and granitic soils help shape the character of these wines. 

This Branco is a blend of Encruzado, Malvasia Fina and Gouveio. After a short pre fermentation maceration the wine is fermented in stainless steel vats and a short period of aging with regular battonage. Burgundy is the region that most people would use as a comparison for the style of wines from this region, and in this case I think it is apt. The core of acidity and structure from the Encruzado maps fairly well to white Burgundy, the battonage helps too. The flavor profile is different, as it should be, with Gouveio and Malvasia the wine has more aromatic lift, and a fun mix of orchard and stone fruits as well as hint of mountain herbs. There is a lot of wine here.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | Fermented in open containers, this selection of the estate’s best Alicante Bouschet and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes reveals dark chocolate, black pepper and game aromas. Still maturing, it is rich, dense with powerful tannins alongside black plum fruits.

Winemaker Description 

Intense ruby in color with notes of blackberry, cocoa, dark chocolate, licorice and a hint of black pepper. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description 

Blandy's 5-year old Verdelho is a dark golden brown in color with the characteristic aromatic complexity of Madeira wines - raisins, dried apricots, roasted nuts, toffee and a distinctive marine note. Great with many desserts especially fruit based tarts, cakes, cheeses. Also, a great accompaniment to foie gras.

Clear, topaz color, with a golden rim. Complex nose, revealing a fresh bouquet with raisins, dried fruits, wood and spices. 

Verdelho grapes are hand-harvested and fermented off the skins in stainless steel tanks. Neutral grape spirit is added to stop the fermentation at the desired level of sweetness. Then, the wines are aged in American oak casks and heated in the traditional Canteiro system, meaning they are transferred from higher floors in the lodge where it is warm to cooler floors below. The wine is regularly racked before bottling.

The island of Madeira is known for its distinctive varietal wines. Each varietal defines a particular style. Madeira wines are typically made from only one varietal, each made in one of the four Madeira styles: Dry, Medium-Dry, Medium Rich, and Rich. Madeira wines are fortified with grape spirit and have higher alcohol than so-called 'light' wines.

Expert Review - Vintage 2017

The Wine Advocate 90 Points | The 2017 Quinta do Ataíde (with its new green label, indicating that it is from organic vineyards) is a blend of two-thirds Touriga Nacional and one-third Touriga Franca aged for eight months in an 80/20 mixture of used French oak and stainless steel. It comes in at 14.5% alcohol. Aromatic and full of blue fruits, this is elegant in the mid-palate, focused and precise, with ripe tannins. It coats the palate nicely, delivering flavor and demonstrating length. It’s delicious, with some chance to improve. It should hold pretty well, perhaps better than indicated.

The Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | From vineyards in the eastern Douro Superior region, this wine is concentrated with layered black fruits, touches of dark chocolate and great power. Even at five years old, it has a fine future. Drink from 2024. Organic.

Our Professional Review

Debra of 67Wine.com | Fresh berry fruits, currants, really pleasant and enjoyable with many foods.

Winemaker Description 

Located one-hundred kilometers south of Porto in northern Portugal, Bairrada was once relegated to supplying grapes for Port wine when demand was high in England. The region is now in the midst of establishing its own wine making identity and young producers like Luis Patrao are using indigenous varieties in that pursuit.

Baga is the main red grape of the region and displays a firm and assertive character. In Vadio (slang for idler, dreamer), the vineyards are farmed organically and the fermentation derived from naturally occurring yeasts. This creates an atmosphere conducive for the variety to fully display its sinewy red fruits, cedary side notes and high-energy acid lift. A wholesaler's need to make room for the next vintage led to a fortuitous purchase and the following deal for you! 

Winemaker Description 

Late Bottled Vintage is so named because the final LBV blend is bottled later between the fourth and sixth year than Vintage Ports, which are bottled two years after the harvest.

Furthermore, Late Bottled Vintage, unlike Vintage Port, is aged exclusively in wood and once bottled it is ready for immediate drinking and does not require decanting because it is filtered prior to bottling.

Expert Review - Vintage 2010

Roger Voss of the Wine Enthusiast writes 92 Points | Bottled unfiltered so that it can age, this is a very fine Port. The tannins are now soft, fully integrated into the black fruits and mature texture. This wine is perfectly ready to drink. 

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 98 Points | Loads of wet earth and grape aromas with hints of stems. Old vine aromas of bark and moss. Full-bodied, sweet and structured with a big kick on the end. Very impressive. Exceptional layers of fruit and energy. A stronger and more muscular Warre.

Wine Spectator 97 Points | Lush and inviting in feel, with a beautifully creamy texture that lets plum sauce, blueberry reduction and raspberry pte de fruit flavors glide along effortlessly. Notes of violet, anise and black tea are beguiling in the background before melding seamlessly on the finish. This shimmers with fruit, balanced by depth and spine. Best from 2035 through 2055.

