Quinta de Saes Reserva, 2014, White, Dão, Portugal

Come summer you will be willing for a white wine to beat vulgarity. Quinta de Saes Reserva 2014, White, Dão, Portugal, by Quinta da Pellada, may prove to be the one. I’ve just had it, under the first rays, and was astonished by its taste to price ratio. Beats1!

Luis Miguel Novais

Taylor Fladgate, Vintage Port, Red, Portugal, 1980

A Wednesday lunch at the Porto British Factory House, a tradition since the 18th century.

And then comes the Treasurer’s Port, with strong cheese, as usual: today, the superb Taylor Fladgate, Vintage Port, Red, Portugal, 1980, celebrating the new coming to office of Adrian Bridge, in the good table company of Joe Álvares Ribeiro, Paul Symington and David Guimaraens, amongst a full long table of good people.

What can I say: it’s only words, I miss the words, my palate is plentiful, colourblind, starbound: cheers to the late David Bowie. As far as I can remember, he was at the Porto British Factory House with us, in our glasses, today.

Luis Miguel Novais

Palmeirim d’Inglaterra, White, 2014, Trás-os-Montes, Portugal

Fine wine has everything to do with literature. I hope you agree.

Palmeirim d’Inglaterra, White, 2014, Trás-os-Montes, Portugal, is as peculiar as its literary inspiration: the sixteenth century’s chivalry novel “Libro del muy esforzado Caballero Palmerin de Inglaterra hijo del rey don Duardos: y de sus grandes proezas: y de Florián del Desierto su hermano: con algunas del príncipe Florendos hijo de Primaleón”. In short: Palmeirim D'Inglaterra.

Palmeirim D’Inglaterra was a best-seller on its time and still is a good reading on its own merits. Of disputed authorship (a Portuguese-Spanish dispute), arguably (and most probably) written around 1540 by Portuguese writer Francisco de Moraes, an ancestor of the current owners of the estate where this gentle wine was made.

Thank you Ivone Ribeiro, from Garage Wines, for the introduction. It is always my pleasure to add literature to my wine memoirs.

So here it goes, a powerful quote from the author's introduction to the book:

“Te diré, lector, aqui solamente:
Aqueste tratado no dejes de haber,
Sabiendo cuán poco puedes perder;
Habiendo mirado el bien del presente,
El habla amorosa y estilo elocuente,
Verás las razones y gracias donosas;
Dirás no haber visto batallas famosas
Si aqueste mirares, en todo excelente.”

With a touch of my own personal soft ending:

Homero, the Celtic and the nordic bards should be outside looking for horses of their own. While we empty bottles with Cervantes whom, destining to the fire numerous books, praised our Palmeirim d'Inglaterra: “se guarde y conserve como cosa unica”, as one reads from the Don Quijote.

Looking through this empty bottle, I can see you enjoying the literary wine match.

Luis Miguel Novais

São Domingos Garrafeira, Red, 1990, Dão, Portugal

Being a governing board member of the Union Internationale des Avocats between 1998 and 2011 made me travel the six continents and the seven seas. Very often, I was asked where did you come from? To my other parties surprise I would, of course, reply: I come from Porto. Excuse me, where from?

Truth is Porto, Portugal, European Union, was not very know back then. I mean, before it became the major hip European tourism destination it now is. This beautiful several centuries untouched layers of civilization (having escaped earthquakes, bombings and other similar catastrophes), have long been lively animated by a cosmopolitan fierce and friendly people, whom for centuries have built around them this city’s grandly medieval, classical, modern, contemporary and green landscapes. I was right to come back here all the time, I reckon. And I am glad that so many of you, coming from all over the world, share it with me nowadays.

For those of you whom are coming in or back and are following my wine memoirs, my Memoriavinia, I strongly recommend a romantic spot for wine and cheese match lovers, right at the heart of Porto, at Rua Ferreira Borges (almost facing the Port Wine Institute): the wine bar “Prova”, which goes by the motto: “wine, food & pleasure”. My wife Isabel and I, we’ve just had there this superb São Domingos Garrafeira, Red, 1990, Dão, Portugal. It’s just one of the changing surprise wine pearls we have had there. But as unforgettable as Porto is.

Luis Miguel Novais

Misterio, Chardonnay, White, 2012, Mendonza, Argentina

I remember tasting good wines at Buenos Aires, Argentina, back in the year 2000, when I was there to speak on the occasion of the 44th Congress of the Union Internationale des Avocats. Unfortunately, I was not able to go back there ever since. But that’s the good thing about wine: it travels.

It travels, brings back good memories and nice surprises. Just last week I had this Misterio, Chardonnay, White, 2012, Finca Flichman, Mendonza, Argentina, on a blind tasting having lunch with my good friend Antonio Santiago Freitas at one of Porto, Portugal’s, top restaurants: O Comercial, at wonderful Palacio da Bolsa.

Misterio. It’s all in the name (yes, I did fail my blind tasting guess saying instead of Argentina, Chardonnay, ups!... New Zealand, Gewürztraminer). A very nice surprise made possible to me by sommelier Andre Oliveira Teixeira, whom splendidly runs O Comercial with his wife Chef Samantha and their great team.

Luis Miguel Novais

Regina Viarum, Godello, 2014, White, Ribeira Sacra, Spain

Modern days Ribeira Sacra evergreen countryside and wine region stays in Galicia, the Northwestern most region of Spain, Europe. Circa a 1000 years ago it was part of Portugal. And circa 2000 years ago it was part of the Roman Empire.

Regina Viarum, Godello, 2014, labels itself as “Viticultura Heroica”, heroic viticulture. It claims its heritage from the ancient roman viticulture from nature defying terraces with more than 45 degrees located along the river Sil.

Its freshness is ageless. Traditionally harvested, it is meant to be drunken young. At heart.

Luis Miguel Novais

Saint Clair, Sauvignon Blanc, 2014, White, Marlborough, New Zeland

Saint Clair 2014, White, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough's New Zeland, is a superb balanced fruitfull wine.

At their website the Saint Clair Family Estate states that "their first wines were only produced in 1994" and claims "a growing reputation as one of New Zealand’s leading wine companies with an exceptional quality record". I agree with the quality.

I drank it with Portuguese petiscos: fried petingas, anchovies and garlic dip, and pão da avó. Superb match.

Luis Miguel Novais

Puro, 2012, Red, Douro, Portugal

Jorge Rosas’ Quinta da Touriga is a Douro propriety in the vicinity of the spectacular open air Prehistoric to Contemporary Rock-Art sites of the Côa river valley. A World Heritage Site, designated by UNESCO in 1998, where there are to be seen thousands of engraved rock drawings of horses and other animal, as well as human and abstract figures, dated from 22,000 years BCE to our times (yes, they keep doing it).

“Depth and concentration are matched by finesse”, wrote Mayson (a Douro Valley’s recent authority that I appreciate) about Quinta da Touriga wines, in his "Port and the Douro" recent book.

Puro, 2012, Red, Douro, Portugal, is a Quinta da Touriga’s special that I do like a lot. According to the fitting Jorge Rosas’ statement in the back label of the bottle (that I once pleasurably bought and had), it is: “inspired by a wine born in the late XIX century, a creation of my great-grandfather Antonio and his younger brother. In contrast to the norm of the time they created a high quality non-fortified wine in the Douro Valley, an innovation in the land of Port”. It still rocks!

Luis Miguel Novais

Maritávora, Reserva, 2009, Red, Douro, Portugal

Not long ago, say no more than 15 years ago, Douro region red wines were somewhat a rarity. Back then most of the Douro grapes went to produce a completely different line of wine: the local specialty, worldly renowned, Port wine.

