Important Update From the Founder
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Portugal's G7 Producers
Portuguese Ambassador's Residence, London
Tasted May 22, 2007 by andrewstevenson.com with 873 views
Introduction
In 1992 Portugal’s seven largest wineries formed the G7 Group to promote their wines in particular and Portuguese wines in general to overseas markets. This was a new venture for Portugal, which in general isn’t known for business consortia.
The six G7 companies that now make up the G7 produce nearly 70 million bottles per year, exporting to more than 120 markets. The companies are: Alianca, Aveleda, Bacalhoa, Finagra, José Maria da Fonseca and Messias.
Flight 1 (10 notes)
Red
2004 Bacalhoa (Aliança) Touriga Nacional Dão Quinta da Garrida
84 points
14.5%
A blend of tinta roriz, jaen and touriga nacional. This has a very interesting nose with blackberry, green pepper and tobacco notes. There’s big zingy fruit on the palate and it’s got some powerful flavours. It’s just a touch unbalanced and rather hot on the finish. Good.
A blend of tinta roriz, jaen and touriga nacional. This has a very interesting nose with blackberry, green pepper and tobacco notes. There’s big zingy fruit on the palate and it’s got some powerful flavours. It’s just a touch unbalanced and rather hot on the finish. Good.
Red
2004 Bacalhoa (Aliança) Quinta das Baceladas
86 points
14.5%
This is a blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and baga. This has toasty, leathery black fruit with a fresh sawn timber air. There’s some very good black fruit on the palate, tending to sweetness, and there’s some grippy tannins on the finish. It avoids the heat of the Quinta da Garrida. Very Good.
This is a blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and baga. This has toasty, leathery black fruit with a fresh sawn timber air. There’s some very good black fruit on the palate, tending to sweetness, and there’s some grippy tannins on the finish. It avoids the heat of the Quinta da Garrida. Very Good.
Red
2004 Bacalhoa (Aliança) Quinta da Terrugem
85 points
14.5%
A blend of aragonez and trincadeira. There’s leather black fruit with a nice precision on the nose, though there’s a bit of a green tinge. Lively and very fresh palate. Just a little separate. Interesting wine though. Good+.
A blend of aragonez and trincadeira. There’s leather black fruit with a nice precision on the nose, though there’s a bit of a green tinge. Lively and very fresh palate. Just a little separate. Interesting wine though. Good+.
Red
2003 Aveleda Touriga Nacional Follies
85 points
13%
This is 70% cabernet sauvignon and 30% touriga nacional. There is some slightly green, sweet black fruit on the nose. Very open, clean palate. Decent structure. A nice wine, but it’s fairly simple. Good+.
This is 70% cabernet sauvignon and 30% touriga nacional. There is some slightly green, sweet black fruit on the nose. Very open, clean palate. Decent structure. A nice wine, but it’s fairly simple. Good+.
Red
2004 Bacalhoa Cabernet Sauvignon Quinta da Bacalhôa
85 points
14%
This blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot has a nice nose with quite deep plums and mulberry and a slightly floral overtone. There’s sweet ripe fruit on the palate. This is a decent cabernet-merlot, but not exceptional. Good+.
This blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot has a nice nose with quite deep plums and mulberry and a slightly floral overtone. There’s sweet ripe fruit on the palate. This is a decent cabernet-merlot, but not exceptional. Good+.
Red
2003 Bacalhoa Touriga Nacional Só
84 points
14%
A very precise focussed nose with plummy black fruit and some fresh roast figs and a hint of caramel. A forward open palate, but a bit hot on the finish. This is an interesting wine, but pretty unexceptional. Good.
A very precise focussed nose with plummy black fruit and some fresh roast figs and a hint of caramel. A forward open palate, but a bit hot on the finish. This is an interesting wine, but pretty unexceptional. Good.
Red
2005 Bacalhoa Tinto da Ânfora
87 points
14%
This is a blend of aragonez, trincadeira, alfrocheiro, touriga nacional and cabernet sauvignon. It has a very attractive, enticing nose. Interesting palate with layers of three different flavours: there is some ripe, sweet and black, fruit; then some more floral, greener fruit, then an integrated oak feel. Very Good.
This is a blend of aragonez, trincadeira, alfrocheiro, touriga nacional and cabernet sauvignon. It has a very attractive, enticing nose. Interesting palate with layers of three different flavours: there is some ripe, sweet and black, fruit; then some more floral, greener fruit, then an integrated oak feel. Very Good.
Red
2003 Quinta do Valdoeiro Bairrada Reserva
89 points
13%
This is a blend of touriga nacional, baga, syrah and cabernet sauvignon. There’s leathery black fruit on the nose with a real wet hedgerow feel. Very good palate. This is an attractive wine, with quite forward sweet fruit, but all very nicely balanced. Very Good Indeed.
This is a blend of touriga nacional, baga, syrah and cabernet sauvignon. There’s leathery black fruit on the nose with a real wet hedgerow feel. Very good palate. This is an attractive wine, with quite forward sweet fruit, but all very nicely balanced. Very Good Indeed.
Red
2004 Caves Messias Touriga Franca Douro Quinta do Cachão
84 points
14.5%
This 100% touriga franca has a slightly closed nose, but it’s quite leafy and green with hedgerow fruit. Overall it’s pretty decent stuff on the palate and is nicely balanced. There’s just a bit of a raw, unknitted feel. Good.
This 100% touriga franca has a slightly closed nose, but it’s quite leafy and green with hedgerow fruit. Overall it’s pretty decent stuff on the palate and is nicely balanced. There’s just a bit of a raw, unknitted feel. Good.
Red
2004 Caves Messias Douro Grande Escolha Quinta do Cachão
89 points
14.5%
A blend of touriga franca, touriga nacional, tinta barroca and tinta roriz. The nose has bright red fruits and fresh tobacco. Open and clean on the palate: this is a good, direct wine with a nice purity and clarity. Grippy tannins kick in on the finish. Very Good Indeed.
A blend of touriga franca, touriga nacional, tinta barroca and tinta roriz. The nose has bright red fruits and fresh tobacco. Open and clean on the palate: this is a good, direct wine with a nice purity and clarity. Grippy tannins kick in on the finish. Very Good Indeed.