Red blend from Portugal, 70% Castelão, 30% Touriga Nacional. Varietals I have never heard of! Medium bodied, mild tannins. Presents tastes of blueberries, black current, spice, and mild raisin. Also, picking up tastes of a whole cluster wine. Enjoying the complexity in this bottle!
Shout out to Iowa Women's Basketball and Caitlin Clark! Go Hawkeyes! — 3 months ago
Lighter in color than the much older 1969, but much more expressive aromatically, dusty, sandy red-fruited aromas, flavors tend toward red-fruit as well, more of an elegant style of Ramisco, long finish, this seems at peak, or close to it (but I have more bottles, so will check in again within a year). Both of these are amazing at 11% ABV!! — a month ago
Always amazes. If you know, you know. — 2 months ago
"Portuguese Waterdogs are a treasured breed, originally from the southern coast of Portugal, near where our winery originates. Waterdog red wine has a fruity palate with notes of red berries and a touch of wood. Enjoy it with barbecue, roasts and pasta dishes. — 7 months ago
2023/9-10. A very rich amontillado, with lots of dried fruits, walnuts and other oxidative notes. But the robust acidity and hint of flor reminds one of its origins… — 7 months ago
This is the third (and last) bottle of 1969 we’ve tried in the past 5 years, and the first starting to show some clear decline, with a green asparagus note that shows on the palate and into the medium-long finish, but still, 55-year-old Ramisco?!?! Wow! — a month ago
I cannot describe how excited I’ve been for this bottle.
From Portugal’s tiny Colares wine region, this is the famed Ramisco grape, grown in vines in the sands off the coast of Sintra. Back when phylloxera destroyed most of Europe’s grapevines, these survived as the parasite couldn’t make its way in the sands the grapevines grew in. The Portuguese crown then nationalized the wine- unique to Portugal- and used it in diplomacy as a form of soft power.
The wine starts with a roughness that smooths into a beautiful, medium bodied flavour of black cherry and blackberry. Think of a juicy California Pinot Noir that manages the punch of a Rioja.
A wine worthy of its great history.
— 3 months ago
Jul Arro
Medium-full. Drinks nicely after airing out. Would enjoy again! — 24 days ago