Alvarinho ‘Granit’, Soalheiro, Vinho Verde
100% Alvarinho (same as Albarino over the border in Spain)
Qunita do Soalheiro are the benchmark producer of Alvarinho. Based in the Vinho Verde region, their wines are a league above other producers; more elegant and complex. This particular bottling, named 'Granit' after the soils in this vineyard, is my favourite; a rich, complex expression of the grape with a lovely mineral texture and a very long, pure finish.
A little bit similar to really good 1er Cru Chablis, this is perfect with things like grilled white fish with lemon and olive oil or shellfish (lobster salad would be sublime).
Something a bit different but truly World class. You won't be disappointed.
Herdade Sao Miguel Tinto
This is a family run winery, in the heart of Redondo, in the Alentejo region, with a deep love and understanding of the viticultural heritage of their region. Alexandre Relvas started in 1997, and his two sons Alexandre Jr and António now run the show, ably supported by Head Winemaker Nuno Franco.
Herdade São Miguel is the original, flagship estate which comprises 35 Ha of vineyard as well as Cork forest and olive groves and a heathy flock of Merino sheep.A blend that changes slightly each year, the last few vintages of this wine have been on fire. Beautifully defined dark fruit (there always seems to be a generous lick of cassis in this wine, even when the Cabernet component is actually quite modest), just a frame of toasty oak (although that roasted Alentejo character amalgamates with that too), and just enough Alicante crunch to keep it all fresh and energetic.Older vintages are still drinking well, and with the improvements in this great value wine, there's no reason more recent vintages won't last even longer.A great wine for a hearty roast or BBQ.
Papa Figos, Ferreirinha
35% Tinta Roriz , 30% Tinta Barroca, 20% Touriga Franca, 15% Touriga Nacional
This historic producer, founded 1952, was the first in the Douro dedicated to producing light wines rather than Fortified wines. They make some great examples of the Douro at prices that are truly great value.
A modern example of Douro light wine showcasing the fresh, vibrant fruit and fine, balanced structure that can be achieved with careful grape selection from some of the finest vineyards in the region. A great wine to have in the house; everyone will love it and great to open any time you just fancy a 'nice glass of red'.
Raza, Quinta da Raza, Vinho Verde
This Vinho Verde (northern Portugal), has always been one of our most popular wines.
Quinta da Raza is a fifth generation family winery that makes some of the most expressive wines in the region.
This wine is a blend of Arinto, Azal & Trajadura and is probably the most refreshing wine on our list. The wine is bottled young and retains a little spritz which when drunk cold on a hot day really hits the spot!
Perfect summer wine for the garden or picnics (11.5% abv) and great with salads and grilled shellfish. You will need more than one bottle of this...
Ciconia Tinto, Casa Relvas
Touriga Nacional, Syrah, Aragonez plus others.. The Alentejo region of Portugal (North of the Algarve), produces some of the county's best value wines. This is a great example from Alexandre Relvas Jr and his team at Casa Relvas. It is rich and juicy blend with a long smooth finish, that tastes much more expensive than it is. Perfect for BBQ's and a really versatile wine to have on hand, complementing pizza, meaty pasta, pork chops...