This image shows a red wine glass. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Over the last few days friends here in Cascais and Lisbon have been on a kick of drinking wines from all over the country, north to the Douro and South into Setubal, Alentajo and even from the hillsides surrounding Lisbon. While this is not meant to be a detailed tasting review two wineries continue to stand out in my mind as producing world class wines that are both affordable and drinkable by those who are both serious wine afficionados and those just learning.
Over the past few days we've opened their Castes 4 red wine, plus the 2011 Branco Reserva and 2010 Tinto Reserva as well as had them by the glass in a few spots around the region. We also found on the list of Sem Duvida the 2008, but instead the proprietor offered us the 2005 Private Selection for the same price and were we ever blown away by this perfect masterpiece of red wine.
The four wines, tasted over a few days time in different environments ranging from our rented villa to tapas bars, tabernas and restaurants all showed amazing complexity, minerality, fantastic color and most of all diversity when it came to what the wines were paired up with, ranging from Pepper Steak to Peri-Peri Chicken, pork or even fresh fish or shellfish.
The next winery is Herdade de Comporta along the coast, just south of Setubal. The 2011 white is divine. Rich, filling. And, amazing with cheese. The 2010 red and the 2008 were both mind numbing. The '10 is available now on store shelves, while the '08 was on the list at Sem Duvida for a ridiculously low price of 17 Euros..I call that a score (as are most of the Sem Duvida bottle prices for a top shelf restaurant).
The net net of all this is wines from Portugal are amazing values and offer great finds. Coming here, given the price of food and wine, makes it all a real bargain.
Unusual varietals seem to be a problem for me. They draw me in just because they're unusual. In the case of Portugal I find myself curious to try a Ramisco. Sadly, it's essentially not available in the US. Have you tried the wine from this beach-loving grape?
Posted by: Mjgraves | 12/30/2013 at 10:34 AM