Should you want to know more about it, I strongly recommend the book “Port and the Douro”, by Richard Mayson, first published in 2013 by Infinite Ideas. A book gift I had (and cherish) from João Bruschy, a good old friend of mine and former fellow musician, back in the 1980’s, in the Prece Oposto rock band.

“Red wines: taming tanines”, says Mayson. And yet, he apparently missed the enlightening Maritávora, Reserva, 2009, Red, Douro, Portugal, made by the great winemaker and good friend of mine Jorge Serôdio Borges, from vines as seasoned as I currently am: 50 years old (or so).

Luis Miguel Novais

United States Embassy Lisbon, 2012, Red, Merlot, Ribatejo, Portugal

A rainy spring Saturday morning here in Portugal calls for some housekeeping. Or should I say instead maybe some “winecellarmemorieskeeping”…

And out of the cupboard came eight empty bottles of some spectacular wines I have enjoyed and kept for writing about it someday down into my wine memoirs, my Memoriavinia. So this is the day.

First things come first, and people at the United States Embassy in Lisbon have a clear good taste and good knowledge about what they are doing in my country. I don’t know whom chose it but their choice of a Merlot, Ribatejo, Vinho Tinto, 2012, specially labeled, produced and bottled for them by Agroalpiarça, proved to be an excellent choice. I had it courtesy of my good friends Jenny and Will Hampton, whom are already missed in Portugal.

Luis Miguel Novais

Jose Pariente, Fermentado en Barrica, 2013, White, Rueda, Spain

The rain in Spain stays main... you know where.

The delicious José Pariente Fermentado en Barrica, 2013, White, Verdejo grapes do come from the spanish plain... but then it gets a splendid nuanced balance from Bodegas José Pariente having it fermented in oak barrels.

I had it yesterday at Burgos, Spain, with a splendid Cordero Horno de Leña at the traditional and still great Ojeda restaurant.

It reminded me of my good friend and fellow writer Pedro Cardelus Muñoz Seca whom first recommended José Pariente to me as his Verdejo favourite wine. Indeed, cheers Pedro.

Luis Miguel Novais

Riso, Colheita Especial, 2012, Red, Alentejo, Portugal

An unusually grey frozen Sunday this was today here at Oporto. Made to joy by a bottle of red Riso and a wooden fireplace in the company of my family.

Riso is Portuguese for laughter or joy. And I enjoyed the Riso, Colheita Especial, 2012, Red, Alentejo, Portugal, that I had bought at Irene's Garage Wines shop.

Cheers my friend Miguel Sousa Otto and people at Riso Wines by Sousa Otto & Friends.

Luis Miguel Novais

Reynolds, Grande Reserva, 2006, Red, Alentejo, Portugal

The Reynolds' are wine growers at Alentejo, Portugal, since 1850. Family.

Yesterday the Reynolds, Grande Reserva, 2006, Red, Alentejo, Portugal, just won our blind tasting nine top iberian wines. Superb!

I bought it at Garage Wines. Thank you Ivone for the suggestion.

Luis Miguel Novais

Terrenus, 2010, Red, Alentejo, Portugal

The president of the Oporto British Association, my good friend José Alvares Ribeiro, invited me to the Factory House Wine Lunch with winemaker Rui Reguinga this past 2014.3.12. The weekly wine luncheon at the Factory House is a tradition since 19th century. Centered in the Port and Douro wine region, sometimes it widens itself up to other wine frontiers. Such was the case with winemaker Rui Reguinga's Alentejo highly commendable productions tasted that day:

- Terrenus, 2011, White

- Terrenus, 2010, Red

- Tributo, 2012, Red

Terrenus, 2010, Red, is an exquisite wine. It mixes Alentejo excellent winemaking tradition of local varieties with an unexpected flavour from highland vineyards. I confess I had never tasted (nor imagined possible) Alentejo wine other than from the low dry extensive lands of that region. Reguinga's old vineyards, set high at Serra de Sao Mamede, do make a difference. A nice surprise.

Luis Miguel Novais

Quinta Vale D. Maria, 2011, Red, Douro, Portugal

Van Zellers' family is in wine business in Portugal since 1780. Nowadays they are represented by Cristiano Van Zeller, a classical gentleman farmer on his own merits. This last Friday I was happy to attend a tasting of some of their most recent Douro, Portugal, wine productions to come to market:

- VZ, 2012, White

- Van Zellers, 2010, Red

- VZ, 2011, Red

- Quinta Vale D. Maria, 2011, Red

- Vinha da Francisca, 2011, Red

- Vinho do Porto VZ, Tawny, 10 years, Port

All highly commendable. Notwithstanding, the Quinta Vale D. Maria, 2011, Red, stroke the right balance and won me the night.

Luis Miguel Novais

Kopke, 10 years old, white, Port, Portugal

White Port from Portugal is a rather unusual pleasant fortified wine. I know, some of you wrongfully do not do the right connection between Port wine and my hometown Porto, Portugal, the place where you should come to taste the real thing, since the best worldclass Port wines are from and still are here... But its's up to you, anyways.

One of those few I like that travels well, right up to your local winestore, is the Kopke, 10 years old, white, Port, Portugal. White Port wines is a recent thing here in Port wine's. And good semi-old white Port wines is newer still. Look, new wines for us here at Port wine's is the likes of at least 20 years old... so, a 10 years old ... But then, it is a white, right? Yes, indeed, nice new. It is a strong competitor for a shaken not stirred you know what or even better so to have it in one of those nights when bubbles are to be out but fresh white structured wine (this one carries acquavit wine type fortified strengths) are to replace it.

I had it with my spanish friends Carlos Valls and Gonzalo Stampa at the Kopke, Gaia, beautifull wine-cellars, courtesy of Sogevinus' CEO Gonzalo Pedrosa. To our pleasure. Although the brand is Dutch and the cellar is in Portugal, Spain rules here. To our cosmopolitan pleasure, that is.

Luis Miguel Novais

Caves São João, Reserva, Bairrada, Sparkling, Portugal, 2010

I know, my wine memoirs, my memoriavinia, has been too quiet for a long while now. Truth is the  situation in my country, the fact that we are being the subject of all sorts of mouse trials, the likes of the so called austerity theories, creative destruction Chicago to Shumpeter to all other weathermen shi... theories and so f... off has been, I am sorry, ruining my wines.

God bless, I have just drinked this Caves São João, Reserva, Bairrada, Sparkling, Portugal, 2010, that by any account is a worldwide class sparkling wine and it costs... I am sorry, not even 5 euro per bottle. Make it two... and I assume it cannot yet offend my suffering countrymen and women.

Let's keep it a national secret for now then.

Luis Miguel Novais

Quinta do Crasto, Reserva, Vinhas Velhas, Red, Douro, Portugal, 2010

Old vines still do it better. This is there to prove it. A world top class wine made out of 70 years old vineyards...And there I have you saying: that old... it must be awful. No it isn't, believe me, it is awesome. Superbly fruited and fresh as one should think it should be!

Quinta do Crasto, Reserva, Vinhas Velhas, Old Vines, Vieilles Vignes, Red, Douro, Portugal, 2010, takes all the flavour of the oldest lawfully demarcated wine region in the world, the Douro Valley's, Port wine region, making it splash as consistently fresh as one can desire, after a 16 months ageing in oak barrels rounds it to softer curves. Powerful and classy. Luxury wine for a bargain.

Merry Christmas!

