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Niepoort LBV Port

£24.95
Dirk Niepoort is often lauded as Portugal’s best winemaker, making some of Portugal’s best table wines. However, Port is always at the heart of what he does and year after year, this LBV is one of the very best. Despite it’s power and richness, it stands out from the crowd with it’s real drinkability!

Meandro Tinto, Quinta do Vale Maeo

£23.95
Quinta do Vale Maeo is perhaps the most famous and important vineyard in all of Portugal. For many years the grapes went into Casa Fereirrinha's Barca Velha, Portugal's most renowned wine but since 1999, the Olazabal family have bottled and released the wine under their own label. From these same old vineyards, they also produced a 'second wine' called Meandro, which is more approachable in it's youth (and more affordaable!). Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz account for 85% of the blend of this wine, which also includes Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca, and Tinto Cão (typical mixture of Douro grapes). This is one of my favourite Douro reds; it's so rich and complex and to me, sums up what the Douro is all about. It is full-bodied with fairly robust tannins, so does need food - grilled meats or strong, hard cheeses work well - but the perfume is what sets it apart form the herd. Full of herbs and dark, brooding black fruits, it is completely beguiling. A real wine and one that is utterly satisfying. This benefits from a bit of time in a decanter or would improve further if cellared for up to 10 years. Great value for such an amazing wine.

Meandro Branco, Quinta do Vale Meao

£22.95

Vito, Xito and Luisa Olazabal represent the 5th and 6th generations to oversee the Douro’s most iconic estate. The huge meander in the Douro in which the estate sits provides the name for Vale Meao’s ‘second’ wine, but forget any ideas of compromise here: it’s a triumph in its own right. The 300 hectare property was purchased in 1877 unplanted, by the famous Dona Antonia Adelaide Ferreira - whose descendants now run Vale Meao - and was transformed by hundreds of workers into the 'chateau' and vineyards by 1894. Making some of Portugal's most outstanding reds is all very well but the family realised that when they wanted to drink white wine, they were having to buy from elsewhere; so they decided to make their own! Years of experience gave Xito the keen eye to spot some great vineyards of Arinto and Rabigato, just up the road from his Quinta. In the Meandro Branco we have unexpected freshness and class, for a lowland Douro white. The blend proportions change a little each year, with Rabigato being just dominant. The Rabigato brings a little body, riper fruits and floral elegance to Arinto’s fresh acidity, citrus and green fruit. Schist soils and a touch of lees bring textural minerality.

This drinks a little bit like really good Chablis but with a bit more zing. Delicious with fine fish dishes: dover sole grilled with a butter sauce...mmm

Vinha Grande Tinto, Casa Ferreirinha

£15.95
Founded in 1952, with the production of the first ever vintage of Barca-Velha, Casa Ferreirinha pioneered the quality revolution in Douro still wines and was the first producer in the region dedicated entirely to producing still table wine, rather than Port.Vinha Grande is the second oldest wine of the Douro Valley (after Barca Velha) and its heritage is noticeable in every sip. An elegant, complex wine with the structure of a fine Bordeaux exhibiting flavours of blackcurrant, leather and subtle oak spice.

Papa Figos, Ferreirinha

£13.95
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'.

Ciconia Tinto, Casa Relvas

£12.95

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...