Wine Berserkers - international wine social media, online community, and discussion

Tomás Costa

Look into espumantes by Vértice (Douro) or Murganheira (Bairrada).

Tomás Costa

Maybe you just don't like Burgundy, there's no shame in that! In fact, possibly you should count yourself lucky. Pousse d'Or sometimes gets criticized as monolithically fruity or lacking in complexity, which occasionally I can understand, but I do find them to be a reliable producer in producing at...

Tomás Costa

Alan Rath wrote: ↑
October 25th, 2020, 5:03 pm

Tomás Costa wrote: ↑
October 25th, 2020, 3:51 pm
He ignores his dear old mother's wishes, goes to jail for dereliction of duty and ultimately kills Carmen out of jealousy, ruining his life..
This should really be in a “spoiler alert”

You're late to the game! It premiered in 1875.

Tomás Costa

There is no mere power of suggestion there - that Murças is clay aged. Talhas are typical of the Alentejo, but Esporão has been experimenting with them up in the Douro. For Azores wine I would heartily recommend those of the Azores Wine Company, which are crafted by António Maçanita (although I woul...

Tomás Costa

In the opera Carmen, Don José is bethroded to the virginal, and very reliable, Micaëla. Yet all it takes for the fickle, whimsical Carmen to win his heart over is to throw a flower in his direction and describe an hypothetical evening of dancing and frolicking at Lillas Pastia's tavern. He ignores h...

Tomás Costa

Great to hear! I was under the impression that Barthod wines were not very approachable in their youth...

Tomás Costa

Fun evening with friends - one of whom is a wonderful cook and served us a lovely Coelho à Caçador. I brought the red and our host provided the other two bottles, in what ended up being an all Douro trilogy. Quinta do Vallado Prima Branco 2019 100% Moscatel Galego. This had the tell tale nose of Cha...

Tomás Costa

Joke's on the rich folk. They'll never taste wines from Santorini, Friuli, the Loire or the Dão.

Tomás Costa

Douro: Niepoort Redoma (both colors)
Vinhos Verdes: Anselmo Mendes Contacto
Alentejo: Herdade do Esporão Reserva (red)

All easily sourced in the US, AFAIK.

Tomás Costa

A thought for Luis Pato Branco Vinhas Velhas (Bairrada), Sao Joao Frei Joao (Bairrada), Sao Joao Poco do Lobo (vinho regional Beiras) and even Niepoort Coche (Douro) .. The 1991 Luis Pato Vinhas Velhas Branco at the Domaine is fabulous. Some made it to the States, but have been oxidized. I also lik...

Tomás Costa

Never thought I'd find this note here! Luis is a family friend and I recall a lovely paella he cooked for us at his place. His little daughter, cute as a bug's ear, ran around destroying their backyard. Great memories.

Tomás Costa

Arjan Stavast wrote: ↑
October 21st, 2020, 12:37 am
Got the reds. If you know of a better source than Garrafeira Nacional I’d appreciate if you could let me know as I’d be keen on getting some whites as well.

Check out Portugal Vineyards. Good selection at what appear to be lower shipping fees than Garrafeira Nacional.

Tomás Costa

We need a wine piggy bank - the bottles go in and you can't touch them!

Tomás Costa

Sounds like an amazing tasting, great you managed to do it before the curfew! I discovered Bairrada wines this summer when tasting with Luis Pato. His Pe Franco from barrel was amazing. Upon return I read about Bussaco and figured I missed an opportunity to try something great by not visiting them....

Tomás Costa

I’m with Michael that I’d rather drink village wines from solid producers than 1ers from Santenay, Savigny, or other more distant parts of Burgundy. I do drink both in fact because I like variety, but I find myself enjoying the CdN village wines more. And I’m talking producers like Bertheau, Fourri...

Tomás Costa

I’m with Michael that I’d rather drink village wines from solid producers than 1ers from Santenay, Savigny, or other more distant parts of Burgundy. I do drink both in fact because I like variety, but I find myself enjoying the CdN village wines more. And I’m talking producers like Bertheau, Fourri...

