On Thursday the Independent Winegrowers´Association (IWA) presented their wines in Berlin. Its members include Casa de Cello, Domingos Alves de Sousa, Luís Pato, Quinta do Ameal, Quinta de Covela and Quinta dos Roques.
"The IWA of Portugal aims to champion the best native Portuguese grape varieties, though several of the members also embrace international grapes in their wines. Each member produces wines exclusively from his own vineyards, and aims to express the genuine terroir from each Quinta."
First, I was deeply impressed by the overall-quality of their wines. The basic wines were well-made, offer a lot of drinking-pleasure and are extremly food-friendly. And some of the TOP wines were simply outstanding and should be in every wine-cellar.
Luís Pato
Winery
Winemaker
The estate Luís Pato with 65 hectares is located in the region Beiras (Bairrada). The Bairrada zone is quite cool due to the closeness to the Atlantic. Luís Pato´s passion is the Baga grape and the chalky clay soils are perfect for it. In addition Luís Pato is an open-minded winemaker, as he constantly experimenting in the cellar&vineyard to improve the quality of his wines. The TOP wine "Pé Franco" made from ungrafted vines is outstanding with a long-aging potential.
2007 Espumante Baga
Lovely sparkling wine with an almost burgundy-like fruit.
Fine body and a solid start of the portfolio.
2005 Vinhas Velhas
A wine with character! It presents rough edges and shows spicy, earthy flavors. Perfect food-wine.
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2003 Vinha Pan
100% Baga, grown in chalky-clay soil and the vineyard is a mix of 80-90 year old vines (0.4ha) and 20 year old vines (1.8ha) . At the beginning of August was made a green harvest of 50% and later aged for 12 months in french oak. Impressive density and depth of flavors by mulberry, black fruits, spice, coffee and with a velvety texture. Big aging potential.
91pts.
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2006 Quinta do Riberinho Baga "Pé Franco"
Absolutely mind-boggling wine! Stunning depth&structure with a velvety texture. Surprisingly the stilistic of this wine reminded me a little bit on Barolo. Of course this wine needs a big sleep.
94-95pts.
Here a comment from Luis Pato: "My dream 20 years ago was to produce a wine that could reveal us how were the wines before the arrival of the phyloxera to Europe. That is how Pé Franco, name which is commonly known, was born. I planted 1,2ha of Baga grape vines, directly, has it used to be in pre-phyloxera Europe, in sandy soil – a way to avoid the attack to the roots of the bug producer of the disease, due to his aversion to that kind of soils. After big anxiety we made the first harvest in 1995, seven years after the plantation. In 2005 we commemorated the tenth harvest of this dare. The wine comes from an area augmented to 2,5ha, where we produced, in 2005,*1.400 bottles of 750ml, 100 magnuns and 50 double magnums. As each vine produces just one grape, i.e., a glass of wine, it is necessary the annual work of six vines to obtain a bottle. This is due not only to the smaller production of the ungrafted vines but also to the successive green harvests that we make to obtain a very bodied wine that can hide the tannins of the grape and the acidity typical of the climate of the region, fundamental factors to give it an aging capacity to celebrate the adulthood, a marriage or another relevant event to the daughter or to the son, with a wine of their birth date."
Alves de Sousa
Winery
Winemaker
The De Sousa family has 5 "Quintas" (estates), Gaivosa, Vale da Raposa, Caldas, Estacao and Aveleira, all in the Douro region with 110 ha. The production of wines is a family tradition for the winemaker Domingos Alves de Sousa. His father and grandfather had been winegrowers. For many years he supplied some of the most famous and prestigious Port companies like Ferreira and Borges Wines. In the late 80s he started to make his own wine and in 1992 he lauchend to the market his first wine 91 Quinto do Vale da Raposa white.
2003 Quinta da Gaivosa tinto
A blend of Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Touriga National etc. and 10 months in french oak . Fine start with flavors of plum compote, spices, earthy notes.
2003 Quinta da Gaivosa Vinha de Lordelo
A blend of Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Cáo etc., 15 month in new french oak, (Allier&Nevers) and the vineyards are 100 years old. Dense fruit of berries with spice. Good depth and complexity. Perfect entry into the world of Alves de Sousa.