Luis Miguel Novais

Adega Vila Real, Grande Reserva, Red, Douro, Portugal, 2007

For Christmas meals we in Portugal traditionally have salt dried cod fish and a roast; usually a seasoned turkey. Don't ask why...

Thinking of an inexpensive all terrain red wine which could cope with our local tradition, or others of the same dissimilar kind, I could not think of a better one than the Adega Vila Real, Grande Reserva, Red, Douro, Portugal, 2007, which will sell for less than 10 euros a bottle.

An extraordinary quality to price ratio which matches superbly with our euro currency crisis. Especially for big family gatherings... something that we thankfully still have for Christmas.

Luis Miguel Novais

Jose Pariente, Verdejo, Rueda, White, Spain, 2011

A fine wine is the one you begin to serve at home, with appetizers, and then pursue to dink it at a fancy restaurant. This much Isabel and I proved to be true at Madrid, Spain, with our friends Conchita and Pedro Cardelus.

Jose Pariente, Verdejo, Rueda, White, Spain, 2011, is a spectacular wine. Conchita and Pedro took us to O Pazo restaurant, Madrid, one of the best for seafood you can find in the world. And we had it with utmost pleasure.

After we had it at their home, that is. As it should always be: never have your guests drink a worst wine than the one you have yourself at home.

Luis Miguel Novais

Royal Oporto, Tawny Port, 10 Years, Porto, Portugal

For ten years, between 1994 and 2004, I was the barrister for the main shareholders of Real Companhia Velha, also known as Royal Oporto, a wine corporation established way back in 1756; as old as the oldest demarcated wine region in the world, the Port wines', Portugal. The Court case was of commercial nature, it involved several million euros and the other side was Portugal's administration. We won, so I obviously keep found memories of that dispute, probably the biggest in Portugal Courts to date. And certainly a chunk of ten years of my life...

Today Real Companhia Velha, still managed by the Silva Reis family, chaired by my good friend Pedro Silva Reis, the son of the now deceased great man Manuel Silva Reis, is the biggest producer of Port wine grapes, from their huge estates up in the Douro Valley, the world home for the genuine Port.

In preparation for Christmas time, like in a heat your engines mood/mode, I opened a beautiful bottle of highly commendable red Royal Oporto, Tawny Port, 10 Years. Ten years, you see...

Luis Miguel Novais

Campo al mare, 2009, Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy, Red

You know me, I'm not the trendy type. So what best than to be in Tuscany, Italy, and not to have the rather obvious Chianti or Brunello di Montalcino types of excelent Tuscany wines. I'm not talking about masochism, believe me; much to our content there are other exquisite wines from Tuscany. Last week I've just been there and had a pretty much unknown but excelent Bolgheri - a wine region that shores the sea, near Livorno, Tuscany.

Campo al mare, 2009, Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy, is a superb red that will match across with style even your homemade barbecue steaks and the likes of surf and turfs.

Indeed, I had it with local slow food must have bistecca alla fiorentina, at Fiesole, enjoying the breathtaking views over Florence, Italy.

Luis Miguel Novais

Casa Cadaval, Pinot Noir, 2008, Ribatejo, Portugal

This is a story of german-portuguese harmony. Let's hope it could serve us as a landmark for the predictable incoming hot September Euro currency events...

As the story goes harvest is about to start, by mid August, since Casa do Cadaval's lands stay on the hot and dry whereabouts of the Tagus' river Portugal plains of Ribatejo. Pinot Noir exquisite grapes are said to have been introduced to Cadaval's by late late Count Karl von Schönborn. And Casa Cadaval's lands are said to be producing wine since 1648, managed by german-portuguese women countesses, marqueeses and duchesses from four generations strong now. So we now have all the ingredients: "another day is on its way", as the radio sings... us hoping for europeanwide harmony, from north to south, women and men, rich and poor, "all together now"!

Casa do Cadaval, Pinot Noir, red, 2008, Ribatejo, Portugal, is a worldclass pinot noir red wine. Isabel and I had it with Mariana and João Bruschi at an unworthy one star Michelin restaurant. I will spare you the euros to be not spent on this restaurant. Just save it for the incoming September Euro rainy days. But do enjoy this grand german-portuguese wine.

Luis Miguel Novais

Cortijo Los Aguilares, Pinot Noir, 2010, Sierras de Málaga, Red, Spain

"Another one bites the dust"... Believe me, not even in my wildest dreams could I have thought to drink a worldwide class Pinot Noir red wine out from the southermost parts of Spain. I reckon one tends to think about Andalusia as hot flat plains and tends to forget its mountains. The way it goes in the old song: "the rain in Spain stays main in the plain".

Well, you'd better believe it: Cortijo Los Aguilares, Pinot Noir, 2010, Sierras de Málaga, red, comes from Ronda and it is a fantastic wine to beat the likes of you name it.

Isabel and I had it with Beatriz and Juan Guerrero at fancy restaurant El Lago, at Elviria Hills, Marbella. Paco's choice, to cope with the great food and vistas.

Luis Miguel Novais

Muros Antigos, Alvarinho, Vinho Verde, White, 2011, Portugal

Most of you are already familiar with the iphone ad where John Malkovich fails to puzzle Siri with an odd word: linguica! And yes, like the newspapers already put it: "you are not the only person wondering what linguica is"... Some of you most travelled guys and g'lls already know that the correct spelling would be linguiça, since the word and the sausage behind it are Portuguese all over. Malkovich just knows it well because he is a Portugal lover. And co-owner to grand Lisbon restaurant Bica do Sapato. "To know, is to go... when your heart resides there" (to put it into Roddy Frame's Aztec Camera pop band song words). Muros Antigos, white, Vinho Verde, Alvarinho, 2011, from northern Portugal, by great wine maker Anselmo Mendes, is a superb light and fresh strong body white wine. I had Muros Antigos at Bica do Sapato with my good wordly friend Durval Noronha Goyos, from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Muros Antigos means "old walls" and I guess Siri wouldn't have matched it with the same northern Portugal's original ancestral linguiça saussage deli. I can only presume I have beated Siri (but not Malkovich), on this one. For the time being, I reckon. Luis Miguel Novais.

Vida Nova, White, 2011, Algarve, Portugal

Algarve, southern part of continental Portugal, famous for its spectacular beaches and golf resorts, has an almost unknown wine production of its own. It is small even for Portuguese standards and you won't normally find Algarve wines out of there. If you do, or even better so, if you spend some holidays there, Vida Nova, white, 2011, is a good introduction to Algarve's good wines. I just love the brand, Vida Nova, meaning New Life. And the teaser behind it: once upon a time, pop singer Cliff Richards fell in love with the Algarve, bought some land there, and started producing wine, getting himself a new life... On Vida Nova's bottle dress Cliff Richards and his wine producer friends claim to "champion the rebirth of Algarve wine", and I thank them for that. This particular wine, a mix of Verdelho and Viognier grapes, seems to me a perfect match to Douradas, Robalos, Linguados and all the rest of Algarve's great grilled fresh fish. I don't know him personally, but since I got his autograph printed on the bottle cork, I feel like I must say: go Cliff, go! Luis Miguel Novais

