Quinta do Portal Wine Trip Great Western Wines 9th - 11th July 2007
Having never before been to any wine producing regions within Portugal, it was with some excitement that I set off in early July to the Douro Valley in Northern Portugal in the company of Patrick Pigny of Great Western Wines. Our destination was the family-run property of Quinta do Portal. Our gracious host Pedro Mansilha Branco, whose family has been making wine with great care and attention in the area of Pinhão for over a century, met us at the airport in Oporto. Driving through the Douro, the first thing you appreciate is the incredibly steep-sided slopes that rise from the mighty river, with their vine-covered terraces that the region is famous for.
There has been substantial investment at Quinta do Portal in recent years, with a brand new winery, barrel stock, tasting room, function facility and an amazing guest house, ‘Casa Das Pipas', where we were to stay. The property consists of 95 hectares spread over the four quintas or estates: do Portal, dos Muros, do Confradeiru and da Abelheira. The family select, vinify and blend the best grapes from these four estate vineyards to make their flagship wines.
After an intensive vineyard and winery tour we were invited to the tasting room to sample a selection of fortified and non-fortified wines from their extensive portfolio. I was very impressed by the quality of the wines, and particularly enjoyed the non-fortified wines. Here are some of my tasting notes.
Quinta do Portal 2006 (white)
Lemon in colour - wonderful floral and grape aromatics, rich, weighty totally delicious. Grapes - Moscatel, Viosinho and Malvasia
Quinta do Portal Grande Reserva 2000 (red)
Deep purple in colour - intense aromas of dark berry fruit and hints of smoke, concentrated and complex on the palate with layers of black cherry fruit. Very classy. Grapes - Touriga Nacional and a little Tinta Roriz
Moscatel Douro Portal n/v (sweet)
Straw gold colour. Very grapey smell with some citrus notes that give the wine a lovely freshness. Elegant, sweet but not cloying and a persistent finish. This wine also makes a great aperitif when mixed with ice and tonic. Grape - Moscatel
