Collares Genuino Premiado

A unicorn wine presents a unicorn experience. First, all hail the Ramisco varietal, explained to me as singular to this area of Portugal and soon to be extinct given the level of building development there. From the label: “the Colares wine región was defined in 1908. The vineyards are planted in the dunes between the hills of sintra and the Atlantic Ocean “. The nose alone is worth the price of admission: vibrates with intensity, red fruits, cut flowers. And this was after drinking an intensely vibrant Syrah by Herve Souhaut!
Taste is somewhere between a medium bodied Rioja and a deep Mercia from Ribera Sacra, minus any traces of barrel aging. Utterly seductive mouthfeel, not unctuous or cloying, almost chewy. An intense pitch of acidity higher up on the register ( hence the Ribera analogy). 38$ for a 500ml bottle. A reminder why sharing wines like these with your homeboys is the only way to live.

Medium ruby with quite a wide ruby pink rim . Fresh red cherry , touch of freshly cut herbs , rosemary , sage , orange rind , then a stony , mineral note. On the palate again fresh red cherry, touch herbal also . Fills out well , quite elegant fresh palate , some pretty gritty tannins but it’s the high acidity that is most arresting . Good length and balance with herbal, chalky , spice tinged salted cherry notes. Quite unique really , even within the context of a country as varied and diverse as Portugal. I would imagine it is at the beginning of a long life so will probably need another 5-10 years and last well a further 10-15

Bramble, brick, less brett than 08, forest, cherry, dried rose petal. Very complex. Beautiful wine although is doesnt have the bracing acidity of the 08.