Grandjó Late Harvest, 2007, Douro, Portugal

Not a lot of dessert wines can cope with a Porto or a Sauternes. Except the likes of a icewine or a semillon. Like this particular one, the Grandjó Late Harvest, 2007, Douro, Portugal, a superb dessert semillon wine from Real Companhia Velha. This is a spectacular white sweet wine, made out of "noble rot", meaning grapes when picked at a certain late late accurate point producing particularly fine and concentrated sweet wines. Like this one. I had it at home with a superb season typical strawberry milked cake. With my wife Isabel and our good friends from Spain Isabel and Alvaro Sebastián de Erice. Brindando for a better future to a multipolar European Union, where both our countries still do have a lot to bring on, from our milenar standpoints and our centuries old quest for modernity. If not less, and I may be biased on this one (but then, who wouldn't?), because we iberians are home to some of the best wines in the world! Luis Miguel Novais

Graham's 20 Years Old, Tawny Port, Red, Portugal

A blind tasting of Port wine is always a special occasion. Especially for those who had never before had the occasion to taste the full spectrum of Port wines. Right where it should be: in one of the wine cellars of the Port wine producers around Porto, Portugal, home to the original and very best Port wines. In these type of tastings one realises why Port wine is unrepeatable and non producible the right sort of way out of Portugal: a spectrum of eight glasses poured with a full plethora of colours, tastes and smells, all to be called Port wine, underlines why Port wine is essentially about a local centenary single culture, not to be found elsewhere, except in the form of its final product: Port wine coming from the Douro Valley, Porto wine region, demarcated since 1756.

I recently had the occasion to renew this pleasure with some USA friends. My good friend Joe Álvares Ribeiro had the Graham's cellars' doors opened to us and he, as usually, exceed in not only having organised for us a nice visit to the cellars but he also had it finished with a full spectrum top Port wines tasting.

Not to my surprise, we have agreed that the Graham's 20 Years Old, Tawny Port, Red, Portugal, is extremely balanced and an excellent top world class wine. Cheers Molly and Jim!

Luis Miguel Novais

Danúbio, Bruto, Aliança, Sparkling, White, Portugal

Danúbio, Bruto, is arguably the best price to quality ratio sparkling white wine in the world.

It is made out of great grapes from the northern parts of Portugal, the champagne type aka classical method way, by well established Portuguese wine company Aliança (since 1927), in Bairrada.

I had it at home with my good USA friends Jenny and Will. It costs no more than 5 euro per bottle in an expensive retailer. Nearly nothing for such a sparkling wine quality.

Luis Miguel Novais

Tares P3, Red, Bierzo, Spain, 2004

Spain has a lot of hidden treasure wines out from its less known wine regions. Like this particular one: Tares P3, a 15 months in barrel red wine from region D.O. Bierzo, Léon, Spain. A limited edition from Dominio de Tares, this 2004 Tares P3 is a great wine.

I had it for dinner at the cosy rustic chic Restaurante El Portálon, at Marbella, southern Spain, with my good friend Héctor Díaz-Bastien, having superb jamón and cordero.

A great match made by Jesus, El Portálon's owner, a wine connoisseur. Much to my contentment he also holds and appreciates great Port wines and serves by the glass the likes of Quinta do Noval, a perfect ending to a great evening enjoying friendship.

Luis Miguel Novais

Quinta do Vale Dona Maria, Vinha do Rio, Red, Douro, Portugal, 2009

Quinta do Vale Dona Maria, Vinha do Rio, Red, Douro, Portugal, 2009, is an extraordinary wine, mixing the freshness of the new world with the sophistication of the old world of wine producing. It is made at the world's oldest demarcated wine region, the Douro, Portugal, by great Port wine producers Cristiano van Zeller and Sandra Borges at Quinta do Vale D. Maria. Vinha do Rio ranks top 3 in my Douro wine favourites.

I had it for dinner at Chef Marco Gomes' Foz Velha restaurant with my friends José Manuel Araújo Barros and Nuno L Matos. Superb food by the seaside.

And what a  full spectrum wine dinner it was! The exquisite 2000 Jacquesson white champagne; the piquillo pepper taste New Zealand 2011's Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc; the fantastic red Quinta do Vale Dona Maria; and the superb 2002 Dizzy Terre Rouge Jacquesson rosé champagne; courtesy of Nuno, from his wine cellar, and God bless him for that!

Luis Miguel Novais

Quinta das Cerejeiras, Reserva, Red, Portugal, 2004

A Portuguese red classic. Vinified the old fashion way. It shows in the glass, displaying fantastic smell, taste and tear...drop.

Quinta das Cerejeiras, Reserva, Óbidos, Lisboa, Portugal, 2004, is a tasty wine product of Quinta do Sanguinhal., in business since 1927.

A very good quality to price ratio. The hidden taste of tradition.

Luis Miguel Novais

Regina Viarum, Mencia, Ribeira Sacra, Red, Spain, 2009

This is the lightest red mature non Verde wine, made of Mencia grapes, you can get. Amazing. A must have, at least once in one's life. You may not find it out of Galicia, Spain, but than you should go there and taste it, say at Pazo de los Escudos.

It reminds me of my good friend Francisco Prol, of Prol y Asociados fame, and the great Cocido Galego we once had at Playa America with a glorious Ribeira Sacra.

Blood, sweat and tears - states the bottle dressing...

Luis Miguel Novais

Gran Viña Sol, Chardonnay, White, Penedès, Spain, 2008

It reminds me of splendorous Barcelona city. I love it and miss my good friends there, the likes of Carlos Valls of Iuris Valls fame.

Gran Viña Sol, White, Chardonnay, Penedès, Spain, 2008, is a great wine from family Torres Estates', in wine business since 1870.

I'm glad I bought one bottle at El Corte Inglés. Inexpensive considering the good memories it brings into the great memoriavinia sunshine.

Luis Miguel Novais

Quinta do Pinto, Merlot & Syrah, Red, Portugal, 2009

Trendy Oporto Restaurante O Comercial, now leaded by André Oliveira Teixeira, displays a great wine cellar to match its grand looks and ambiance, right in the heart of everlovin must visit Palacio da Bolsa.

Pinto, Red, Merlot & Syrah, Portugal, 2009, of recent but rampant Quinta do Pinto's brand, located in center Portugal's Alenquer and Lisbon wine regions, is one good example of  their wine by the glass.

To match some of the young and promising Chef Samantha Reis' own creations.

Luis Miguel Novais

Canto Decimo, Alentejo, Red, Portugal, 2008

A very interesting unfiltered red wine. An organic must in this chemical era of ours. Extending to wines, eventually made out of grapes... as this one surely is. A red wine from southern Portugal, a Vinho Regional Alentejano, Canto Décimo, or Canto X, 2008, from Herdade da Madeira Velha.

An Easter gift from Manuel Moura, of famed Oporto's Restaurante Lider. Bless him for that.

An inspiration out of Lusiadas' chant number ten: "odorous wines..."

Luis Miguel Novais

Colares Chitas, Colares, Red, Portugal, 2005

One old red reserve wine. One of the best of Portugal. Paulo da Silva is an extraordinary wine maker's house, in business since 1898.

Colares Chitas, Reserva Velho, Tinto, 2005, Azenhas do Mar, Colares, is a great smooth wine to have with a Serra da Estrela cheese.

I was amazed to buy one bottle at El Corte Ingles. I thought it had disappeared with its sandy vines, lost to new highways and urbanisation on seaside Azenhas do Mar. Maybe this one comes out from some lost secret wine barrel. Balanced and tasty as it is.

Luis Miguel Novais

Mirto di Sardegna, Italia

This one might be seen as an exception. It hardly fits into wine memoirs, Memoriavinia. Indeed, Mirto is a liqueur and not made out of grapes: it is a distilled beverage obtained from the myrtle plant, a berry.

Mirto di Sardegna is, notwithstanding, a superb dessert "wine" to rival my own homeland's great Porto's and Madeira's.

