Branco/Whites

Casa da Passarella A Descoberta (discovery) 2017 13% This traditional blend of Encruzado, Malvasina Fina and Gouveo (Verdelho) was fermented in cement tanks. Offering up fresh, green stem aromas and flavors with a fine crisp undercurrent of clementine. Brimming with succulent fruits and bone dry, it’s an amazingly great value wine. 16/20 

Casa da Passarella O Oenologo Encruzado 2016 13% This is named in homage to Passarella’s former French Jewish winemaker. Gathered from 40 year old vineyards with 40% fermented in old casks and rest in cement tanks. Intriguing green stem and fresh asparagus plant aromas. Classic varietal characters. Crisp, light, quince flavors dance through a very fine bodied -- for Encruzado – texture. Long and concentrated with flavors lasting over a minute after swallowing. This should age for decades. 19/20 

Rose

Casa da Passarella O Oenologo Rose 2016 12.5% Named in homage to Passarella’s former French Jewish winemaker, this is a blend of 80% Touriga and 20% Alfrocheiro. Fermented in concrete with long skin contact the wine is intentionally quite visceral and designed to be more gastronomic. When young it smelt of skins and stems, with hints of watermelon fruit in background. Edgy rose for adults. Very lightly and finely flavored with watermelon-esque flavors driven through a fine tight structure. Extreme rose like a red wine trying to be white rather than other way around. 17/20

Casa da Passarela Rose 2010 Clean, fresh and full of red fruit and watermelon-like aromas, this rose finishes with a crisp, dry finish. It is excellent wine for price. 2 eu locally. 

Tinto/Red

Casa da Passarella A Descoberta (discovery) 2015 13% A blend of cement fermented (plus tiny percent in old oak) of Touriga, Alfrocheiro, Roriz (Tempranillo) and Jaen (Mencia). Broadly aromatic with a mix of red and black fruits that play through similarly in flavors. Full bodied, fleshy and jam packed with fresh red fruits. Complex as it is pure and honestly structured, linear, juicy and as lip smacking as anyone could want. 16.5/20

Casa da Passarella O Fugitivo Vinhas Centerarios 2015 13.5% 1705 of 2436 bottles. Grapes were sourced from in a 100 year old traditional field blend (mixture of both old red and white Dao varieties). When first opened wine was deeply concentrated, but fruit aromas seemed over-ripe and raisiny. With airing its nose reversed direction and freshened up, becoming more aromatically balanced and more crisply delineated and broadly floral, It offered up a complex mélange of red fruit aromas and flavors. Finely textured, clean and slick in the mouth, fruits were well focused with great depth. Tannins firm and fine and carefully structured with pinpoint acid balance. A great example of the superiority of Dao’s great traditional wine blended in the vineyard. It should continue to evolve beautifully over the coming decades. Sadly, it was infanticidal to open so young. 20/20 or as others are inclined to say, Centerarios points.  Tasted 2019

Casa da Passarella O Oenologo Vinhas Velhas 2014 14% From 80 year old vines of the Vinha das Pedras Altas vineyard (mother vineyard for DNA project), itself a field blend mixture of 24 varieties reds and whites. Offers a very complex nose with great breadth, depth and lift. Cofermentation, Full of super concentrated, mineral driven red fruit characters, long, grainy, visceral and a wonderful wine absolutely true to Dao’s ancient past. 20/20, a perfect century! 

Casa da Passarella Abanico Reserva 2014 13% A blend of Touriga and 80% plus Alfrocheiro and Roriz. Fermented in concrete then aged for a year in new French oak. Mineral driven cherry/raspberry fruit aromas and flavors lead on through a satiny, highly polished texture. Fine acidity running through lifts bright red fruits. Good length lasting at least a minute after swallowing. Although structured for long term cellaring, it drank well when young. Complex savory stuff. 18/20

Casa da Passarela Colheita 2008 13.5% This blend of Touriga Nacional, Alfrochiero, Jaen, and Roriz offers lovely dried pine needle and black fruit aromas and fresh black cherry flavors.  Nicely balanced in terms of fruit and structure, flavors extend through to finish, under pinned with a refreshing acidity. Superb value for money. 2eu locally

Casa da Passarela Colheita Sellecionada 2008 13.5%  Using same blend as Colheita, but from different vineyards, exposition and slightly later harvest time. Comparatively the wine is spicier, with similar pine needle and black fruit/black cherry florals. But florals are considerably more pronounced. In the mouth it is seamlessly smooth with juicy acidity and fresh black cherry flavors. Again, comparatively it is twice the concentration for just one more euro. 3eu locally.

Casa da Passarela Reserva 2008 13.5% This blend of 50% Touriga Nacional with Alfrochiero and Jaen displays a well rounded nose reminiscent of plums and violets. Mouthfilling initially, it stretches out with a very clean, long finish. Fine powdery tannins and blackfruit trail on through the end. An elegantly style wine with great persistence and a sharp price. 5eu locally.

Casa da Passarela Vinhas Velhas (Old Vines) 2008 13.5% This densely packed blend of Touriga Nacional, Alfrochiero, Jaen and other old varieties reveals itself through a complex mixture of dried black fruits, dried black cherries, graphite and minerality. In the mouth they offer a dense, chewy mixture of black berries, cherries and complex, multi-layered tannins. In terms of flavor, texture and structure, its clear complexity is being driven by this specific field blend. A great wine at any price. 7eu