Julia's Portuguese marathon – Algarve

Image

This is the second (the first was Lisboa) in a series of articles that are the fruit of many tastings undertaken in Portugal and occasionally in London between October 2011 and April 2012 to choose my top 50 Portuguese wines. See this guide for links to all the articles in the series.

The map shows where the Algarve is, in the far south of Portugal, and known more for its golf courses and holidays than for wine. Tasting notes are listed in alphabetical order by producer (sur)name.

Adega Cooperativa do Algarve, Reserva 2009 Lagoa

Sweet fruit with coffee overlay. Quite dry and savoury, fine tannins but a bit hollow in the middle. Quite chewy. Then that coffee flavour back on the finish. (JH) 14%
Drink
2011
2013
15.5

Borges da Silva 2010 Vinho Regional Algarve

From Lagos region. Calcareous clay. 'Light' barrel ageing in French oak. Plenty of bright cherry fruit on the nose with a slight baked/rubber note I have been noticing on the Algarve wines tasted today. Dense, chewy and moreish on the palate. Juicy finish. Good casual supper wine. (JH) 14.2%
Drink
2011
2014
16

Borges da Silva 2010 Vinho Regional Algarve

Stemmy herbal nose, quite fresh. Bright and lively and easy. No great depth but probably want you want on holiday. Just enough tannin to give it some structure. (JH) 14%
Drink
2011
2013
15.5

Adega do Cantor, Onda Nova Verdelho 2010 Vinho Regional Algarve

Creamy apple notes and a touch more tropical but also a nice savoury, mineral note from the oak and a slight grip. Some oak for six months and lots of lees work, though fermented in steel. Fresh, nicely made but a little bit lean in the middle. A bit watery on the finish though it is aromatic to the end. Tastes more like Verdelho from Oz. (JH) 14%
Drink
2011
2012
15.5

Quinta João Clara 2009 Vinho Regional Algarve

Elderberry colour. Quite smoky on the nose, hint of oak char. Lots of oak spice and then very savoury on the palate. Dense fruit and rounded tannins. Very smooth and just a catch of heat on the finish. (JH) 14.6%
Drink
2011
2014
16.5

Quinta do Francês 2007 Vinho Regional Algarve

More gentle than the 2008 on the nose and less herbaceous, a little bit of undergrowth, then that cedary note on the palate. Again a bit lacking in flesh in the middle. Delicate. (JH) 14%
Drink
2011
2015
16

Quinta do Francês 2008 Vinho Regional Algarve

Odelouca River Valley near Portimão. Belongs to French-born doctor from a Piemonte family, Patrick Agositini. A mix of meaty and herbaceous on the nose, dark fruit and a little peppery. And a bit cedary – that Cabernet shows but Trincadeira can also be herbaceous. Suave and gentle on the palate. Chocolatey oak but not over the top. Quite light in the middle. Restrained. (JH) 14%
Drink
2011
2015
16

Monte da Casteleja, Classico 2009 Vinho Regional Algarve

Clay-limestone soils. pH 3.63. 2009 was their second year of conversion to organic viticulture. 12 months in new French and US oak. Mid ruby. Sweet Victoria plum aroma that I associate with Bastardo, small red berries. Spicy too. Fresh, lively and juicy with upright. tense and fine-grained tannins. Oak is not intrusive though it adds its own sweetness. Really appetising and good length. Well done for using Bastardo to get freshness in the Algarve. (JH) 14%
Drink
2012
2016
16.5

Monte da Casteleja, Maria Selection 2008 Vinho Regional Algarve

From the Lagos area. A relatively new producer – Guillaume and Maria Leroux. Aged in 'oak casks and vats' for eight months. Mid ruby. Distinctive nose – spicy red fruit and something more savoury from the oak. Rich, juicy and lots of spice, leading to a sweet finish. Firm, dense but smooth tannins. A little hard on the finish, and some heat from the alcohol but lots of flavour. (JH) 14.6%
Drink
2011
2014
16

Herdade dos Pimenteís, Reserva 2009 Vinho Regional Algarve

Winemaker Paulo Fonseca. Eight months in oak. Savoury dark fruit with plenty of spice. Though there's a light floral note too and red fruit emerges later. Chewy, spicy and just fresh. Modern ,oaky. No real sense of place. (JH) 14.5%
Drink
2012
2015
15.5

Quinta dos Vales, Marquês dos Vales Selecta 2009 Vinho Regional Algarve

German owner. Oenologist Paulo Loreano. Clay-limestone soils. RS 3.1 g/l, pH 3.62. 12 months in French oak. Mid ruby. Slightly baked note and red fruit, though not especially aromatic. More chocolate texture and flavour on the palate. Smooth, fresh and finishes juicy. (JH) 14%
Drink
2011
2013
14