Producer Profile

Vinicola del Priorat is the only cooperative in Priorat, founded by 140 farmer-producers based in the four beautiful villages of El Lloar, La Vilella Baixa, La Vilella Alta and Gratallop.

They work over 300 small plots of land on very steep slate slopes that can exceed 30% gradient. Some plots are over 100 years old, producing a very low yield per vine of only about a 1kg of grapes. Mas dels Frares offers fantastic value for money.

Viticulture

Grenache and Carignan vines are from 40 year old terraces and the Merlot and Cabernet from 30 year old terraces. All of the grapes are collected in parcels of land in Gratallops, El Lloar, La Vilella Baixa and La Vilella Alta.

Winemaking

The handpicked grapes are put through fermentation in stainless steel tanks, and elaborated with a 15% blend of aged wine in French oak barrels for one year.

Oak Ageing

Time: 1 Year
Type: French Oak
% wine oaked: 15
% new oak: None

Tasting Note

Deep ruby appearance. The nose shows incredible richness despite still being fairly closed. Ripe fruits like blueberries and red plums against a background of cedar and tobacco-leaf notes from the oak. Well-structured with lively acidity, grippy high quality tannins, salinity and smoothing alcohol, ending in a long finish in which oak and fruit continue in excellent balance.

Food Matching

Grilled red meat, stews, cured cheeses.

Technical Details

Varieties: Grenache 35% Carignan 30% Others 35%

ABV: 14%
Closure: Natural cork
Colour: Red
Style: Still wine

Producer Profile

Quintas do Homem is one of those estates that immediately captivates you with its charm, its passion and dynamism.

Nuno and his father, Antonio, work the vines of their two vineyards, Quinta do Veiga and Quinta do Paço, where they grow predominately Loureiro and Arinto. Ana, their long term winemaker, is a fierce taskmaster, demanding quality fruit that enables her to deliver the pure, fine and elegant Vinho Verdes that Nuno expects. It's very much a family exercise with Nuno and his father working the vineyards, Nuno's mother preparing delicious, traditional Portuguese dishes for visitors and Ana, an adopted family member, making sure the wines are always perfect.

Viticulture

The 'Integrated Production' system defined by the International Organisation for Biological and Integrated (IOBC) as a system for producing high quality wine, which are based on sustainability principles, the application of natural resources, the use of regulatory mechanisms to replace fertilisers, using appropriate tools and procedures for monitoring traceability of all processes, making it economically viable, environmentally sound and socially just!

Winemaking

There is an element of skin contact, and batonage of the juice. Fermentation is in stainless steel tanks for 1 month at a low temperature, with batonage on the lees for 1 month.

Oak Ageing

No oak ageing

Tasting Note

Bright citrus in colour. The aroma is full of stone fruit, blossom, lemon and mineral flavours and incredibly complex. Lively and vibrant acidity in the mouth.

Food Matching

A superb wine for seafood.

Technical Details

Varieties: Alvarinho 100%

ABV: 12.5%
Closure: Screw cap
Colour: White
Style: Still wine

Producer Profile

The iconic Real Companhia Velha is the oldest wine company in Portugal, with a history of over 260 years of port production.

Founded in 1756 by the Portuguese Prime Minister Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, Marquis of Pombal (called Douro Wine Company back then) to regulate the trade and production of all Port wine. One of the first official duties of the company was the delineation of the boundaries of the Douro wine region. This act essentially made the Douro the world's first regional appellation. Today this company represents some of the finest Quintas in the Douro. Prestigious and experienced, they have been able to preserve and honour the traditional winemaking while investing in the future with constant modernisation and experimentation in their vineyards.

Viticulture

His Eminence’s Choice, the distinguished and most famous of all Ports produced by Delaforce, was first made available back in the 1930s. The grapes are selected and harvested by hand in mid September and, the case of the Delaforce vineyards, are placed in small trays which keep them in perfect condition during transport to the winery.

Winemaking

The wine is carefully blended after full tasting and examination of Delaforce Ports which are selected from the best areas of the Douro Port region every year to become reserves for His Eminence. These reserves will remain maturing in casks over many years in Vila Nova de Gaia until they reach the mellow perfection for which it has justly gained much fame.

Tasting Note

This sumptuous and richly flavoured tawny port is matured for ten years in seasoned oak casks. It combines ripe jammy fruit aromas with the rich mellow flavours of wood ageing and displays the characteristic elegance, balance and harmony of the Delaforce house style. Rich and round on the palate.

Food Matching

Serve with blue cheese, mature cheddar, nuts, and chocolate desserts.

Awards

Wine Advocate 89 Points
A middle of the road Tawny, this is beautifully balanced but with enough grip on the finish to seem serious and interesting as time goes on. Lingering nicely on the flavorful finish, its elegance makes it easy to drink while the finish makes it very tasty. This has a bar top cork and was bottled in March 2015. 89 Points, MS.
Wine Spectator 89 Points
Fresh and minerally, with plum tart and cherry pie flavors that feature some tangerine hints. Sea salt and flint details show on the finish. Drink now. 3,500 cases made. 89 Points.
Wine Enthusiast 90 Points
With great balance between fruit and acidity, this is just what a 10-Year-Old tawny should be. Ripe fruits a90 Points, RV.

Technical Details

Varieties:  Touriga Nacional Touriga Franca Tinta Roriz

ABV: 20%
Closure: Natural cork
Colour: Red

Style: Port

Producer Profile

The energetic and charismatic Guillaume Gonnet is not your average Rhône winemaker. Extremely open in his attitude, his curious, boundary challenging approach extends beyond wine.

He travelled to the far ends of the earth, revelling in the opportunity to surf some of the best waves in the world while learning his craft in various Australian and New Zealand regions. Returning to the Rhône, now with his Australian wife Kelly, Guillaume has shown similar energy for his family estate and for his own nascent project. This land locked surfer may be miles from the ocean but is happily riding the wave of new found enthusiasm for Grenache based wines. Pursuing biodynamics wherever possible, allowing his fruit to express itself freely through hands-off winemaking and displaying his fascination for the varying soils of the Rhône through his diverse range of wines, he's just the sort of restless creative that we love to work with.

Viticulture

The vines are situated on a plateau near the village, with a southern exposure. The soil is a mix of limestone, clay and sand. Vines are around 45 years old and planted at a density of 3000 vines per HA. All grapes are harvested by hand.

Winemaking

Vinified and aged in concrete tanks.

Oak Ageing

No oak ageing

Tasting Note

The nose is packed full of Cassis, Grenadine, and the "to be expected" pure Provencal aromas of “garrigue” (local herbs). The mouth follows the nose but is more complex with kirsch, fig, stewed blackberries, black olive tapenade and liquorice. Lovely soft, round tannins.

Food Matching

Works extremely well with Provencal beef stew but works equally well with a wide range of foods.

Technical Details

Varieties: Grenache 80% Syrah 20%  

ABV: 14.5%
Closure: Natural cork
Colour: Red
Style: Still wine