I had it for dessert in Lisbon last week, dinning at the home of my good friends Patricia Camacho and Rui Pregal da Cunha. We tasted it out of a beautifully decorated blue bottle of Bresca Dorada and it is a must remember. Hence to display here at our Memoriavinia.

Viña Lanciano, Reserva, Rioja, Spain, 2004

Superb red from Rioja, Spain, the Viña Lanciano, Reserva, 2004. From Bodegas LAN.

I had it last month in Madrid with my good friend Pedro Cardelús at one of the top traditional, outstanding, restaurants of Madrid: the Principe de Viana, at Calle Manuel de Falla.

Some might say it is the best red wine of Spain.

Viña Ardanza, Reserva Especial, Rioja, Spain, 2001

Red smooth Viña Ardanza, Reserva Especial, 2001, is a very good wine from Rioja, Spain, by La Rioja Alta.

I had it last month with my friend Juan Antonio Riudavets in Barcelona, Spain, at the typical and highly recomendable (since 1835...) Los Caracoles restaurant.

Framingham, Dry Riesling, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2007

A fantastic way to enter the new year: yesterday, at my good friend Vasco Mourão's Oporto, Portugal, restaurant Terra we had a spectacular mix blend sushi plus vertical tasting of white New Zealand's Marlbourough, dry Rieslings Framingham; from the tremendous nose of the 2002 to the balanced senses of 2007, what an evolution. 2007 is the very same year that Portuguese winemaker major group Sogrape bought this boutique New World wine company. And it is now delivering it to the world, much to our collective joy.

Juvé y Camps, Reserva de la Familia, Cava, Spain, 2006

One of my favourite, unexpensive (in terms of quality-price), sparkling wines. A Cava, Brut Nature, Gran Reserva. I had the bottle nº50806 entering the new year. Enjoy 2011!

Prazo de Roriz, Douro, Portugal, 2006

Prazo de Roriz, red, Douro, Portugal, 2006, is a fantastic wine.

Producer Quinta de Roriz has accustomed us to very good wines but this one excels in its quality, price and innovation balance.

Much to my surprise and delight I had it at my friends Susana and Pedro Aguiar Branco's recent home dinner party. It matched superbly with the roasted turkey as well as with the cheese.

Meandro do Vale Meão, Douro, Portugal, 2006

Meandro do Vale Meão, red, Douro, Portugal, is within a very good price-quality ratio.

This fine wine is produced by Francisco Olazabal and sons at the Quinta do Vale Meão, a great Douro Valley estate.

I had it with a local deli: Alheira.

Jacqueson, Cuvee nº732, Champagne, France, 2004

Festive season 2008. Bought it at the El Corte Ingles Gourmet shop (Oporto).

Cuvée nº732 is a nice white Champagne blend: 39% chardonnay, 36% pinot meunier, 25% pinot noir. 100% cuvée by producer Jacqueson, established 1798.

A good way to enter the New Year. Better 2009 for all!

Warre's, Vintage Port, Portugal, 1977

Festive season 2008. From my cellar.

A re-taste (See), this time at home (Oporto) with my family and all the Christmas delicatessen - mostly out of sugar and chicken eggs, a conventual tradition kept here in Portugal.

Whammy again!

Terras Gauda, Rias Baixas, Spain, 2006

Festive season 2008. Bought at El Corte Ingles Gourmet shop, Oporto.

For the Christmas eve dinner I chose this wonderful light white from Galicia, northwest Spain. The Terras Gauda is to me one of the best Rias Baixas' wine region white wines. They are made mostly out of Albariño grape and made at the Rosal Valley, at Miño river, natural border with the Northernmost part of Portugal.

A perfect match with the traditional typical dish, the bacalhau cozido (boiled sun dried cod fish accompanied with boiled potatoes and cabbage).

Cardeal, Dão, Portugal, 2004

Festive Season 2008. A gift from my father-in-law, Luis Quaresma.

A reserve out of Touriga Nacional grape, the best Portuguese for mono-cast red wine. A nice surprise from Portuguese renowned producer Caves Velhas.

We had it for Christmas lunch with the traditional roasted turkey.

Quinta do Passadouro, Vintage Port, Portugal, 2005

Festive season 2008. A gift from my brother-in-law Luis Quaresma.

A very nice red Vintage Port wine made by one of my favorite winemakers, and friend, Jorge Serôdio Borges.

Perhaps it was to early to drink it. But, on second thought... it matched superbly with the Queijo da Serra buttered cheese.

Chateau La Fleur de Petrus, Pomerol, France, 2004

Festive season 2008. From my cellar.

What can I say? Exceptional red wine from Petrus and Pomerol. Second to none, except..., maybe... I don't know...

My homage to Antonio Nora, from Wine O'Clock wine cellar (Portugal).

Flor de Pingus, Ribera del Duero, Spain, 2000

Festive season. From my cellar.

What a red wine!

With meat, cheese, you name it...

Y de Yquem, Bordeaux, France, 2004

Festive season 2008. From my cellar.

What a surprise white wine from Chateau d'Yquem producers...

It's my homage to Francisco Brochado from Wine'O Clock (my favorite wine cellar in Oporto).

Quinta Monte d'Oiro, Homenagem Antonio Carqueja, Portugal

Festive season 2008. From my cellar.

Quinta Monte d'Oiro is an homage wine to a Portuguese winemaker Antonio Carqueja.

A red must.

Ruinart, Rose Brut Premier, Champagne, France

Festive Season 2008. From my cellar.

One of my favorite blended Rose Champagne wines.

Ruinart...

Pascal Jolivet, Sancerre Exception, France

Festive season 2008. From my cellar.

A great white wine from a not so divulged (out of France) region.

Louis Roederer, Brut Premier, Champagne, France

Festive season 2008. From my cellar.

A nice blended, entry level, Champagne, sparkling white wine.

From Crystal fame...

Café Victoria Prieto Picudo, Tierra de Castilla y León, Spain, 2007

December 5, 2008. Travelling by car from Burgos to León... A superb cold sun shining day... The snowed majesty of Picos da Europa Mountains to my right, like visions of silent guardian angels... The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain... and you know the rest of the song.

At central León's Calle Ancha I found shelter at Art-Deco style Café Victoria, surrounded by fairytale style Gaudi's Casa de los Botines, renaissance style Palacio de los Guzmanes, and the palace once home to medieval age El Cid. What a mix… Like the extraordinary local stew (reversely served: first the seven meat, than the vegetables and finally the soup...): the Cocido Maragato.

I had it pleasurably with a couple of glasses of the restaurant Café Victoria's own labeled claret-type wine: a 100% Prieto Picudo grape, Tierra de Castilla y León D.O., made by Bodegas Gordonzello.

Viña Pedrosa, Ribera del Duero, Spain, 2004

December 4, 2008. Having dinner at the renowned Casa Ojeda restaurant, Burgos, Spain, in the good company of Mariano Olalla Martinez.

Mariano chose the red Viña Pedrosa, Crianza, 2004. Viña Pedrosa, of Bodegas Pérez Pascuas is one of the top Ribera del Duero wines.

And a superb match to the local must have dish: the Cordero Lechal.

El Quintanal, Ribera del Duero, Spain, 2006

December 4, 2008. Having lunch at recommendable Trigo restaurant, Valladolid, Spain, I had a couple of glasses of fruity and tasteful red El Quintanal, a product of Bodega Los Olmos by winemaker Oscar Aragón from renowned Cillar de Silos .