Wine Advocate 96 Points | Relatively accessible, this still shows some impressive firmness to go with its fine concentration. An elegant wine this may be, as Charles Symington called it, but it is still admirable for its structure, even if the whole package is a little understated. Its fruit and mid-palate are nicely supported by moderate tannins. It evolves well with air, easily showing vivid and fresh fruit. It is beautifully textured as well. This is a fine Warre's Port, holding its own next to Dow, better than the 2016 Warre and a force in its own right. It is one of the best in a while. It is relatively accessible but not ready.

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | A ripe, floral wine that has many layers of black fruits with a fresh touch of acidity. The wine is dense while also elegant and poised with tannins and fruit already in balance. That suggests the Port will age relatively quickly. Drink from 2025.

Winery Notes

This wine is a remarkable example of the Noval style. Treated exactly like a Vintage Port with only noble grape varieties from the Quinta, trodden by foot and unfiltered. Its main difference is that it is aged for five years in casks instead of the two years typical of Vintage Ports. Definitely an LBV with a difference, with fine structured tannins, great freshness and purity of fruit. It is delicious to drink today but will age beautifully in its bottle.

OUR DIFFERENCE
An unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage made only with grapes from our vineyard, trodden by foot in the Quinta do Noval "lagares".

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VINTAGE

2016 was a year of extremes: a warm winter with high rainfall, at 618 mm twice as much as in an average year. After a wet spring, summer was very hot and dry, with some peaks of heat in August and September. By the end of August, the harvest looked extremely good, in excellent sanitary condition, but ripening began to slow down due to the very hot and dry conditions.

Fortunately 17 mm of much needed rain fell on 13th September, and maturation continued in ideal conditions from this point onwards. The main part of the harvest began on 19th September in dry and sunny weather, and the fruit continued to ripen throughout the harvest period. We were able to harvest each plot in ideal conditions as ripening continued.

In spite of the unusual and extreme climatic conditions of the year, the end result is of an excellent quality. The Port wines are exceptional, with excellent structure, very intense bright fruit, and aromatically very expressive.

TASTING NOTES

This 2016 LBV Unfiltered is a delicious Port, rich and complex with gorgeous notes of blackberry and blackcurrant fruits and hints of spice as well. A minty freshness and dark chocolate add to the mix. This concentrated wine presents a broad, rounded texture that leads to a long aftertaste.

Carlos Agrellos, Technical Director

GRAPE VARIETIES

Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cão, Sousão

Winemaker Notes

Black is a revolutionary new style of port. The bright aromatics, incredible freshness and perfect balance bring it outside the stodgy "vintage-character" category. Enjoy it any time: chilled, before dinner, after, for a seductive edge to cocktails, as an indulgence with chocolate. The custom-designed bottle is distinctive, modern yet timeless, reflecting the uniqueness of Noval Black. It is simply the most beautiful port bottle we've seen. 

Critic Notes

• 91 Jeb Dunnuck

  I always love this cuvée, which offers tons of character for a great price. Classic Noval notes of spicy red and blue fruits, orange blossom, cigar, tobacco, and candied mint emerge from the NV Black, and It's round, supple, and full-bodied on the palate, with nicely balanced sugar, a layered yet elegant mouthfeel, and a great finish. 

• 90 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  'Black' is a new blend produced from classic varieties that do not make it into the Quinta do Noval vintage. There are ripe blackberries, tar, smoke and orange liqueur on the nose that takes time to open. The palate is medium-bodied, very sleek on the entry, fleshy black fruits, sloe, spice and just a hint of white pepper, leading to a very focused finish.

Producer Description 

Like the rest of Quinta do Noval, the Nacional parcel ripened early in 2020 and was harvested in one day on 17th September. Deepest inky crimson-black colour; sullen and dense on the nose but with underlying opulence; amazing depth and concentration, nothing raw about this despite its youth. Broad, ripe, gravelly tannins, focused with glorious spice and richness. Big and broad on the finish but with remarkable freshness and finesse for a hot year. A ‘wow’ of a wine with a lifetime or more in bottle ahead.

Expert Review

Wine Spectator 99 Points | A bird of a different feather, this shows remarkable purity for the vintage, along with a rippling tension that sets it completely apart. Delivers a mix of cassis, plum sauce and açaí berry compote on the fruit side, along with bramble, salted licorice, cast iron and bittersweet chocolate notes filling in throughout. Massively structured, too, and there's even a flash of violet at the very end—which takes a while to get to. A special wine. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Cão, Sousão and Tinta Roriz. Best from 2040 through 2070.

