Wines Tasted, May 18, 2010

Muralhas de Moncao - Branco - Moncao - Vinho Verde - (Classic, Food Wine) - $16 - A co-operative of tremendous proportions (1700 growers and 100+ hectares of vineyards) and tremendous consistency.  This wine belongs on the table of seafood restaurants world wide!  I just love the style (70% Alvarhinho & 30% Trejadura) with a generous amount of absorbed CO2.  It shows visual gas along with its pale straw hue.  Aromas of fresh white florals abound initially but recede to show off more stone fruit and pear.  The wine is spritzy and of high acidity, thus it's cleansing with food.  The fruit is ripe but not heavy, and at 12% alc. easy to consume by ones self.  I had it with Grilled Sardines in Vinegary Sweet Onions with EVOO at La Salette Restaurant in Sonoma, yummy.

 

Niepoort - 1991 - Colheita - Port - Porto - (Classic, Food Wine, Ager, Dessert Wine, Aparatif, Digestif) - Well, what do you drink after Araujo Estate Syrah?  Aged Colheita Port of course!  Tasted from 375ml and aged so well in bottle.  Classic Port aromas of caramel, cherry, plum, fig, and chocolate.  Lucious in the mouth and not a bit hot for a 20+% alcohol wine.  Creamy and ripe with bitter spice complimenting sweet black fruit skins.  This wine could be kept for an aditional 20 to 30 years or more!!!