El Quintanal is a 100% Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero, D.O. Quintana del Pidio. The light touch of wood makes it surprisingly tasteful, being such a young wine.

It was a perfect match for the Lomo de Añojo steak.

Solanes, Priorat, Spain, 2000

November 26, 2008. Portovino meeting.

Superb red wine of Priorat, Catalunya, Spain, this Solanes 2000.

The duck timbal was a great match.

Symmetrya, Alentejo, Portugal, 2007

November 26, 2008. Portovino meeting.

One of the best Portuguese white wines I have ever had. A very nice surprise, this just launched Symmetrya by Paulo Laureano Vinus. Wines made exclusively out of Portuguese grape varieties the producer says.

It matched superbly with the Ceviche Thai.

I have also repeated it at home, much to my content, with an Azores, Portugal, São Miguel old and spicy cheese.

Grand Siécle by Laurent Perrier, Champagne, France, 1985

November 26, 2008. Another Portovino meeting at Cafeina Wine & Tapas, Oporto. This time we were Fernando Costa Lima, Miguel Sousa Otto, Eduardo Aires, João Bruschy, Vasco Mourão, and myself, Luis Miguel Novais.

Vasco found for us a relic: a 1985 bottle of Champagne Grand Siécle, Exceptionellement Millésimé, by Laurent Perrier. Old but still grand with a middle of the mouth bubble and grilled hazelnut flavor.

According to Laurent Perrier's website: «At the Palace of Versailles Louis XIV was the first French King to drink Champagne. Louis XIV's era became known as the Grand Siècle - the "Great Century". Bottled in a replica of a 17th Century bottle evoking the radiance of that period, Laurent-Perrier's prestige cuvées embody luxury, magnificence and elegance fit for a king». And so it felt, like bottled old sunshine with finesse bubbles.

Pintas, Douro, Portugal, 2004

November 22, 2008. Having dinner at Oporto with my friends José Manuel Araujo Barros, Fernando Costa Lima, Pedro Trigo, José António Barbosa and Rodrigo Adão da Fonseca. We chose the Comercial restaurant, at the magnificent Palacio da Bolsa.

We had one of the best red wines I have ever had: Pintas, Douro, 2004.

My friends Jorge Borges and Sandra Tavares are the dream team behind this Douro cult wine, with a brand to remember: Pintas. They make it in very limited edition (5.000 bottles), out of very old vines (75 years old). Fantastic!

Character by Pintas, Douro, Portugal, 2005

November 21, 2008. Having dinner with my lovely wife at our Oporto's favorite restaurant: Restaurante Terra.

We had the great Douro red Character, 2005, by Pintas. One of the best Portuguese red wines, made by my friends Jorge Serôdio Borges and Sandra Tavares, themselves also husband and wife, of Wine & Soul fame. Character is made in a not so limited edition as Pintas is and out of younger vines (still 40 years old vines) and brilliant wine making.

It matched superbly with the Croquetes de Alheira.

Astrolabe, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zeland, 2007

November 19, 2008. At the City of London, in the good company of Roger Bramble, Silvestro de Besi and Pierluigi Pezone. They've invited me for lunch at the recently opened Loch Fyne restaurant, at Ledenhall Market. Loch Fyne is the name of Scotland's longest sea loch and of a widespread seafood chain. Recommendable, check their website at Loch Fyne.

Roger chose the Astrolabe Voyage, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zeland, 2007. A good match with fresh oysters. Check their website at Astrolabe.

The Astrolabe Voyage we had is one of those wines their producers think do not deserve a proper cork and seals it instead with a screwcap. What a shame for such a nice wine.

Warre's, Vintage Port, Portugal, 1977

November 17, 2008. The Oxford & Cambridge Club, Pall Mall, London (Oxford & Cambridge Club). My favorite London’s correspondent club of my own club in Lisbon (the Gremio Literario Club). In the good company of Manuel Santos Vitor.

We had each a glass of decanted red Port wine Warre's 1977. A full mouth Vintage Port wine: full tannins topping the middle head of the mouth and slowly fading away from the mouth in grace with a grand finish.

Warre's is a product of the Symington Family Estates. Click to read about a previous tasting. This one adds superbly to my previous good experiences.

Boschendal Reserve Collection, Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa, 2007

November 17, 2008. Reception and Dinner of the International Bar Association (IBA) at the Royal Automobile Club (RAC), Pall Mall, London. In the good company of Tore Ulleberg, Theophilus Emuwa and Rafael Figueiredo.

Superb match the Thai crab and mango salad, watermelon and avocado with the white wine. We had the crisp, fresh Boschendall Reserve Collection, Sauvignon Blanc, 2007. An excellent wine from South Africa.

According to their site: «one of the oldest wine producers in the New World with a French viticultural heritage dating back to 1685», see Boschendal.

Portovino

I started Portovino back in 2005. The idea came to my mind while returning from a visit to the country house and wine cellar of Hubert de Montille, at Beaune, Bourgogne, France. Hubert is a friend of Huguette Andre-Coret, both French lawyers. My wife Isabel and I were in Paris for the grand reception of the president of the Paris Bar Association, then Jean Marie Burguburu. Huguette arranged the visit with Hubert and we drove down to Beaune together with Nelson Landry and Maurizio Codurri.

Hubert was freshly starring at the film Mondovino. It stroked me that the Portuguese wine and most especially the Port wine was not even mentioned. Out of bounds? Why?

Back home to Porto I spoke to António Guimarães (Becas) who had just re-opened the Passos Manuel Theater. We then spoke to Vasco Mourão, owner of Cafeina group of restaurants. The three of us started the motion to set up an event to move the Portuguese winemakers: a special ante-screening of Mondovino with wine tastings at Passos Manuel followed by a dinner party and wine tastings at Cafeina and Terra. It was a major sold out.

These are the wine producers who participated:
Aneto
Carm
Casa de Cello
Caves Aliança
Crios
Esmero
Filipa Pato
Formula Wine
Herdade da Malhadinha Nova
Interwine
Lavradores de Feitoria
M.E. Selections
Malheiro Dias
Niepoort
Quinta da Alorna
Quinta da Casa Amarela
Quinta da Gaivosa
Quinta da Castaínça
Quinta de Covela
Quinta de La Rosa
Quinta de Santa Julia
Quinta do Ameal
Quinta do Caldeirão
Quinta do Passadouro
Quinta do Vale da Perdiz
Quinta do Vale Meão
Quinta do Vallado
Quinta Fria
Ramos Pinto
Real Companhia Velha
Sogrape
Studio Wine
Symington
Taylor’s
Uva
Vinha Paz
Vinicom
Wine & Soul

This first edition of Portovino was a major success and big fun.

It followed the also successfull second edition, also in 2005, under the magnificent theme: Around the World in 80 Wines.

On the occasion of the 75fth rendition of the Porto Book Fair, Portovino supported a program around wine and books inspired by Julio Verne's Around the World in 80 Days. In the presence of the real thing, thanks to Jose Espirito Santo and Ivone Ribeiro of Vinho & Coisas. It was big fun.