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2005 Abandonado tinto
WOW, spectacular wine! Powerful with flavors of blackberry, tea, spice and an amazing schist minerality. Unique wine and reveals all elements of an outstanding wine.
94-95pts.
Quinta do Ameal
Winery
Winemaker
The estate is located in the Minho region, 45min. north from Porto. The winemaker Pedro Araújo makes a serious interpretation of Vinho Verde based on the Loureiro variety. His white wines are a must-buy for Riesling lovers.
2007 Quinta do Ameal Loureiro
Here we have an organic wine (11,5%) matured for between 3 and 6 months in a stainless steel wine vat. Shows a herbal charakter. On the palate floral notes with flavors of pears, herbs and a crisp&refreshing acidity. Vinho Verde at its best!
90pts.
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2007 Quinta do Ameal Escolha
The wine, 100% Loureiro, is fermented and aged in new French oak barrels for 6 months. Needs decanting! Floral flavors of dried flowers, mandarine-peel and nut. Remarkable complexity& length and without any doubt a very delicate wine.
91pts.
Quinta de Covela
Winery
Winemaker
Quinta de Covela is a south-facing estate, formed as an amphitheatre, overlooking the Douro river. Farmed organically 19ha of terraced vineyards. In addition he is a member of "La Renaissance des Appellations" group.
2007 COVELHA Eschoha white
A blend of Avesso, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer and fermented, aged in stainless steel vats. Posseses a spicy character with herbs and fennel flavors. In addition a good balancing freshness. Well-made.
89pts.
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2006 COVELHA Colheita Seleccionada
A blend of Avesso and Chardonnay. Partly fermented and aged in french Allier barriques with "batonnage" for 6 months. Creamy texture with elegant flavors, nutty notes and perfectly integrated oak. Good balance. A beauty!
91-92pts.
2005 COVELHA Escolha
A blend of Touriga Nacional, Cabernet franc, Merlot and Syrah. This wine is unoaked with stainless steel fermentation. Intense ripe fruit of black cherries and blackberry. Great food-wine and offers a lot of drinking pleasure.
2003 COVELHA Colheita Seleccionada
A blend of Touriga Nacional, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Aged in french Allier and Vosges barriques for 12 months. Earthy flavors, spicy, floral elements and a remarkable length. Fine, fine......
Quinta dos Roques
Winemaker
Quinta dos Roques has 40ha in the Dao region and is run by Louis Lourenco.
2007 Quinta das Maias white
Quinta das Maias is a seprate property whose wines are made in the dos Roques winery by the same team. Based on Malvasia Fina and 10% was 4 months barrel-fermented.
Quite fresh and good body with a light creamy elements. Nice start of the white wine portfolio.
2007 Quinta dos Roques Encruzado white
Based on the grape Encruzado and 65% was 7 months barrel fermented. Good integrated oak. Excellent food-wine.
2006 Quinta das Maias
Based on the grape Jaen which is the same grape as the Tinta Mencia from Bierzo in Spain. The story is that it was brought to Portugal by pilgrims returning from Santiag de Compostela. Excellent food-wine on high level! Lovely bright fruit with low tannins and offers a lot of drinking-pleasure.
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2005 Flor das Maias Tinto
A blend of Touriga Nacional, Jaen and Alfrocheiro. Very elegant wine with fine-graind tannins and overall a polished texture.
91-92pts.
Casa de Cello
Winery
Winemaker
"Though a family wine-growing buisness for four generations, Casa de Cello has been making estate wines under Joao Pedor d`Araujo´s direction since 1996." Wine will be produced at Entre-Douro e Minho und in der Dao Region
2004 Quinta de Sanjoanne Escolha white
Quinta in the region Entre-Douro e Minho with 14ha. Here we have a blend of Avesso, Alvarinho and Chardonnay. 6 months oak fermented. Terrific boquet and in general a distinctive style of white wine. Vegetal elements with lime flavors, apple and very complex on the finish.
91pts.
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2005 Quinta da Vegia Reserva red
A blend of Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz. Aged 10 months in oak. Very charming wine! Fine floral bouquet with flavors of black tea, plum, sweet berry fruits wrapped in a silky texture.
91pts.
