Although Luis likes to joke about the natural wine world, he’s made an incredibly convincing intervention-free wine here. This no added sulphur, unfiltered Alvarinho has all the hallmarks of Soalheiro and the gorgeously tangy, almost floral aromas that the grape produces in this far northern corner of Vinho Verde (Monção and Melgaço). The juiciness of
Interview with Ryan Opaz – Foot Trodden co-author
I first met Ryan Opaz in 2011 when I attended the European Wine Blogger’s Conference in Brescia, Italy. Ryan had been organising the conference, together with his wife Gabriella and colleague Robert Macintosh since 2008. As a very green wine blogger amongst many seasoned industry names, I did not expect to become friends with one
Quinta da Costa do Pinhão – Marufo 2019
Marufo (aka Mourisco) is a tricky little number, and hardly a popular grape variety in Douro – where traditionally everyone wanted plenty of colour and extraction. This pale translucent pink wine is lighter than Miguel’s rosé – even though it’s vinifed very much as a red. Seriously peppery on the nose – and the more
Quinta da Costa do Pinhão – Tinto 2015
If you yearn for the typical flavours of Douro reds, but without anything overblown or lashings of oak, then this will really hit the spot. Baked plums, blueberries, roasted herbs, violets and iodine on the nose. Spicy berries on the palate with plenty of lift and freshness and some serious mouth-coating tannins. Produced from vineyards
Quinta da Costa do Pinhão – Branco 2017
A fascinating comparison to its younger 2019 twin, here the skin contact is very evident (even though it was 17 days, a bit less than in some other years) with a dark amber, tea-like colour and some serious tannic grunt. The nose seems a bit oxidative at first, but actually with air it smells more
Quinta da Costa do Pinhão – The Somm 2019
First vintage of a rosé at this small Douro estate, run by Miguel Morais, with winemaking assistance from Luis Seabra. (Awaiting label) It’s quite intensely coloured and flavoured – translucent purple/pink, no shrinking salmon-pink here. Concentrated and focused fruit profile, with charming strawberry and raspberry fruit, a slightly briney aroma and subtle structure. The freshness
Quinta da Costa do Pinhão – Gradual 2015
Very serious stuff considering this is Miguel’s entry-level wine – and also evolving beautifully. I lasted tasted this in 2019 and it felt a lot lighter and simpler. Earthy, forest-floor like nose with a splash of Touriga’s perfumy, violet character and predominant dark fruits. A tiny hint of oak on opening, but it soon integrates.
Quinta da Costa do Pinhão – Branco 2019
Miguel Morais only makes one white wine at his beautiful estate in Cima Corgo. And it’s actually an orange wine, in this vintage 20 days of skin contact. 2019 is the freshest, most elegant year of this wine that I’ve yet tasted (first vintage was 2014). Bright apricot and yellow plum fruit with delightful sage
Cortém – Sauvignon Blanc Viognier 2015
Baked fruits and roasted herbs on the nose, but with more aeration some freshly sliced pear also peaks out. The aromatics of the Sauvignon have mutated into a sage-like character – which reminds me slightly of Styrian skin macerated Sbs. Big on ripeness and on texture, with well integrated and quite chunky tannins. I find