Decanter 99 Points | Like the rest of Quinta do Noval, the Nacional parcel ripened early in 2020 and was harvested in one day on 17th September. Deepest inky crimson-black colour; sullen and dense on the nose but with underlying opulence; amazing depth and concentration, nothing raw about this despite its youth. Broad, ripe, gravelly tannins, focused with glorious spice and richness. Big and broad on the finish but with remarkable freshness and finesse for a hot year. A ‘wow’ of a wine with a lifetime or more in bottle ahead.

Vinous 99 Points | The 2020 Nacional was picked from 1 to 22 September, a relatively short harvest. It has a magnificent, exquisitely defined bouquet with a purity that bowls you over, perhaps even more intense than the 2019 Nacional tasted alongside. The palate is extraordinarily pure and intense, slightly viscous in texture, with layers of cassis, black cherries, blood orange and a dab of spice. Seamless on the finish. This is a worthy follow-up to the stellar 2019 Nacional. The two will fight between themselves for supremacy. Tasted at the Quinta do Noval tasting at Spring restaurant in London.

Winemaker Description 

Deep chestnut with golden highlights. Bouquet of dried fruits, spices, honey and candied fruit. Sweet, soft and complex, with a long aftertaste of roasted dried fruits.

Winemaker Description

Brilliant appearance with a dark purple rim and concentrated depth of colour. The aroma is fine and subdued with only a hint of primary dark fruits and some spice. The true potential and style of this wine really comes together on the palate with wonderful integration of dark fruits with a grainy tannic structure, pairing volume with amazing balance and elegance and an impressive finish. In conclusion, the primary fruit on the palate is appealing at this stage, but it's the balanced tannic structure which indicates great ageing potential for the future. 

This is unoaked and comes in at 11% alcohol. The purity and the modest ripeness both allow the freshness to have a more prominent place. This is a lot of fun to drink.

Light in colour. Aroma of red fruits, some spice and a mineral undertone. Fresh, truly enticing and full of precision.

Winemaker Description

Dow's Fine White is made from selected white grapes (principally Malvasia Fina and Gouveio – better known as Verdelho). The wine is fermented at cool temperatures to retain the natural character of the fruit. It mostly ages in wood, taking on a golden color and a rich, nutty complexity.

A certain amount of wine is not wood-aged and is blended in to add freshness and fruit character. Serve chilled as an aperitif accompanied by a bowl of salted almonds. 

Winemaker Description

10 Years" indicates an average age – this Aged Tawny Port is a blend of older wines, which offer complexity and younger wines, which bring fresh fruit flavors and vibrancy. During their long maturing period in oak casks, Aged Tawnies undergo subtle color changes: the deep red hue which characterizes Port's youth gradually gives way to a paler reddish amber color. Dow's is known for its characteristically drier house style.

This 10 Year has a full, nutty bouquet with citrus and vanilla accents on the palate and a soft lingering finish. 

Winemaker Description

A bright golden-yellow colour. An intense and elegant nose, with aromas of tropical fruit perfectly intertwined with notes of vanilla and a hint of honey. In the mouth, it is fresh, balanced and appealing. A sweet, distinct, and well-balanced wine.

Expert Review

Wine Spectator 88 Points |  The buttery notes give this a rich allure, with ripe pear, lemon curd and crème brûlée flavors. Offers a fresh finish, with accents of salted almond. Drink now. 700 cases imported.

Winemaker Description

Deep ruby core with vivid ruby rim. The nose is very fine and multi-layered, with rich strawberry jam aromas, herbal notes, and fresh scents of cedarwood. There is also a discrete dimension, a luxurious redolence of leather and mocha coffee. In contrast, and in keeping with the Taylor house style, the palate has an attractive edge of austerity with taut tannins providing a firm grip to the long finish which delivers a surge of rich berry fruit flavor. A beautifully refined wine, poised and complete, displaying a complexity comparable with that of a mature classic vintage port. A beautiful expression of the 2018 vintage with its accent on elegance and finesse.

Excellent with fully flavored cheeses, especially blue cheeses. It is also delicious with desserts made with chocolate or berry fruits. Winemaker Description.

Expert Reviews

92 Points Wine Spectator | Shows a nice core of dark currant and fig fruit that’s been steeped with anise, alder and bittersweet cocoa. Give this a little time in a decanter or cellar for another couple of winters. Possesses the stuffing to cover slow sipping over a weekend.

A full-bodied red wine with intense aromas of ripe red fruit and a hint of spice. Enjoy its smooth, velvety texture and long finish. Perfect for any occasion! Buy now and experience the unique flavor of this exquisite Portuguese wine. Winemaker Description. 

Straw color with greenish tones. The nose is fine, with citrus, green apple and mineral aromas. Excellent freshness in the mouth, light and very attractive. Winemaker Description.