Curious Case April 2023
Our Curious Case is a monthly enigma, a mystery to be unveiled upon arrival. It might contain a classic red, white, rosé, orange or sparkling wine from a renowned region, or an obscure gem from a distant and unconventional vineyard with indigenous and rare varietals. Join the intrigue and indulge in the thrill of discovery.
Portugal is a country that often sits slightly in the shadow of its big neighbour with whom it shares the Iberian peninsula and, as a result, doesn't always get the attention it deserves. With the exception of Port this generally holds true for its country's wine when compared to Spain. So by making Portuguese wine the subject of our April Curious Case we're aiming to try and redress the balance a little bit.
With more than 250 native grape varieties Portugal has got plenty of raw material to play with. They're not big on the well known international varieties like your Malbecs, Cabernets and Sauvignon Blancs which is, maybe, a reason they don't have such a profile outside their home territory. But the sheer range of their own grapes means there's a lot of different things to choose from and that makes it a great subject for one of our Curious Case mixed packs.
Vinho Verde is one of the wines that has something of a profile - we've put one of those in - and Douro reds also have a bit of a name - there's one of those as well. But to go along with these we've added a couple of other reds and a white from further south in the country together with a really interesting white from the Azores way out in the Atlantic.
As is our aim with the Curious Case we like to think we've put together a pretty interesting snapshot of the sort of wines Portugal is turning out these days. And it comes thoroughly recommended.
£90.00 per case
free delivery, or collect from the shop.
What's in it?
As usual the contents of the Curious Case remain a mystery until the end of the month. Nonetheless, we would like to offer some tantalizing hints to whet your appetite and ignite your inquisitive spirit. Are you curious?
Wine #1 - A creamy and elegant oak-aged white blend from a leading cooperative in the Lisbon area.
Wine #2 - A beautifully aromatic Vinho Verde with citrus and stone fruit flavours and a spritzy finish.
Wine #3 - A delicately fragrant and fresh white from the Azores which has a bracingly saline touch at the finish.
Wine #4 - Full of dark fruits and spices, this a rich and well-structured red wine from the warm Alentejo region.
Wine #5 - A highly drinkable and well-balanced red blend from the Douro valley which has a real lightness and elegance.
Wine #6 - This big, brooding, full-bodied red comes from the Bairrada region and is oozing character and depth.
Pegoes 'Adega da Pegoes' Selected Harvest 2021
In a nutshell:
A creamy and elegant oak aged Portuguese white blend from a leading cooperative in the Lisbon area.
The lowdown:
The Santa Isidro de Pegões cooperative is always up among the country's top co-op's and has an excellent portfolio of wines. This is a blend of native Fernão Pires, Antão Vaz grapes together with a small amount of Verdelho, Arinto and Chardonnay which is fermented and aged for three months in French and American oak barrels. The result is a full flavoured wine with fruity aromas of orange blossom and fresh fruits which work in harmony with the oak spice. Rich and opulent on the palate with a creamy vanilla spice, it has a persistent, elegant finish.
When to drink:
A real food friendly wine that suits full flavoured fish dishes, or things like poultry in a creamy sauce.
Suitable for Vegans
Leme, Vinho Verde Loureiro Alvarinho 2021
In a nutshell:
A beautifully aromatic Vinho Verde with citrus and stone fruit flavours and a spritzy finish, from Portugal.
The lowdown:
The winemaker Carlos Moreira had an aim to showcase the emblematic grape varieties of the region and Portugal, so started by selecting the highest quality grapes to create fresh, fruit-driven wines with elegant minerality which also offer excellent value for money. The Loureiro grapes come from the Cavado subregion, the vines are planted on slopes with a double cordon training system. The Alvarinho grapes come from the River Minho Valley, the birthplace of the variety, the vines are planted on the slopes of the left bank of the Minho River. The grapes were hand harvested at optimal ripeness, the Loureiro was destemmed and then both varieties were gentle pressed, then vinified separately. The must was immediately fermented in stainless steel tanks with carefully selected yeast strains. The wine was vinified without oak to retain the purity of the fruit. The resulting wine is aromatic and fresh with vibrant citrus notes and delicate orange blossom. The fruit is underpinned by lively acidity and a mineral edge that leads to a long and elegant finish.
When to drink:
It is great to enjoy by itself, or pair it with salads, sushi and grilled fish.
Suitable for Vegans
Ilha do Pico 'Frei Gigante', Azores 2018
In a nutshell:
A delicately fragrant and fresh white from the Azores in the mid-Atlantic.
The lowdown:
The name of this wine refers to Friar Pedro Gigante who was reputed to be the first to grow vines on these windswept islands back in the fifteenth century. It's a blend of all three of the main varieties found on Pico, Arinto dos Açores, Terrantez do Pico and Verdelho and is fermented in stainless steel before being aged on its lees for a short period. Combining the best bits of each grape, along with the influence of the island's amazing terroir it's bright and zippy, citrus and floral, with a great minerality, texture and fresh acidity. There's also a bracing touch of salinity at the finish.
When to drink:
Quite naturally a brilliant pairing with seafood and salads.
Esporao Monte Velho Red
In a nutshell:
Full of dark fruits and spices, rich and well structured red wine from Portugal.
The lowdown:
This red wine comes from a region in Portugal called Alentejo, located in the southern part of Portugal. The vineyard is 18 years old, so the vines have good maturity which shows in the quality of the grapes grown. Growing on granite soils with open clay structure creates an intense palate. Over flowing with dark fruits, such as blackberries and blueberries, and wild berries, the aromas are nicely enveloped in the subtle notes of fresh spices.A rich wine with solid structure and a long finish.
When to drink:
Paires well with grilled beef skewers or barbeque.
Niepoort Drink Me Douro Tinto 2020
In a nutshell:
A highly drinkable and well balanced Portuguese red blend from the Douro valley.
The lowdown:
Dirk Niepoort's idea behind the Drink Me label was to create an easy drinking red but without compromising the complexity, minerality and depth of classic Douro wines. We thinks he's done a pretty good job here. It's a blend of mainly Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz, all native Douro varieties. After fermentation about half the wine is aged in oak for six months, while the remainder matured in stainless steel and this gives a good balance between fresh fruitiness and a touch of silky elegance. There's a fresh minerality along with bright red fruits on the nose while the palate is oozing with more crunchy red fruit flavours set off by a certain lightness and elegance which makes it easy to appreciate and very drinkable.
When to drink:
Its easy going nature makes it very likeable indeed. Lamb, or beef whether barbecued, roasted or grilled are good partners here.
Alianca Bairrada Baga 2016
In a nutshell:
A big, brooding, full-bodied red from the Bairrada region of northern Portugal
The lowdown:
Made with the distictive Baga grape variety and sourced from the Quinta da Rigodeira estate this is Aliança's flagship wine. 14 months spent in new French oak barrels give it plenty of structure and character. It has a wealth of intense red fruits, dark chocolate and spices on the palate suported by grippy tannins and a big, smooth body.
When to drink:
Bags of wine for the money, this works really well with thing like pork belly, ribs and duck.
Suitable for Vegans
