Category: Sheridan’s Wines

Terra do Zambujeiro 2011 – Alentejo, Portugal

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Leather, dry leaves, and crushed flowers on the nose, with a faint hint of dark berries.  Red and black fruit, with vanilla on the front palate.  Dusty, chewy tannins come in on the mid-palate, with tobacco and more leather and pepper.  The rear palate is the real revelation where briny cherry flavors burst forth, complementing the dark, leathery and peppery finish.  I had this with a spicy pasta and the wine more than doubled the strength of the cayenne pepper in the pasta as it all washed down.  This gorgeous wine spent two years in French Oak and is unfiltered.  It was recommended to me by Tatyany Matos at Garrafeira Nacional in Lisbon.  Spot on recommendation (the woman’s a genius), true to the tagline on the label:  every drop, a drop of perfection.

  • Rating: Stunning
  • Name: Terra do Zambujeiro 2011
  • Winery: Quinta do Zambujeiro
  • Region: Alentejo
  • Country: Portugal
  • Varietals: Aragonez, Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Touriga Nacional
  • Price: $?
  • Where to Buy: Lisbon

Herdade do Peso Reserva 2013 – Alentejo, Portugal

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Cherries and violets on the nose.  Nice acid, cherries, and cocoa hit the front of the palate.  Chocolate and leather notes intensify as it flows across the tongue, with woody notes shored up by powerful tannins.  The finish is long and chewy, and you’ll feel and taste the red fruits in your jaws as you swallow.  Herbal and earthy notes linger after the finish.  A nice red, worthy of the Portuguese label.

  • Rating: Impressive
  • Name: Herdade do Peso Reserva 2013
  • Winery: SOGRAPE Vinhos SA
  • Region: Alentejo
  • Country: Portugal
  • Varietals: Alicante Bouschet, Syrah
  • Price: $?
  • Where to Buy: Lisbon

 

 

Tradição 2015 – Palmela, Portugal

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A very fresh and mineral-driven selection grounded by fermentation and a brief layover in French Oak for 4 months.  Fresh vegetal and citrus notes greet the nose, with faint orange and coriander.  Very soft on the palate, with a gentle brininess and soft vanilla wrapping the tongue like a cashmere blanket.  A crisp finish and faint echo of green apples linger like the last dance.  One doesn’t first think white wine with chorizo, but damn if Nuno didn’t nail the pairing again.

  • Rating: Impressive
  • Name: Tradição 2015
  • Winery: Família Horácio Simões
  • Region: DO Palmela, Setubal
  • Country: Portugal
  • Varietals: Semillon (Boal in Portugal)
  • Price: $?
  • Where to Buy: Wine Bar do Castelo, Lisbon

Montefino 2005 – Alentejo, Portugal

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You’re not ready for this wine.  You won’t believe it exists.  But, like the devil, it believes in you.  Yes, that is balsamic and cherries on the nose.  Soft acid, dark fruit, dried prunes, and a hint of rosemary-like vegetal greet the front palate.  Exquisitely balanced tannins shore up the structure, focusing the flavors.  Faint pepper and spice play on the mid palate, reminiscent of the haunting spice of the ubiquitous piri-piri.  Cherries and florals form the long finish for this tawny beauty.  I’m not the genius that found this wine – thank Nuno Santos of Wine Bar do Castelo for that – but you’re welcome, nonetheless.

  • Rating: Impressive
  • Name: Montefino 2011
  • Winery: Francisco B. Fino, Soc. Agricola, LDA
  • Region: Alentejo (non-DO)
  • Country: Portugal
  • Varietals: Trincadeira 25%, Aragones 25%, Alicante Bouschet 25%, Touriga Nacional 25%
  • Price: $?
  • Where to Buy: Lisbon

Meruge 2011 – Douro, Portugal

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Cherries, burnt sugar, and florals on the nose.  Concentrated dark fruit and leather, with mineral and briny notes on the palate.  Very well balanced, with just the right tannins on the backend and a somewhat dusty finish, like musty old leaves.  A gorgeous wine.  I hauled this one back from Lisbon in my baggage a couple of years back and do not recall what I paid for it.

