Branco/White

Quinta das Marias Branco 2017 A blend of Gouveo, Barcelo and Semillon that is treated to short skin contact and left unsulphured to takes its natural course. Leads with fresh pear drop aromas and flavors delivered in a full body. Quite complex flavors spun forward with supportive acidity. 15.5/20

Quinta das Marias Unoaked Encruzado 2017 13.5% This Encruzado has had an extended 24 hour skin contact then fermented in stainless steel to preserve varietal purity. It offers up fresh quince, citrus aromas and juicy quince/fresh pear flavors. Fine, tight and refreshing in the mouth it carriers on a linear path with clean, crisp acidity laced with an interesting touch of saltinessy. 17/20

Quinta das Marias Encruzado 2016 13% Fermented in a mixture of old and new French oak barrel, this vintage is more floral, fatter, richer than 2017, showing some oak on palate. 16/20

Quinta das Marias Encruzado 2010 14% This follows a typical chardonnay regime of barrique fermention with battonage (lees stirring). Aromas are restrained and balanced in the green walnut and cashew spectrum. Fuller bodied, creamier and more seamless than their unoaked version, it still shows a little wood on finish and needs a year or so to marry in bottle. It sells locally for 12eu.

Tinto/Reds

Quinta das Marias Alfrocheiro 2016 14% Lagar made Alfrocheiro that’s matured in three year old barriques. Interesting minerality wedded to red fruit, raspberry aromas and flavors. Silky smooth and continusou in the mouth supported with fine, long grained tannins. Minerality through to finish. An excellent example of Alfrocheiro. 17.5/20

Quinta das Marias Reserva Cuvee TT 2015 14% A 50/50 blend of Touriga and Roriz matured in 2nd year barriques. Leads with brambly blackberry fruits.. A very fruit filled wine, honest and pure but not simple, quite complex fruit characters. Textures end in fine tapered finish. 16/20

Quinta das Marias Cuvee TT 2009 14.5% This 50/50 blend of Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz shows smoky oak toasted aromas (from 2nd year barriques) sitting alongside a complex mix of black berries, graphite and violets. Currently very tightly focused on the palate, with mineral and black cherry flavors carried through fine, but firm tannins. Supported with superb acidity, it has great length and back palate concentration. It sells locally for 14eu.

Quinta das Marias Lote 2016 14% A traditional blend of Touriga, Roriz, Alfrocheiro, and Jaen matured for a year in 2/3rd year barriques. Very fresh mix of red and black berry aromas and flavors. plush texture around fine structure, Juicy flavors are carried through fresh acidity and complex multi-layered tannins through to finish. Wine has especially good fruit complexity: flavor filled without being fruity. 16.5/20

Quinta das Marias Lote 2010 14% This is Marias’s entry level colheita with ‘lote’ meaning blend in Portuguese. It is a very fruit forward floral style, brimming with crushed black berries/loganberries aromatics and flavors. Grapes are sourced from mixed varieties from newer vineyards.

Quinta das Marias Reserva Touriga Nacional 2015 14% Matured in 30% new oak. Wine has a prononced typical varietal characters of blackberries and violets. Plush and velvety in the mouth with dense fruit and firm, fine tannin. Great acid support and length, dressed of with long grained, end of palate tannins. 18/20

Quinta das Marias Touriga Nacional 2009 15% Aged in new French oak barrels, this wine displays broad, slightly spirity florals and lovely violet perfumes. Full bodied with hints of vanilla and black fruit on finish. A big mouthfilling wine its packed, front to back, with firm, finely honed tannins. It needs more time in bottle and my only reservation is high alcohol.

Quinta das Marias Garrafeira 2015 13.5% An unusual Garrafeira made from 100% Touriga Nacional grapes from special plot of 1991 vines. Classy wine and quite poised with mineral and dried black fruit aromas. Seamless texture, condensed fruit, long,u smooth, slick continuos. Enging in a long meltaway finish. 19/20