93 Points - Poseidon DOC Douro 2014 “This wine was aged onboard a ship and traveled 9,700 miles. Named after the Greek god of the sea, the wine is dense and dark with wood and mint aromas as well as black fruits. It is perfumed from the Touriga Nacional in the blend, ripe and packed with opulent fruit. Drink from 2020.” CELLAR SELECTION
92 Points - Tyto alba Red DOC Do Tejo 2014 “This richly structured wine comes from the the state-owned Companhia das Lezirias, the largest estate in Portugal. With equestrian events, wine, olive oil and an ecological sanctuary just east of Lisbon, the property merits a visit. Named for the barn owl that nests in estate forests, the wine is opulent, dense and packed with tannins and ripe black fruits. Give it time, at least until late 2018.”
92 Points - Tyto alba Touriga Nacional DOC Do Tejo 2015 “This is a smooth, richly textured wine. With soft integrated tannins and ripe fruit, it is generous, ripely opulent and soon will be ready to drink. The perfumed character comes from the Touriga Nacional, giving power as well as great fruit. Drink from 2020.” CELLAR SELECTION
91 Points - Andreza Grande Reserva DOC Douro 2014 “This powerfully rich blend of classic Douro grapes aged in wood for 12 months. It is spicy and smoothly textured, with a strong undertow of ripe tannins. The perfume and floral character of the Touriga Nacional in the blend comes through strongly. Drink now.”
90 Points - 1836 Grande Reserva Red DOC Do Tejo 2015 “The year 1836 is when the Companhia das Lezirias was founded. This wine, much younger than that, has density and dark black fruits. The wood aging and the bitter edge of firm extraction should soften into the impressively rich, dark-colored fruit. Drink the wine from 2021.”
90 Points - Azul Portugal Red DOC Douro 2015 “This wine is rich but balanced, full of black fruits while also structured. Made from typical Douro grapes including Touriga Nacional, it is poised with a strong mineral texture. It's still young, so drink from 2019.” EDITORS' CHOICE
90 Points - Lua Cheia em Vinhas Velhas Red DOC Douro 2016 “This is an impressive wine with its mineral structure, firm tannins and rich fruit. Dark blackberry flavors are filled out with the solid core of the wine and lifted by the acidity. From a field blend of old vines, the wine needs some aging. Drink from 2021.” BEST BUY
90 Points - Nostalgia 10 Barricas Vinho Verde DOC 2016 “This is a wood-aged wine, vinified in wood, with a production of only 10 barrels. Its rich, creamy texture comes equally from the wood and the ripe, baked-apple fruitiness. This rich wine is young and will age well, so drink from 2019.”
88 Points - 1836 Grande Reserva White DOC Do Tejo 2016 “Spicy, wood aged and softly creamy, this ripe wine is smooth with spice as well as yellow fruits. Named after the year in which the estate was created by a queen of Portugal, the wine comes from the north of the Tejo region. It is ready to drink.”
88 Points - Tyto alba Rose DOC Do Tejo 2017 “A soft, fruity blend of Touriga Nacional and Merlot gives a young, gentle wine. It has good acidity, touches of toast from wood aging and a creamy texture. This ripe wine is ready to drink.”
88 Points - Herdade do Catapereiro Escolha Red Regional Do Tejo 2016 “This lightly wood-aged wine is spicy, packed with fruit and with a firm, dry core of tannins. As it develops, this wine that comes from a single vineyard in northern Tejo will fill out, smoothing the rough edges of the tannins. Drink from late 2018.” BEST BUY
Cheers!