From one of Portugal’s best Port wine producers to the Algarve’s newly released wines, and the acclaimed Silves winery unveiling its first sparkling wine
– December 30, 2024 | Text Patrick Stuart & Alexandra Stilwell
Rozès White Reserve
One of Portugal’s best Port wine producers, Rozès has an intriguing white reserve Port.
The 10-year-old Tawny produced by Rozès (in the gold-coloured bottle) is as good or better than the 20-year-old Tawny from many producers and their LBV outstanding, and this white Port is also impressive, offering excellent value for money at €19.95.
This is a wine with the dried fruit and nutty aromas one would associate with a nice Tawny but fresher and a little lighter. It works extremely well with cheese and also as a pudding wine, perfect to pair with cheesecake or a traditional Portuguese tarte de requeijão.
It is a little too sweet to work on its own as an aperitif but, with a nice dry tonic water such as Fever-Tree Naturally Light, over ice with a slice of orange peel, it makes a cracking Port & Tonic.
New from Herdade Barranco do Vale
In São Bartolomeu de Messines, Herdade Barranco do Vale recently released two new wines.
Boasting 70-year-old vines of the Algarve’s iconic grape variety, the estate has released its first single-varietal Negra Mole Rosé 2023 (€15.95).
This alluring onion skin-coloured wine is fresh and fruity, with a floral accent, a lightly spicy, herbaceous touch, and striking minerality. On the palate, it is dry with a light smoky note.
The second new release is the red Blend Reserva 2023 (€14.95), a ruby-coloured wine made with the estate’s best Aragonês and Castelão grapes.
It reveals aromas of wild blackberries, orange blossom, heather, and violets. In the mouth, it is very minty, soft and enveloping, with good structure and silky tannins.
Arvad sparkling wine
Acclaimed Silves winery Arvad has just released its first sparkling wine. Made with 100% Arinto, a white grape variety traditionally used in the Algarve, the Brut Nature White 2021 (€19.50) is a celebration of its river-side terroir.
Presented in a beautiful opaque bottle, the wine reveals a greenish colour with fi ne and persistent bubbles.
On the nose, its citrus notes are involved in some pastry resulting from ageing in the bottle with free yeast.
Fresh and lively on the palate, its bubble is very elegant, balancing and involving the natural acidity of the wine.
A delicious sparkling wine with a long and persistent finish, ideal as an aperitif or paired with seafood.
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