4 June 2005 we had a sold out at restaurant Degusto for the tastings of Around the World in 80 Minutes (no it’s not a mistake, 80 wines were just too much… next time, maybe) and after meal. Here’s the list of the 15 wines from all continents we have tasted in that occasion, by order of appearence:

Whites:
- Georg Breuer, Terra Montosa, 2002, Rhein, White, Germany
- Sentinel, Chardonnay, 2003, South Africa
- Canyon Road, Sauvignon Blanc, 2001, Sonoma Valley, White, United States of America
- Louis Latour, Mersault Blanc, 2002, Burgundy, White, France
- Te Mata, Sauvignon Blanc, 2003, Hawkes Bay, White, New Zeland

Reds:
- Crios, Malbec, 2003, Mendonza, Red, Argentina
- Rosemount Diamond Shiraz, 2003, South Australia, Red, Australia
- Piedra Feliz, Pinot Noir, 2001, Aconcágua, Red, Chile
- Telmo Rodriguez LZ, Tempranillo, 2003, Rioja, Red, Spain
- Felsina, Chianti Classico, 2001, Chianti, Red, Italy
- Château Musar, 1997, Bekaa Valley, Red, Libano
- Excellence de Bonassia, 2000, Beni M'Tir, Red, Morocco
- Quinta do Vale Dona Maria, 2002, Douro, Red, Portugal

Dessert:
- Kracher Auslese, 2003, Austria
- Ats Cuvée Late Harvest, 2003, Tokaji, Hungary

After a long pause Portovino is back in 2008. If you want to learn more about Portovino's third rendition click on this link.

Pintia, Toro, Spain, 2001

Portovino session of 12 November 2008.

The Iberian Peninsula River Durius (in Latin) comes down from its source at the Soria mountains (Spain) long stretching itself from 897 kilometers to its outlet in the Atlantic Ocean at Porto (Portugal). It is named Duero in Spanish and Douro in Portuguese.

That session we had a red Duero wine alongside a red Douro wine. It was a fantastic match. God knows who the winner was.

For the Duero, Vasco brought us a superb red Pintia, launched for the first time in 2004 (precisely the 2001 we had) produced by the Alvarez family of Vega-Sicilia and Alion fame. Pintia is their project for the Toro wine region, definitely one of my favorite wine regions for the dark red color and powerful fruity wines it produces.

The 2001 Pintia is a fantastic wine and it matched superbly with a Pevere, the Chilean empanada prepared for us by Cafeina's restaurant Chilean born chef Camilo Jana.

For the Douro wine, click here or see the next post.

Sol Lewitt, Bodega Matador, Dirk Niepoort, Douro, Portugal, 2001

Portovino session of 12 November 2008.

The beautiful magazine Matador issues each year a special limited edition of a wine made in collaboration by signature wine and plastic artists. They call it Bodega Matador. The 2001 edition was handsomely labeled by the meanwhile deceased New York based plastic artist Sol Lewitt. And the liquid product of it was produced by my friend Porto wine maker Dirk Niepoort.

Dirk descends from a family of wine makers and distributors who’s been at Oporto for centuries now. See Niepoort.

We had the bottle numbered 740 of the Bodega Matador 2001 special edition. A superb and rare red Douro, Portugal wine product.

Prince Poniatowsky, Le Clos Baudoin, Aigle Blanc, Vouvray, France, 1989

Another session of Portovino at Cafeina Wine and Tapas Bar, 12 November 2008. Present with me were Vasco Mourão, João Bruschy, Miguel Sousa Otto and Eduardo Aires.

Two colorful gold alike white wines were decanted waiting for us. One looked like old gold and the other one looked like new gold. Both were from Vouvray, France. The Blackberry helped us locate this low profile French wine region around Tours, the Loire Valley. It is one of the 100 legendary wines list. Now I only have 59 to ge to the 100...

The new gold alike wine was the 1995 Prince Poniatowsky, Moelleux Vitifera, Aigle Blanc. The old gold alike wine was the 1989 Prince Poniatowsky, Le Clos Baudoin , also by Aigle Blanc. Both are worth a warm reference. Mentioning they are indeed very different, not only because of their ageing, but also because of their distinct terroirs.

The 1989 was superbly matched by Vasco with a lovely sardine Tapa. Whammy!

Quinta de Baixo, Garrafeira, Bairrada, Portugal, 2004

Portovino meeting at the Cafeína Wine & Tapas Bar, 5 November 2008. One of Oporto’s best. Check Cafeina.

The 3 of us (Vasco Mourão, João Bruschy and I) we had some very nice Portuguese style tapas (we call it petiscos) with a red Quinta de Baixo, Garrafeira, Bairrada, 2004. A Portuguese old style wine: fruity with organic taste.

Bairrada wine region stays in a plain south of Oporto and North of Coimbra. Flashy labeled Quinta de Baixo is produced by 3 young producers under the brand Artwine. The 2004 Garrafeira is a strong, fruity red wine, great to have with the duck tapas.

Trimbach, Cuvée Frederic-Emile, Riesling, Alsace, France, 2003

Back home to Oporto, at the Cafeina Wine & Tapas Bar, 5 November 2008, late in the afternoon with Vasco Mourão and João Bruschy, celebrating life.

A new rendering of Portovino is about to start. We have discussed the new rules (Portovino is now in its 3th format since its inception back in 2005), while Vasco presented us with a white Trimbach, Cuvée Fréderic Émile, Riesling, Alsace, 2003. Powerfull. And still a long way to go (some say this wines only show their best after their 15th year).

Trimbach is arguably the Alsace wine reference - in business since 1626. Within Trimbach wines the Cuvée Frederic-Emile is definitely noteworthy. And one of the 100.

Davino, Domain Ceptura Rouge, Dealu Mare, Romania, 2006

At restaurant Byblos, Bucharest, Romania, 1 November 2008. Having dinner with Francisco Pimentel, we had a fantastic local tartufed steak, perfectlly matched with red Davino, Domain Ceptura Rouge, Dealu Mare, 2006.

Mistery wine. Follow the eye. Check Davino.

Premiat Reserva, Pinot Noir, Dealu Mare, Romania, 2005

At Bucharest, Romania, for the 52d annual congress of the UIA - Union Internationale des Avocats - incorporated in 1927 (UIA). 31 October 2008, I had a couple of glasses of red Premiat Reserva, Pinot Noir, Dealu Mar, 2005, at the executive lounge of the Hilton Hotel.

A Romanian wine, a local pearl.

From the the wine region of Dealu Mare, Transilvania, the home of Count Dracula.

Cortes de Cima, Alentejo, Portugal, 2000

Oporto reminds me of Florida. Although I am not yet retired, one can live here as such... Just to give you an example: from Povoa de Varzim to Miramar, within greater Oporto, you have a choice of 50 kilometers of sandy beaches facing the Atlantic.

At seaside resort Povoa de Varzim, 23 October 2008, having dinner with Fernando Costa Lima at Petisqueira A Barca we had a splendid Açorda de Ovas de Peixe-Galo alongside the very same locally catched and grilled John Dory fish (also know as São Pedro, Gal or Doree).

It matched perfectly with a superb red Cortes de Cima, Alentejo, 2000. Cortes de Cima is a family owned and run vineyard and winery located in Alentejo, Southern Portugal.

Sogrape Reserva, Dão, Portugal, 1992

Saturday, 18 October 2008, at home, I had a red Sogrape Reserva, Dão, 1992. Splendid. A rarity of producer Sogrape (of Mateus Rose "drink pink" world fame).

The Dão region lies in the northern central half of Portugal. The Dão DOC is 100 years old now. It was established in 1908 and is nowadays dully headquartered at the Renaissance pearl Fontelo palace, Viseu, Portugal.

I had it with a milky Serra cheese, from the Serra da Estrela, also at the northern central half of Portugal. A perfect match.

Bordón, Rioja, Spain, 2004

Madrid, Spain, Barrio Salamanca, 14 October 2008. Pedro Cardelus invited me to lunch at the Castelló 9 restaurant, a local must.

