(2024) From Lisboa, this is mostly the local Castelão, along with 20% Tinta Roriz and 20% Syrah. The colourful label, from a joyful painting by street artist Hauke Vagt, sets the tone for an easy drinking but crisp and refreshing wine, pale salmon in colour and with a juicy strawberry and citrus palate. The picture here is fun, but actually very nicely balanced and juicy stuff.
(2022) Pristine white from Atlantic-influenced vineyards, it is 60% malvasia, plus 40% of mixed local varieties, which had a little skin contact in stainless steel. Lemony yellow in colour with a springtime perfume on the nose, wild flowers and lemon drops. In the mouth a little richer and weightier than you might expect, with bold fruit that races between lemon and a fatter tangerine sweetness, very nice acidity with a lick of salt. Highly drinkable Vinho Verde alternative for the summer with its 11.5% alcohol.
(2022) A rare Sauvignon Blanc from Portugal, this comes from Lisboa close to the capital. Quite yourthful and confectionary aromas, a little pear drop and tropical fruit, certainly fresh with a touch of leafiness that is authentically Sauvignon. The palate perhaps has a little residual sugar, perhaps there to balance quite a surge of acidity.
(2021) From Lisboa, the wine region close to the city of Lisbon and once known as Estremadura, this is a blend of local grapes Arinto and Viosinho, with Viognier and Chardonnay. It's a very nice little wine, and versatile too, medium-bodied with good acidity and a zesty, sparky personality. The fruit dances between ripe apple and pear and something more tropical, but with zip and a herby twang of brightness for easy drinking, on it's own or versatile with food. Watch the video for more information and food-matching recommendations.
(2018) A lightly spritzy, fresh, and just off-dry white wine from Lisboa, much in the style of a Vinho Verde perhaps, made principally from Arinto and Fernão Pires with some floral Moscatel, and only 9.5% alcohol by volume. Brimming with almost tropical fruit and herbal tang, it's a crowd-pleasing style with that hint of sweetness, but the balance of acidity is really very good making it mouth-watering and fresh too.
(2018) Like the Azulejo, from Lisboa just west of Lisbon, this time 100% Arinto and drier with 12.5% alcohol. Aromas are gently herbal, with cool apple fruit and a hint of almond in the background. Ripe, with creamy-sweet fleshy fruit, mouth-filling and rich but the fruit is focused on dry, firm apple and melon, a citrus pith and salty acidity freshening the finish in a cool and elegant style.
(2018) Well who'd have thought it? Pinot Noir from Portugal is highly unusual, this from Lisboa (formerly known as Estremadura), aged in a combination of French, American and Portuguese oak barrels. For Pinot lovers the search for affordable versions is always on, and this is a good little wine - indeed very good for its price: briarwood, roasted chestnut and some autumnal, woodland aromas join the red fruits, and the palate has juiciness and good balance. Even better, it's normal price of £8.99 is reduced to just £7.49 at time of review. Watch the video for more information and food-matching ideas.
(2012) A huge depth of coffee, chocolate and charry oak here is currently dominating. There is a delicate cherry and violet quality beneath, the fruit really quite fine and elegant. Beautiful seam of purity of the palate - a tunnel of focused, pure black fruits, edged with minerals and those herbal notes, but absolutely pure and supple into a long, long finish. A striking and beautiful wine.
(2012) Very pale, this sees oak but it is virtually undetectable on the nose with lifted, gently floral aromas that are delicate and spicy, quite exotic but utterly fresh. The palate has a freshness and mountain-stream clarity. It is fairly light and arguably just a touch dilute on the lemony, very clean finish, but then the hints of honeyed richness are there.
(2012) Beautiful nose, plenty of creamy, honeyed, gently toasty French oak but the freshness and clarity of the Cox's pippin apple fruit is there. Beautiful palate - so much freshness and citrus clarity. Intense, with juicy lemon and grapefruit flavours, but the light, oatmeally support comes through giving this a bit of honeyed depth.
