Wine Review: Monte Cascas Colheita 2009 Douro Red Wine

Today’s review is of Monte Cascas Colheita 2009 Douro Red wine.

Wine producer: Monte Cascas (Mountain of Shells)

Wine Makers: Frederico Gomes, Helder Cunha

Region: Douro DOC, Portugal.

Vintage: 2009

Varietals: 50% Touriga Nacional, 20% Touriga Franc, 20% Tinta Barroca, 10% Sousão.

Tasting Notes

Color: Purplish red, deep ruby

Nose: Orange peel, black fruits, rose petals

Palate: Light to medium body. Rounded and smooth finish. Tastes of blackberries, plums, fleur de sel, vanilla

ABV: 13.2%

Vinification: Grapes are destemmed, crushed directly into a vat for a 7 day cold soak. Fermentation from day 12-32.  40% Matured in French Oak casks for 9 months.

Harvest: 3rd or 4th week of September, 100% by hand.

Suggested pairings: Strong beefs, roasts, sharp cheeses, lasagna, and berries.

Wine Review: Niepoort Diálogo White 2010

Welcome to our blog, Portuguese Wine Club! Living in Lisbon allows us to enjoy Portugal’s wines straight from the source. Portugal is an up and coming wine region and we are doing our best to promote it.

This week we are reviewing a white wine from Niepoort winery from the Douro region in Northern Portugal. First we will start off with some background on Niepoort wines. An independent, family run wine business since 1842, Niepoort has two growing facilities, Quinta da Nápoles and Vale de Mendiz located in the Douro growing region. This region is known throughout Portugal as being one of the best wine producing regions in the country.

Tasting notes: Dry, smoky, mineral, acidic, with a long salty aftertaste. It reminds me of the sea water off the coast of Portugal.

Food Accompaniment: Would go well with strong flavored seafood, particularly shellfish, lobster, crab, oysters, and scallops.

Price: ~ € 6.50

Verdict: 8/12

This wine gets eight out of a possible twelve points because of the saltiness bordering on bitterness that accompanies the finish. It really is a fairly good white to be enjoyed over a dinner of seafood to achieve some balance on the palate. By itself it can be a bit tough to swallow. At this price point of around € 6.50 other more palatable whites can be found easily. If you like the dry, salty wines, then this is definitely for you! If you like the fruitier more floral wines then stay away!