The chance to find a truly exceptional wine with a price tag that is less than $12 is relatively uncommon… it’s possible to call it legendary. When you stumble upon some legendary wines, you may feel overwhelming joy and despair when you decide to buy as much wine as possible.
5 Dry Portuguese Wines That Will Knock Your Socks Off
This brings us to the issue of Portugal, which has been seen in the spotlight for slam-dunking in the past couple of decades. They consistently produce delicious-tasting, top-quality wines priced at a meager price. It’s time to get to discover the hidden wines of Portugal. Below are five dry wineries from Portugal that will make you smile (in an excellent way).
Douro Reds
It is believed that the Douro River winds treacherously through the rugged, mountainous area that runs through the northern part of Portugal before it empties in the Atlantic Ocean at Foz (‘Faj-shh’) in Porto. The Douro is well-known for its Port wine. However, numerous Port producers are now beginning to utilize their port grapes for dry red wines from the region. This region is dry and hot, and the vineyards grow extremely concentrated red wine grapes on clay and schist rock soils.
Wines containing Touriga Nacional are generally more lavish and lavish, while wines with higher levels of Touriga Franca are likely to have more spicy and cinnamon. It is possible to get a good deal for less than $10; however, if you’re looking to purchase something to add to your cellar, you should pay around $20-40.
A view from Quinta do Bom Retiro, the principal wine estate in Ramos Pinto, in the Cima Corgo sub-region of the Douro. The Collection series of Ramos Pinto is exceptionally valued for dry reds in the region.
Shop NowAlicante Bouschet
Alicante Bouschet (Alley-Canty Boo-Shay) is among the few grapes with red skins and flesh. Because of its distinctive color, Alicante Bouschet has some of the highest concentrations of antioxidants in all grapes. Regarding flavor, Portuguese Alicante Bouschet is similar to the smokiness and sweetness of Aussie Shiraz Lodi Zinfandel, along with Petite Sirah.
Imagine eating a waffle made of pearl sugar with blackberries, blueberries, and B-grade maple syrup, seated next to the wood smoker at full blast. Some wines range in intensity from full-bodied with a hint of blackberry and super rich with blueberry and blackberry notes. Portuguese Alicante Bouschet is only for those who are confident.
Three Whites: Arinto, Encruzado & Antão Vaz
These three Portuguese white wines appear to have this nutty resinous flavor that ranges from honeycomb to beeswax and vaseline. Unoaked wines like Arinto, Encruzado, and Antao Vaz generally have quite some bitterness from phenolics that makes them zingy and taste similar to the pith of grapefruit. But, once they’re made oaked, they appear beautiful. The depth of the oak and oxidation impart and contrast with the overwhelming acidity, lemon, and honeycomb flavor are awe-inspiring. Maybe I’m an oak-loving lover, but I was in a conference room with 45 other wine professionals, who all looked at the single aged in oak Arinto offered in a line.
Look for “Branco” wines produced in Bairrada or Alentejo. Be aware of the amount of oak used to determine the flavor profile mentioned above. We’ve encountered three US producers: Esporao, Quinta dos Carvalhais and Quinta das Bageiras… Because these wine grapes have high acidity, look for older vintages to get rich and nutty flavors.
Jaen (aka Mencía)
Jaen (aka Mencia). To pronounce Mencia, the Portuguese name for this wine, use the ‘Zsa’ form from Zsa Zsa Gabor. It is pronounced with “ine,” like wine. Zsa-ine! Zsa-ine! The Iberian grape is cultivated throughout the northern central region of Spain in addition to Portugal. The Dao region of Portugal is located high in the mountains, has many pinus forests (snow!), and is very different from Portugal. You may be acquainted with Dao because of the Estrela Mountain dogs and a delicious cheese known as Serra da Estrela.
Jaen is similar to the scenario where the grapes of Grand Cru Burgundy met a lovely Hermitage and gave birth to a baby. Jaen has all the attributes similar to other premium grapes regarding its age-worthy potential, but it’s far beneath the radar.
The lingering aromas of the fruit plum and raspberries are subtly earthy and spicy, with aromas of baby diapers (in the best manner) and fresh motor oil (also in a positive way). The wines are full and dry with a smoky acidity. They generally have medium-level fine-grained tannins as well as an even end.
Vinho Verde
Vinho Verde is the boozy dry limeade you’ve always wanted to drink on a scorching hot summer day (or, in the case of luck: an elite nightclub). This drink is not only amazingly fresh, but Vinho Verde wines also generally have very low alcohol (around 9 percent ABV), which makes them a perfect beverage to drink in the afternoon. Vinho Verde is grown in the Minho region in northern Portugal in a climate similar to the north of Italy. For those who aren’t aware, Vinho Verde is an amalgamation of a variety of white grapes, including Alvarinho (a.k.a. Albarino), Loureiro, Azal, Arinto, and Trajadura (a.k.a. Treixadura). Also, you can find Rose vinos from the area produced using the red grapes that grow in the region. One of these grapes, Pandeiro (‘Pah-deh-yhid-row’), is so pale that it creates natural roses.
It is often spritz and zingy with a flavor of limeade gooseberry, lemonade blossom, and yellow grapefruit. A chalky, clingy feel on the palate with flavors of honeycomb Ruby Red grapefruit and lemon characterizes the best examples.