Tomás Costa

I'm really glad you posted this opinion. Seeing the prices for these village wines, I've often wondered to myself whether they are merely an unbalanced aberration - the consequence of a tide that has raised all boats as far as prices in Burgundy are concerned - or whether they do have a quality of ...

Tomás Costa

Portuguese whites generally age poorly, but the Buçacos are the most famous, and most glorious, exception to that rule. What an enviable line up! I recently had the 1999 white Reservado and I thought it was still too youthful, in a way. Great stuff. Tomas, Thank you. As expected, that was really a ...

Tomás Costa

However, many varieties have fallen into obscurity because of the difficulty of cultivation or poor yields, not because of their poor quality. This is exactly what happened with Touriga Nacional (which seems very unusual today when you think about it). Another situation worth mentioning is that som...

Tomás Costa

I feel like village-level Burgundy by good producers is really carving out an entirely new niche in the wine world. These are fairly high-priced wines, equivalent to prestige labels in most other world wine regions, including Bordeaux (where $70-100 will get you a respected classed growth). At the ...

Tomás Costa

Portuguese whites generally age poorly, but the Buçacos are the most famous, and most glorious, exception to that rule. What an enviable line up! I recently had the 1999 white Reservado and I thought it was still too youthful, in a way. Great stuff.

Tomás Costa

More recent vintages of Pillot will have a lot less oak. This! Less overt oaking now. The 2017 should be super nice. Haven't gotten to taste it. The 2015 is stunning. Since about 2009 Pillot’s wines have been phenomenal, and I’m thrilled the rest of the market hasn’t caught on (other than his Cheva...

Tomás Costa

Eric Ifune wrote: ↑
October 18th, 2020, 4:03 pm
Baixo also makes some Pinot Noir, just to screw around. It's decent, but I had to ask why make Pinot when you had their old vine Baga. I love it too!

Of course, the star of the lineup is Poeirinho! One of the great table wines of Portugal...

Tomás Costa

From Niepoort's Bairrada estate. God, I love this wine! Very pure, high toned cherry and blackberry, earthiness, spice and a bit of gameyness, lovely hints of rosemary and thyme, grippy acidity without being overwhelming. Sourced from 80-100 year old vines. Like a Baga Bourgogne, very gastronomical ...

Tomás Costa

My very first thought was Madeira... Maybe Blandy's Malmsey, or D'Oliveira Sercial or Verdelho. Both well south of 1k.

Tomás Costa

Colares has been mentioned already, and that would be my number one choice. Not sure if Jura vin jaune qualifies...

Tomás Costa

I'd like to add a twist, or variation, to the original question: keeping it under $100, which of these wines would you also be interested in cellaring and see them develop over a number of years, despite the fact that they are drinking well young?

Tomás Costa

If I could have several cases of Bachelet-Monnot la Fussiere (white) I'd be pretty happy. For reds, maybe Rossignol-Trapet Gevrey VV.

Tomás Costa

Most of the Vivino reviews are clueless, but since the majority of Portuguese people seem to be unaware of CT's existence, the more knowledgeable reviews of domestic wines end up on Vivino. For that reason I derive some utility from it.

Tomás Costa

Huh, Madeira is a great bet. I always have a 10 year bual in the house, but didn't realize it develops in the bottle. My understanding is that it basically doesn't. Maybe over a very long time it does a bit, but I don't think much would happen in 20 years. Madeira development is all about time in b...

Tomás Costa

My IG is in my signature! Happy to connect with any Berserkers.

Tomás Costa

Always great to read your notes! And great to hear about cellar worthy wines which are reasonably priced...

Tomás Costa

Howard Cooper wrote: ↑
October 13th, 2020, 4:23 am
Bouchard makes an excellent Beze.

Happy to own a few bottles of the 2015, but I suppose it will probably be many, many years before it's worth opening one.

Tomás Costa

António Maçanita's Fita Preta series: highly creative (dare I say boundary pushing) terroir inspired, quality approach to winemaking for no more than 25€ a bottle. Anselmo Mendes' Contacto. Can't think of a better summer quaffer for 10€. A lot of wines from the Portuguese cooperatives who have learn...

