It’s always great to taste back vintages from João Tavares de Pina. They show a great deal of consistency, and demonstrate the Dão’s abilities to produce very serious, ageworthy reds to maximum effect. This 2002 is pretty evolved but in Read more
Really charming on the nose, with raspberries, fresh cherries and violets. But this wine had me fooled. I was expecting it to be super light and tannin- free, but actually it packs a punch on the finish. Jaen is most Read more
A little strung out on the nose, but with ripe strawberry and plum fruit on the palate. Pretty lively, but lacks harmony and somehow doesn’t quite have the joyfulness that one would want from a rosé.
A pale provencal style rosé, made from a noble, dark- fruited red grape. It sounds illogical, and it’s a bit disappointing to taste. There’s an odd lack of acidity, and the fruit tastes bland. Without freshness or fruit, this just Read more
Despite the low alcohol (presumably indicating quite early harvest), this traditionally made talha blend has more harmony than the Rocim Amphora Branco (Rocim is Pedro’s day job, where his wife makes the wines). Here there’s wispy apricot and white peach Read more
Rocim makes some of the cleanest talha wines I’ve ever tasted, and this is no exception. The nose is attractive, with some earthy, dried herb notes, but dominated more by floral and citrus characteristics. Seriously bracing on the palate, with Read more
Super fresh, youthful talha wine filled with expressive fresh and dried apricot, a bit of orange blossom and lime. Bottled straight from the talha after two months with the skins. Filtered through a layer of stems at the bottom, which Read more
This is a fascinating project. Daniel Afonso has vineyards right next to the Colares area, but on clay soils rather than Colares’ hallowed sandy soils. However, his wines are made very much in the Colares style – light, briny and Read more
MOB is the project of Jorge Moreira (Poeira), Francisco ‘Xito’ Olazabal (Quinta do Vale Meão) and Jorge Serôdio Borges (Wine & Soul). This white blend comes from a vineyard at 500 metres in the Serra da Estrela mountains. Heather and Read more
Rufia is João’s more “hands off” natural wine line, made with zero filtration and zero additives apart from a smidge of sulphur at bottling time. Wild herbs, heather and chamomile dominate the nose, which is pleasingly funky. There is a Read more
