Text João Pedro de Carvalho | Translation Jani Dunne

The project for Quinta do Portal originated in Douro in the early 1990s, and has its roots in a centenary property belonging to the family of proprietor João Branco. They have always produced Port Wine, and the project later included a boutique winery, where Paulo Coutinho has been working on oenology since 1994; he is the highest authority when it comes to their wines. Besides Port Wine, DOC Douro and Moscatel wines also emerge, supported by the four Quintas (Portal, Confradeiro, Muros and Abelheira), all of them in Cima-Corgo, composing about 250 acres of vines, 200 to 550 metres high.

Quinta do Portal isn’t just about wines; adding to all of the above, the incredible cellar designed by prestigious architect Siza Vieira was one of the first signature cellars in Portugal. Casa das Pipas came along to complement it and is now an excellent spot for wine tourism, widely awarded inside and outside Portugal.

Returning to the wine subject, and to the latest presentation by Paulo Coutinho, this time I would like to highlight wines of fresher aromas; more daring, and let’s say more appetising this time of year. The tasting unfolded in a quite relaxed way. Much to our surprise, a few wines from earlier harvests were also put to the taste, to help work out how easily Paulo Coutinho’s creations age. By the way, the evolution was obvious in every case. Even Mural white 2004 was caught in a moment of surprisingly good shape, having definitely gone under everyone’s radar back when it was on the shelves.

Mural white 2004 – Photo by João Pedro de Carvalho | All Rights Reserved

Quinta do Portal Verdelho/Sauvignon Blanc 2014 – Photo by João Pedro de Carvalho | All Rights Reserved

The first white to make an appearance was Quinta do Portal Verdelho/Sauvignon Blanc 2014, which came from the experimental plots in Quinta da Abelheira. Its charming fresh and fruity aromas form a graceful combination of the two varieties. The result is a very perfumed white, with clean aromas, highlighting the fruits (citrus, tropical, and orchard), which work well with fresh vegetables, and a light feeling of flint. In the mouth, the palate senses beautiful freshness, it’s rich, marking, and begins with very juicy fruit, however carrying a long dry finish.

In the meantime, Quinta do Portal Moscatel Galego 2014 waited in the glass, exuberant enough to draw our attention. In the foreground, a floral note evoked roses, followed by ripe fruit, revealing plenty of orange. Deep freshness wrapped the entire blend, perhaps a little linear, but flawlessly escorting a broad range of starters as they made their way to the table.

Lastly, Quinta do Portal Rosé 2014, a blend of Tinta Roriz, Touriga and Touriga Nacional, in which fruits of the forest are predominant, albeit with notes of pomegranate. Somewhere in-between, a light note of peppermint in a blend that shows beautiful freshness, also felt in the mouth, where it becomes most expressive, even more than in the nose. I enjoy the dry finish, with a pinch of strawberry and blackcurrant lingering in the palate, all in a wine made for a table surrounded by friends.

Contacts
EN 323 Celeirós – 5060-909 Sabrosa
(Estrada Pinhão-Sabrosa)
Tel: (+351) 259 937 000
Mobile: (+351) 969 519 021
E-mail: reservas@quintadoportal.pt
Website: www.quintadoportal.com