Tomás Costa

It's interesting that Mark Squires was Parkers number one minion. His palate is well thought of, I believe, in Portugal. If he has RMP's palate, he does a pretty good job of disguising it. I feel from his reviews that he manages to judge each wine on its own merits and its own profile, whether it's...

Tomás Costa

Hadn't had Chryseia for a few years. How's the oak these days? Like so many other Portuguese table wines, there is a move away from excessive Parkerization and towards greater balance. I found this very enjoyable, silky and generous without being overripe. That being said, it is not your typical Do...

Tomás Costa

From magnum, decanted for 2.5 hours. This was a bit chill upon serving and had hints of cherry and orange liqueur, as well as deep black fruit in the foreground. As it warmed in the glass it displayed very evident notes of graphite and tobacco, mint and well integrated, subtle oak. A beautifully poi...

Tomás Costa

The wine was probably more ready to drink. I don't think Bouchard vosne is particularly anything to write home about, but glad you enjoyed it. Vosne village is a little bit of a sweet spot IMO, there are some good wines that aren't too overly expensive. Coquard Loison Fleurot, Vigot, G. Mugneret, C...

Tomás Costa

A 2010 Amiot-Servelle Derrière la Grange was my red Burgundy siren song, the bottle that finally hit me over the head and made me understand the whole collective lunacy. If that is still far from the heights that the appellation can reach (as this thread seems to indicate), all I can say is - wow.

Tomás Costa

A 2010 Amiot-Servelle Derrière la Grange was my Burgundy epiphany wine (an experience I thought I might never have as my budget is limited). If a producer like that doesn't make it to a list like this, I clearly have a lot to explore.

Tomás Costa

This is encouraging me to open my 2010 Bernard Moreau la Cardeuse!

Tomás Costa

A Songeur wrote: ↑
October 1st, 2020, 5:56 am
Thanks for the Chambolle behind the Grange note. I only have 2. Should I wait or should I open?

For my taste this is drinking fantastic right now, but I'm not an experienced Burgundy drinker and YMMV. I do think the long decant helped, though.

Tomás Costa

After a wonderfully flinty, unctuous, full bodied, mouthwateringly mineral 2018 Latour-Giraud Perrieres, I didn't think my evening would be improving much further. Well, this was an a absolute stunner after two hours in the decanter: a gloriously singing nose, with everything from red cherry, spice ...

Tomás Costa

That is the famous Parker vs. Jancis wine, right?

Tomás Costa

I have this too! Cool stuff, thanks.

Tomás Costa

I'd say try it. I'm still waiting on a 91... With the caveat that YMMV and some people have a marked preference for full tertiary profiles, I find that I really like most top shelf Douros in the 15-20 year range: already well integrated and with added complexity, but still with plenty of black frui...

Tomás Costa

Loved the 08! Pricing is crazy! [wow.gif] 2008 Casa Ferreirinha Douro Barca Velha - Portugal, Douro A first for me...this was flat out killer! SO deep and dark fruited, with a plushness and wonderful finesse. Dark berry liqueured fruits, obviously Port -like, yet with total graphite powder dryness....

Tomás Costa

Go for it, it's likely at its peak. The 2011, though (released a few weeks ago) will kick its butt once it hits its stride. It's a strong candidate for greatest Douro non-fortified wine of all time, and might be the first time a Barca Velha truly warrants the price tag. Regarding its frequency of re...

Tomás Costa

And what does "VERY long haul" even mean? What value is there in waiting 40 years for a wine to mature. Vintage Port has traditionally been passed on from parents to their children... Yes, but does that provide any demonstrable value, or just some level of sentimentality? I think there are two fact...

Tomás Costa

D@vid Bu3ker wrote: ↑
September 22nd, 2020, 7:06 am
And what does "VERY long haul" even mean? What value is there in waiting 40 years for a wine to mature.

Vintage Port has traditionally been passed on from parents to their children...

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