  • Rating: Impressive
  • Name: Meruge 2011
  • Winery: Lavradores de Feitora
  • Region: Douro
  • Country: Portugal
  • Varietals: Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional
  • Price: $?
  • Where to Buy: Lisbon

Finca L’Argatá 2011 – Montsant, Spain

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Lots of black tar, dark fruits, raisins, prunes, figs, dark chocolate and just the right tannins.  Excellent, silky smooth and just the right hint of saddle leather.  I had this at Salero in Chicago with a cheese plate and pulpo – it was just right.

  • Rating: Impressive
  • Name: Finca L’Argatá
  • Winery: Joan d’Anguera
  • Region: Montsant
  • Country: Spain
  • Varietals: 85% Garnacha, 15% Syrah
  • Price: $–
  • Where to Buy: Salero Restaurant

Puntiapart 2009 – Empordá, Spain

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Concentrated cherries, leather, currant, and violets on the nose.  Nice, crisp red fruit greets the front pallet, with roses and more leather.  Soft tannins bring along cocoa and tarry tobacco flavors, with just a hint of smoke on the tight, somewhat tart finish.  Echoes of balsamic notes typical of the region on the finish.  A lovely, concentrated wine that’s gorgeous alone or with rich seafood preparations, a la Catalan.  I picked this one up at a great little wine shop in Louisville, Kentucky called The Wine Rack with the help of the proprietor, John.  Full stop.

  • Rating: Impressive
  • Name: Puntiapart 2009
  • Winery: La Vinyeta
  • Region: Empordá
  • Country: Spain
  • Varietals: 85% Cabernet, 15% Samsó (Carignan)
  • Price: $22
  • Where to Buy: The Wine Rack

 

Borsao Berola 2011 – Campo de Borja, Spain

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This one starts with musty mushrooms blended with lots of red fruit preserves and blackberries.  Strawberry and fresh sour plum hit the front of the palate, with white chocolate and hazelnuts following.  Everything comes together with a soft airy tannin finish reminiscent of burnt sugar, with hints of cocoa and coffee.  I’m putting this one as an everyday wine, though it borders on impressive.

  • Rating: Everyday Red
  • Name: Berola 2011
  • Winery: Borsao Bodegas
  • Region: Campo de Borja
  • Country: Spain
  • Varietals: 70% Garnacha, 20% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Price: $16
  • Where to Buy: Calvert Woodley Wines & Spirits

Whispering Angel 2015 – Cotes de Provence, France

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Fresh grassy nose with hints of strawberries and lemons.  A fresh hit of acidity greets the fore-palate.  Cantaloupe and grass blend with soft strawberry notes so faint, you could call them a whisper.  The finish closes with soft tannins and faint citrus notes.  The whole affair is over quickly, like a summer fling, leaving only a hint of ever being there.  This is a great, easy-drinking little rosé for spring and summer.

  • Rating: Everyday White
  • Name: Whispering Angel 2015
  • Winery: Caves d’Esclans
  • Region: Cotes de Provence
  • Country: France
  • Varietals: Grenache, Rolle, and Cinsault
  • Price: $18
  • Where to Buy: Calvert Woodley Wines & Spirits

Jaspi Negre 2011 – Montsant, Spain

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Cherries and blackberries on the nose with a hit of mustiness and fresh flowers.  This is a powerful beauty, true to its name of Black Jasper.  She starts with luscious red fruits, moving to dried prunes, raisins, and leather.  It develops a further mustiness as it sits on the mid-palate, chewy and reminiscent of autumn leaves decaying.  As the tannins show up late to end the party, you’re left with a faint history of tart strawberries.  Just a gorgeous wine.

  • Rating: Impressive
  • Name: Jaspi Negre 2011
  • Winery: Coca i Fitó
  • Region: Montsant
  • Country: Spain
  • Varietals: Garnatxa, Samsó, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
  • Price: $22
  • Where to Buy: Astor Wines & Spirits