Carvalhais Duque de Viseau 2010 13% An Encruzado dominant blend with Bical and Malvasia Fina, is spicer, more complex and more complete aromatically than Grao Vasco. Fermented in stainless steel it shows fresh quince fruit purity, minerality and firm acidity. It sells for 4eu locally. Tasted 10.2012
Carvalhais Duque de Viseau Tinto 2008 13% complex savory red fruit aromas and flavors with firm acidity and fruit through to finish. Mainly a blend of Touriga Nacional with Roriz, Jaen, Alfrocheiro in support, this wine stainless steel made with a kiss of oak stave flavoring. It is excellent value, offering a good representation of Dao’s classic blend at a sharp price. 4eu. Tasted 10.2012
Grao Vasco 2009 This blend of Jaen, Roriz and Touriga Nacional offers spicy red fruit aromas and flavors; soft, rounded textures with a touch of vanilla warmth on finish. Clean and nicely balanced it is great value, good commercial wine. Priced at 2.5eu locally. Tasted 10.2012
Grao Vasco 2010 13% This classic blend of Encruzado, Bical and Malvasia Fina is solidly made, straightforward, commercial style that represents Dao’s basic white blend well: floral, clean, crisp, with balanced acidity. Sharply priced at 2.5eu locally. Tasted 10.2012
Quinta dos Carvalhais Alfrocheiro 2003 13.5% Aged in new oak barrels, aromas and flavors are more in cooked red and black fruit, raisin spectrum. Although concentrated, persistent, and well structured with firm, dusty tannins, I prefer this variety from a cooler vintage. But this illustrates its season well. About 14-15eu. Tasted 10.2012
Quinta dos Carvalhais Colheita 2007 14% This 50/50 blend of Encruzado and Verdelho spends three years in neutral, old oak barrels. This is a tightly focused, linear style with complex aromas and flavors of pine, mineral, lanolin, wood and menthol driven forward by fresh, zingy acidity. Conceived as gastronomic it is a favorite with the national dish of dried codfish. Tasted 10.2012
Quinta dos Carvalhais Colheita 2009 13.5% This blend of Touriga Nacional, Roriz, Jaen and Alfrocheiro is matured in 1-2 year old oak barrels. Darkly fruited, black cherries, with Doa’s pin needle spiciness. Pure, nicely concentrated, and linear, aromas are darkly fruited and spiced up with Dao’s signature pine needle florals. Persistent red and black fruit flavors are kept in check with a mix of firm tannins and purt acidity. 8-9eu locally. Tasted 10.2012
Quinta dos Carvalhais Colheita Tardia 2007 12.5% This late harvested blend of Semillon and Encruzado carries about 100 grams of residual sugar. Opening with fine toasty botrytis-influenced aromas, fresh green raisin flavors follow on, carried through a creamy smooth texture, beautifully balanced out with succulent acidity. Tasted 10.2012
Quinta dos Carvalhais Encruzado 2010 Mainly barrel fermented this adds a 30% dash of stainless steel treated wine to freshen. Aromas and flavors share complex, lanolin, mineral and citrus characters. Fleshy textures are laced with fruitiness and well balanced with a fine, fresh acidity. Around 13eu locally. Tasted 10.2012
Quinta dos Carvalhais Jaen 2009 13% Tank fermented to preserve freshness and purity, this offers vibrant, spicy, red cherry aromas, bright, juicy cherry-like flavors and a fine, refreshing finish. Great wine and an alternative expression of Jaen from Dao’s warmer central subregions. Sells for 9eu locally Tasted 10.2012
Quinta dos Carvalhais Reserva 2007 14% Predominantly Roriz with a little Touriga Nacional in support, this is really great wine with a highly complex, beautifully integrated mix of ripe red & black fruit, licorice, dried pine needle and graphite characters. Expansive in the mouth, without any hint of excessive heaviness, it is finely, but firmly structured and filled with long lasting flavors. Relatively young, it really wants a few more years in bottle to mellow tannins. Great value at 25eu. Tasted 10.2012
Quinta dos Carvalhais Reserva Rose Bruto Espumnate 2007 13% Mirroring Champange’s mix of red and black grapes, this marries Dao’s king and queen: Touriga and Encruzado. Bottled aged on lees for two years, it offers a classy mix of toasty autolytic and dried cherry aromas. Full bodied with fine mousse and crisp finish, it is a beautifully balanced, ultra dry, sparkler with distinctive flavors. Selling at 15eu locally. Tasted 10.2012
Quinta dos Carvalhais Roriz 2003 13.5% Those who like Ribera del Duero style tempranillo should enjoy this wine: spicy, rapberry aromas, full bodied, packed with red fruit characters and dusty tannins. 13-15eu. Tasted 10.2012
Quinta dos Carvalhais Touriga Nacional 2004 14% This is an highly condensed, bold Touriga style and an excellent example from an ultra-ripe year in central Dao. Dried blackfruit and graphite aromas and flavors, with good concentration in the mouth, persistence and well structured tannins. 13-15eu. Tasted 10.2012
Quinta dos Carvalhais Unico 2005 15% The philosophy behind Carvalhais’s extremely rare ‘Unico’ is to express the best varietal in exceptional vintages. This pure Touriga Nacional bottling was aged exclusively in new French oak barrels for twelve months. Highly condensed, ultra ripe dried black fruit and graphite aromas are lifted by a touch of spirits. Thick, viscous, and explosive in the mouth, all this is underpinned by, fine, highly polished tannins. My only reservation is a ‘hot’ alcohol afterburn and the heaviness it adds to palate weight. Priced at 40eu. Tasted 10.2012