He chose the wine: a red Bodegas Franco Españolas' Bordón, Crianza, 2004. A great Rioja.

And the food... what a match with the jamón, the tartare , the riñones and the tociño del cielo!

Señorio del Cid, Ribera del Duero, Spain, 2003

Madrid, Spain, Barrio Salamanca, 13 October 2008.

At the Méson Cinco Jotas’ Barra I had a Tapa of Jamón 5J another of Mórcon de Lomo Ibérico and a tasty get along glass of Osborne's red Señorio del Cid, Ribera del Duero, Crianza, 2003.

Y Olé!

Carruades de Lafite, Pauillac, France, 1998

I just bought it from a local wine cellar and had it at home last Saturday, 11 October 2008. A nice quality to price ratio expectation, in view of its current age, brought it into my attention.

They market it as the second wine of Château Lafite Rotschild. But to me is second to none other Pauillac.

You may wish to check their website, where they state: "Given the refined selection of fine wines after two decades, the Carruades feature characteristics similar to those of the fine wine, but with their own personality linked to a higher percentage of Merlot in its composition, and plots of land that are clearly identified as producing Carruades. The origin of the name comes from the Carruades plateau, the name of a group of plots adjacent to the chateau’s best vineyards, purchased in 1845 by Château Lafite."

Lello Garrafeira, Douro, Portugal, 1995

From my cellar: Douro, Lello, Garrafeira, 1995.

Douro wines are growing in quality by the year.

This old one showed to me how well they can age in the bottle too.

Prunotto, Barolo, Italy, 2004

Milan, Italy, 29 September 2008, Via Montenapoleone, having dinner with Filipa Correia we had the great red Barolo, Prunotto, 2004.

I still think the great Italian reds come from the three B and one C best Italian wine regions' old mnemonic.

I may be wrong about the mnemonic. But this wine proved to the standard.

Diacono Gerardo 1028, Gutturnio Riserva, Doc Colli Piacentini, Italy, 2001

At lovelly Piacenza, Italy, on September 28, 2008, I had a regional pearl: the red 2001 "Diacono Gerardo 1028", a Gutturnio Riserva, Doc Colli Piacentini.

According to their site the strange name comes "from an ancient document recording how a certain Deacon Gerardo bequeathed the lands at Fornello to a noble family in the year 1028, a date which marked the beginning of the history of Fornello as a small feudal estate". The harvest takes place in October...see Torre Fornello

Château Saint Roman, Côtes du Rhône, France, 2005

Sous le pont d'Avignon...sings the song. Nearby Avignon, Provence, France, there is Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes du Rhône's fine wines.

At Vedene, a lovelly small village nearby Avignon, on September 27, 2008, I enjoyed a half bottle of red Château Saint Roman, Côtes du Rhône, 2005, of Caves Saint Pierre. A local suggestion. A nice surprise.

D'Oliveira Reserva Boal, Madeira, Portugal, 1968

As a Portuguese national I feel very proud for our fortified dessert/cheese wines: Port and Madeira. And as much deceived by our successive national governments' negligence: they fail to promote these two great value added wine products. Two important national assets left to their own fates. Unfortunately, most people in the world do not identify Madeira and Port with Portugal. Although these fine wines have been produced, bottled and shipped there for more than 250 years now.

D’Oliveira is one of the classic Madeira shippers, and one of the few to survive.

Having dinner in London with Guy Buisseret and Antonio Prida, at Pall Mall's Oxford & Cambridge Club, we had the superb 1968 D'Oliveira Reserva Boal with cheese. This 40 years old fine wine was a nice surprise for my friends coming from Europe and America, much to my satisfaction.

Château Giscours, Margaux, France, 1988

This week I had two successive superb dinner parties with a couple of business friends at the Oxford & Cambridge Club, Pall Mall, London. Good food and the 20 years old 1988 Château Giscours was, both times, as fresh and fruity and delicious as any superb Cabernet Sauvignon based wine can prove to become after being carefully and dully kept for a long time - I still think that a minimum of 10 years is required for a Bordeaux wine to show its value, as it used to be back in the 20th century, not so long ago.

It proves that some wine producers and mainstream consumers are very wrong selling and consuming their Bordeaux so young as it became common practice. There ought to be many financial alternatives to put an end to this wine infanticide.

As they state in their own website: "The quality of the wine is proportional to the age of the vines. One quarter of Château Giscours’ plots are over 40 years old" Link

And this 20 years old 1988 is currently fantastic.

The Symington Family Estates Vintage Ports, Portugal

November 27, 2007. I was lucky enough to have been invited by the renowned Port wine producers The Symington Family Estates, in the business since 1882, for a wine tasting of not less than 14 of their best Vintage Port wines ranging from 1924 to 2005.

In order of appearance:

- Quinta do Vesuvio 2005
- Dow's Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira 2005
- Graham's 2000
- Graham's Quinta dos Malvedos 1998
- Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
- Graham's 1985
- Dow's 1983
- Warre's 1980
- Smith Woodhouse 1977
- Graham's 1970
- Warre's 1966
- Dow's 1963
- Dow's 1945
- Warre's 1924

What a choice!

My preferences went to the Graham's 1985 and the Dow's 1963. But it's really hard to put aside the rest, all of them to be remembered as fabulous Vintage Port wines.

100 legendary wines

The book "100 Vins de Légende - Une séléction de la famille Vrinat, des sommeliers du restaurant et des caves Taillevent" (Texts by Sylvie Girard-Lagorce, ed. Solar, Paris, France, 1999) , has been one good companion to my wine tastings this past 9 years. Now that I'm reviewing it, I'm glad to have tasted 40 fine wines which go by the book:
Champagne
- Clos du Mesnil, Krug
- Cristal, Roederer
- Cuvée S, Salon
- Dom Pérignon, Moet et Chandon
White wines
- Alsace, Gewurztraminer
- Alsace, Riesling
- Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet
- Chablis Premier Cru
- Corton-Charlemagne
- Montrachet
- Sauternes, Château Suduiraut
- Sauternes, Château Gilette
- Sauternes, Château d'Yquem
- Tokajj
- Valée de l'Ocakaganan, Vidal Icewine, Inniskillin
Red Wines
- Barolo
- Brunello di Montalcino
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- Chinon
- Échézeaux
- Hermitage
- Margaux
- Napa Valley
- Pauillac, Château Pichon-Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande
- Pauillac, Château Lafite-Rotschild
- Pauillac, Château Latour
- Pauillac, Château Mouton-Rotschild
- Pessac-Léognan, Château La Mission-Haut-Brion
- Pessac-Léognan, Château Haut-Brion
- Pomerol, Château Petrus
- Porto, Quinta do Noval
- Ribera del Duero, Pesquera Janus Gran Reserva
- Ribera del Duero, Vega Sicilia, Unico
- Richebourg
- La Tâche, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
- Saint-Émilion, Château Angélus
- Saint-Émilion, Château Cheval Blanc
- Saint-Estèphe, Château Cos d'Estournel
- Toscane, Sassicaia
- Toscane, Solaia
Fortunatelly, I still have a long 60 to get to the 100!

About Memoriavinia

This is about wine memories.

I live in a wine region, the Port Wine's (Oporto, Portugal) but I don't work in the wine industry (I practice international commercial and financial law - Novais Advogados). I appreciate and enjoy moderate consumption of wine, and feel glad to share my lucky experiences with other wine amateurs. And keep on dreaming about the precious nectar's next best tasting.

In this blog I use English as lingua franca - bearing in mind that one such great Englishman as Francis Bacon, back in the 16th century, equivocally wrote the same about Latin.