Wine Tasting: Portugal in Toronto, June 3, 2008

The Time and Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2008   2PM to 6:30 PM

The Event: Wines of Portugal Annual Trade Tasting

The Venue: Fairmont Royal York

The Target Audience: wine trade.

The Availability/Catalogue: a fat booklet, business paper size, with spiral binding. Some 55 wineries attended, including about a half dozen looking for an importer. There were some 400 wines in the show. The catalogue listed all the names and numbers except for prices. In some cases, Euros were sparingly quoted, in other cases, the figures were in Canadian dollars. Vintage years were mostly exact. Grape varieties were listed, and regions and DOCs given. Good job.

The Quote: "These wineglasses [in the seminar] are shockingly filthy."

The Wines: There was a seminar tasting of some six wines, and some winemakers attended. David Lawrason gave the talk on the major Portuguese grape varieties (Arinto, Touriga Nacional, Aragones, etc.) and their distinguishing characteristics. I did not taste all of the wines in the show – I just concentrated on table reds. I also passed up most of the entry level generic table wines except for a few whites.

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Esporao Touriga Nacional 2004 Alentejo  $26

-Palacio da Balalhoa 2004 Terras do Sado  [Bordeaux blend]

-Bacalhoa So Touriga Nacional 2005 Terras do Sado

-Quinta Da Balcalhoa 2006 Terras do Sado

-CARM Grande Reserva 2005 Douro

-Esporao Private Selection Red 2004 Alentejo

-Dona Maria Reserva 2004 Alentejo

-Quinta Do Carmo Dom Martinho 2005 Alentejo Red - $14.61 Licensee, FWP

-Quinta Do Carmo Reserva 2005 Alentejo Red

-Casa de Cello Quinta Da Vegia Reserva 2005 Dao

-Herdade Da Malhadinha Marias Da Malhadinha 2004 Alentejo - $135 Licensee, FWP

-Quinta Dos Roques Garrafeira 2003 DAO  $50, RKW Importa

-Casa Agricola J Pombo Herdade Do Meio Garrafeira 2003 Alentejo  $50, 30/50 Imports

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Quinta Dos Roques Touriga Nacional 2005 DAO  $27

-Adega Cartuxa Pere Manca 2006 Alenejo Branco

-Quinta Do Coa Reserva 2006 Douro

-Quinta De Pancas Reserva 2005 Estremadura

-Esperao Red Reserve 2005 Alentejo

-J. Portugal Ramos Marques De Borba Reserva 2004 Alentejo

-Montez Champalimaud Cotto Grande Escolha 2001 Red

-Alves de Sousa Quinta Da Gaivosa 2003 Douro

-Quinta Do Portal Reserva 2003 Douro

-Quinta Do Portal Grande Reserva 2003 Douro

-Quinta Nova N.S. Carmo Reserva 2005 Douro

-Quinta Nova N.S. Carmo Grande Reserva 2005 Douro

-Messias Grande Escolha 2005 Douro

-Alianca Quinta Da Garrida Reserva TN 2004 Dao

-Casa Agric Alexandre Reivas Herdade Sao Miguel Reserva 2005 Alentejo

-Herdade Do Perdigao Reserva 2004 Alentejo

-Casa de Cello Quinta Da Vegia 2006 Dao

-Casal Branco Falcoaria Reserva 2005 Ribatejo

-Casa Santos Lima Tinta Barroca 2005 Estremadura

-Encostas De Estremoz DJ Reserva 2003 Alentejo

-Herdade Da Malhadinha Nova Tinto 2006 Alentejo

-Casa Agricola J Pombo Herdade Do Meio 2004 Alentejo

-Casa Agricola J Pombo Herdade Do Meio Homenagem 2004 Alentejo

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Quinta De Pancas 2005 Estremadura

-Quinta De Pancas Chardonnay&Arinto 2006 Estremadura

-J. Portugal Ramos Vila Santa Syrah 2007 Alentejo

-Dona Maria Amantis 2006 Alentejo White [Viognier]

-Dona Maria Amantis 2004 Alentejo Red [PV, CS, Syrah]

-Quinta Da Lagoalva Talhao 1 2007 Ribatejano White

-Messias Quinta Do Valdoeiro Reserva 2005 Bairrada

-Quinta De Ventozelo Tinta Roriz 2004 Douro

-Aveleda Follies Chardonnay/Maria Gomes 2006 Bairrada

-Aveleda Follies Cabernet Sauvignon/Touriga Nacional 2004 Bairrada

-Casa Agricola Alexandre Reivas Herdade Sao Miguel 2006 Alentejo

-Vinho Do Almo Escholha 2005 Alentejo

-Terras De Monforte Eschola 2005 Alentejo

-Casal Branco Capucho Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Ribatejo

-Casa Santos Lima Touriga Nacional 2005 Estremadura

-Encostas De Estremoz DJ Alicante Bouschet 2004 Alentejo

-Quinta Da Alorna Reserva 2005 Ribatejo

-Periquita Reserva 2004 Terras Do Sado

-Fonseca Domini 2004 Douro

-Quinta Dos Roques Reserva 2003 Dao

 

The Food: for the fourth consecutive year, we had an assortment of cold cuts, cheeses, fresh fruit, and ham sandwiches.

The Downside: the seminar was slow in starting, overcrowded, late in finishing (I left at 3:15), the winemakers spoke too long, and the glasses were exceptionally dirty.

The Upside: this event was kept open to 6:30Pm, a sufficient time for many of us to try a lot of the wines. Of course, there was no consumer component in the evening, so it was easier to keep the show going.

The Contact Person:  william.delgado@portugalglobal.pt

The Effectiveness (numerical grade): 87.

 

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com