Framingham Classic Riesling 2009

16.5 / 20

Producer: Framingham

Region: Marlborough

Country: New Zealand

Really fragrant bouquet on this New Zealand Riesling, with lots of sweet white fruit and a really nice mineral, wet-stone backbone.

As is the case with the whites from this winery I've tasted so far, it feels very tuned and precise in the palate. A good deal of acidity goes very well with a more austere, mineral side that is, in turn, put in check by some sweeter, white fruit flavors.

Good length, feeling very balanced down to the end of the taste.

Casas Brancas Reserva 2009

15.5 / 20

Producer: Parras

Region:Alentejo

Country:Portugal

Intense and jammy in the nose, with lots of ripe fruits playing around in the glass, backed by soft oak notes and a more vegetable (probably the Trincadeira coming along), flowery side.

Feels very soft in the palate, showing some vegetable notes amidst the focused ripe fruits. A nice acidity matched by velvety, rounded tannins.

Good balanced ending, not long but showing lots of fruits. A wine made to be enjoyed with food.

Quinta do Sobral Reserva 2010

15.5/ 20

Producer: Quinta do Sobral

Region: Dão

Country: Portugal

Lots of red fruits in the nose of this Dão red, backed by a kind of rustic feeling that goes away with time, bringing to front some nice spices and the flowery notes from the Touriga Nacional.

Fresh acidity in an average structure body, as expected in the Dão, relying more in balance and smoothness than in volume or strength. Fresh and fruit-forward, with some nice notes of oak and cocoa in the medium length ending.

Moscatel Superior 10 Anos Horácio Simões

17 / 20

Producer: Casa Horácio Simões

Region: Setúbal

Country: Portugal

Superior is a suffix guaranteeing the quality for this Moscatel from Setúbal (like Reserva on table wines). This 10 year old certainly deserves it, as it is a delightful and powerful Moscatel.

Sweet aromas, a bit of candles, english cake, exotic woods and dry figs compose an intense, powerful but elegant bouquet.

Shows its sweetness in the palate, but it's never excessive. There's a good acidity here, giving it some backbone and supporting the figs and the raisins that appear here. There appear to be some tannins lurking around as well - at least it feels like it i the gums.

Really long finish, very persistent with notes of crystalized orange skins. Still very young, this will age and last for years.

Andreza Grande Reserva 2010

16.5 / 20

Producer: Lua Cheia em Vinhas Velhas

Region: Douro

Country: Portugal

Essentially fruit forward in the nose, with lots of pineapples and green apples. Very light and fresh, it shows a lot more body in the palate, with the oaky/vanilla notes coming forward and giving it a considerable weight.

A bit unfocused at first, there's a good balance here between the heavier oaky side and a dry, citrus feel. The ending is long and hints at some spices lurking around.

A definite wintery white, that needs to be enjoyed with time - give it some decanting before starting to drink.

Durbanville Hills Pinotage 2010

15 / 20

Producer: Durbanville Hills

Region: Durbanville

Country: South Africa

The link to Pinot Noir (Pinotage is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut present in South Africa since 1925) is evident in both the color - light, not extracted at all - and in the blend from red cherries, strawberries and an earthier, smokier side that one can feel in the nose. As it was opened, there were some slightly unpleasant rustic and animal notes that overshadowed the rest. But as these became more subdued, hints of vanilla appear that give it some grace.

Not very intense or heavy in the mouth, its standout feature at first is a remarkable acidity. The same rustic, animal notes I found in the nose are also present here in the palate. Again, as time goes by, these recede into the background and some strawberries start to appear in the back of the taste. Definitely gains a lot of balance if enjoyed at a meal, instead of by itself.

Aldeias de Juromenha Touriga Nacional 2008

15.5 / 20

Producer: Herdade das Aldeias

Region: Alentejo

Country: Portugal

Bright ruby, the nose is very intense with some flowery notes and lots of ripe, almost jammy red fruits. The bouquet as a whole feels somewhat unvaried, very focused on these jammy notes.

Soft in the palate, with very velvety tannins and a round feel to its half-body structure, this is an enjoyable wine with lots of sweet, ripe blackberries notes.

For my taste, this is a couple of notches below the Syrah these guys make - this Touriga felt a bit out of character. But again, I tend to prefer Tourigas from the Douro or the Dão.

Quinta dos Termos Reserva Branco 2010

16 / 20

Producer: Quinta dos Termos

Region:Beira Interior

Country:Portugal

Flowery in the nose at first, showing a slight sulphur scent later replaced by wet stones, light citrus notes and a hint of sweeter fruit.

Dry and acid in the palate, as expected in whites from this region, it's very focused, precise with lots of lemony notes. Feels a bit short at first, disappearing in the back of the mouth, but its length increases as it breathes and oxigenates.

Feels like it needs to grow in the bottle for a year or so, but it should pay back.

Quinta de Termos Reserva Vinhas Velhas 2006

16.5 / 20

Producer: Quinta dos Termos

Region: Beira Interior

Country: Portugal

Light garnet in the glass, the nose in this wine from the Beira Interior - a region where red wines tend to be hard and edgy - is really interesting and composed. Some notes of evolution at first, then replaced by sweet red fruit, some chocolates notes, all in a very elegant, beautifully aged profile.

Also very soft and tuned in the palate, with notes of cocoa and chocolate to the foreground, this feels like a wine that's at the right spot for drinking. The tannins are smooth and round, the acidity has changed and morphed but the cherries and red berries are still there, very alive. The feeling of precision and elegance carries on the the nice, long finish.

A very old world wine in approach (although this has 20% Syrah, which is not a classical grape for the Beira Interior, or Portugal), this is a really pleasurable wine, made to be enjoyed some years after its harvest and that will probably age well for another couple of years.

Aldeias de Juromenha Verdelho 2011

15 / 20

Producer: Herdade das Aldeias

Region: Alentejo

Country: Portugal

Very clear to the eye, this verdelho from near Elvas starts by reminding me of dried fruits, almonds and nuts, which is kind of surprising since I was expecting a much more fruit-forward wine. There's some tropical fruit in there, but it seems to be hiding in the background.

Soft fruit notes appear as the wine fills the mouth, to be replaced mid-length by some pleasant, bitter, lemony notes. Again, the same notes of almonds and nuts are lurking around, giving this an edge. As it heats up, some shy pineapple starts to appear in the back of the mouth.

Very pleasant by itself, but its light structure doesn't stand up to food, even a lightly seared perch fillet.