Grand Cru (Perth) tasting group - Wines of Portugal

[Waiters Friend]

G’day

A smaller than usual number of us met at Mayfair Lane Pub & Dining Room in West Perth for this month’s tasting. Foni and the team have been looking after us very well for some years now, and it’s always good to return.

This month, it was Wines of Portugal. Although this wasn’t expressly mentioned, there seemed to be an understanding that this should be based on table wines, not fortified (for which Portugal is justifiably famous), and the groupthink / ESP turned out to be accurate.

As usual, the wines were tasted blind, and from youngest to oldest. Two whites and five reds were tasted. One of the reds turned out to be corked, so no notes were taken.

Tiroliro Alvarinho Vinho Verde 2023: Lemon colour. Tropical fruits (pineapple, kiwi fruit) and citrus (lemon, orange peel) on the nose, with noticeable brine. The palate continued with these characters, along with a little unripe nectarine. It’s light bodied, with supportive acid and a short-ish finish. Simple, but pleasurable for an afternoon by the sea.

Ramos Pinto Duas Quinta 2019: A blend of Rabigato, Arinto and Viosinho. Slightly paler in colour than the previous wine. A somewhat developed nose of lanolin, honeysuckle, orange peel, white flowers and bergamot. The palate shows freshly-cut green apple, ruby grapefruit, and a similar level of brine to the previous wine. It’s slightly honeyed and has a richer texture (we considered whether the wine had been kept on lees for a period of time). Medium bodied, good length and well regarded.

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Then to the reds:

D.N.M.C. Baga 2023: Baga is the grape variety, and this was 100% Baga. Pale garnet in colour. A fair whack of V.A. to open, then red & black plums, cranberry, balsamic, black olive, brine, charred wood, tar and leather all on the complex nose. The palate was a little more straightforward, with raspberries, cola / sarsaparilla, plums and leather. There are powdery tannins, and the wine was somewhat jube-like (perhaps some carbonic maceration?). Good acid and length and well regarded by the group.

Ramos Pinto Duas Quinta 2020: Corked and not assessed.

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Quinta Da Pedra Alta 2019: Ruby colour. The nose shows plums, tar, vanilla, balsamic, violets, dark cherry and cola. There’s more cola on the palate (one taster noted “flat Coke”), with raspberry, sour cherry, and dark plums. High acid and reasonably high alcohol, with fine but grippy tannins. Medium to full bodied and good length.

Quinta Da Pedra Alta 2019: Yes, another bottle of the same wine. Ruby colour. A more restrained nose, with plums, cranberry, mulberry, vanilla, brine and black pepper. The palate is less restrained, and shows raspberry and tangy red fruits, plums, vanilla, and some alcoholic heat. One taster noted preserved fruits, and the fruit intensity was lower than the previous (same) wine. Fine tannins and a short finish. In noticeably poorer condition than the first bottle - cork variation?

Terras Do Grifo 2017. A blend of Sousao, Touriga France and Touriga Nacional. Pale ruby in colour. A rich and complex nose of molasses / raisins, red plums, mocha and vanilla, tobacco, black olive, prune, and fig compote. The palate shows red and black plums (almost heading towards Christmas pudding), red berries, tobacco, and a little burnt caramel. Tannins are fine but grippy, and there’s juicy acid. Considerable body and length, and all in balance. Wine of the night.

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Many thanks to Mayfair Lane for hosting us, and to those (few) who joined me for the tasting.

Cheers
Allan