El Homem Bala 2020

 

Made from Grenache, old vines ranging 40 to 90 years old.

Red fruits, and chemical aromas.

It has fat at first in the mouth, acts like a blister protector. Light, keep rolling a red fruit jelly and stings the tongue.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Quinta do Serrado 2014

 

Lots of strawberry and cherry jam on the nose. It's hyper vaporized.

In the mouth it is soft and compact, creamy, resembles cherrys in syrup, some wood, a hint of anise and meringue - is it? - plus toasted almonds. It has class and ends infinite.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Oldenburg Chenin Blanc 2021

 

Mineral and crystals, some unripe peach, it does not talk too much in the nose.

Let the temperature rise before drinking. It is a little bit flat, lack punch. Stone fruit upfront and round citrus character that reveals towards the end. Very mineral, delicate, but get lost in between.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Villion Henning Chenin Blanc 2022

 

Mineral in aroma some unripe green herbs and stone fruit.

Light, fresh, balsamic, slightly citric at first, then it rolls some stone fruit - apricot - tiny gooseberries. Ends fat and greedy. It is delightful. 

Rating: ★★★★☆

Atlantis 2021

 

Made from 100% Verdelho.

Nose comes very mineral, it has white fruit pulp and a little bit of apple.

Mouth is dry, thin, very mineral, crystallized, some white fruit with delicate pulp. Passion fruit only reveals some hints at the very end. It has finesse.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Chateau Beausejour Cuveé Prestige 2018

 

Made 100% of Merlot.

Roasted wood, tobacco and dried nuts in the nose.

It's got a brutal kick and push and push. It has an acidity of white wine. It provides plum, raisins, a little too much of oak, but becomes tasty and enjoyable.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Piccini 2021

 

Red fruits and some herbs in the aromas.

Inside my mouth is fresh and vigorous. Punch it with red fruits, and turns to spice that sting the tongue. Oak is not intrusive, making roll it nicely. A warmth surprise.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Montes Ermos Reserva especial 2019

Ripe red fruits, toasted wood and flowers fragrance.

Taut, spicy, compact fruit, tobacco, woody, it is thick, tense and endless. It clings to the cheeks. Continuous an violent attack against the senses, corpulent and virulent. Maybe too much of everything, too bold, too fat. I do not care. I think is brilliant.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Buçaco Reservado 2017

 

While in Amsterdam, in the past two weeks I put my tongue on two "blast from the past" Portuguese wines, one with more than 20 years old, Quinta do Poço do Lobo and other more recent, from 2018 Quinta de Saes. Customer desire changes, vinification techniques evolve, styles change, and some wines become something else, while other's keep close to the anchor that defined its legacy, such as this Buçaco. tasted the 2008 vintage more than 10 years ago and never forgot the experience. Hence, what the 2017 bring us?

Aromas have such a weight, ripe fruit, seems quince and grapefruit and other yellow berries.

In the mouth stings the tongue, with composed acidity, blended quince with resin, citrus zest, gooseberries, it grows and reveals sumptuousness all up. Highly recommended.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Father's Eyes Chardonnay 2020

 

Aromas with ripe fruit, peach, honey and melon.

Dissolves in the mouth. Very fruity and juicy, maybe too much, but it doesn't make you sick. You start to think it fits best to pair with desert, then, minerals kick-in and it all disappears and dries at supersonic speed. Extraordinary. From sweet to dry.

Ratting: ★★★☆☆