Spain and Portugal Wine Tasting at New Forest Wines

Ringwood, Hampshire, U.K. Thursday 17-August-2023.

We were coming down to the New Forest for our friend Lynn’s 60th birthday. Learning of this tasting we came down a day early and cadged an extra night in their spare room.

New Forest Wines has been under new ownership since we last went there, for a couple of years now, and they have wisely decided to continue offering wine tastings. Selling online is all very well but building a local client base and good word of mouth is important.

Daniel led us through the tasting with lots of info on the producers and introduced us to a number of grape varieties I’d never heard of. The Spaniards are as good as the Italians for using all manner of indigenous varietals. 

Price: some were on offer, normal price in brackets.
Notes: Generally - colour, aroma, taste. 

Picture: reading left to right, wines 8. to 1.

1. Esporão Monte Velho Rose 2021

Grape(s): Touriga Nacional, Aragonez, Tinta Ciaida, Syrah
Region: Alentejo, Portugal
ABV: 12.5%
Price: £6.99 (normally £10.99) 

Notes: Fermentation in stainless steel, short, maceration on skins; dark rose, fruity, dry finish; tasty rosé exceptionally good value at this price.

2. Esporão Quinta do Ameal Louriero 2021
Grape: 100% Louriero
Region: Vinho Verde, Portugal
ABV: 11.5%
Price: £12.99 (normally £15.99) 

Notes: Close to the ocean, deep, granite soil; light, lemon, good acidity, lemon/appley, good body & length for Vinho Verde.

3. Pagos del Galir Godello 2021
Grape: 100% Godello
Region: Valdeorras, Spain
ABV: 13.5%
Price: £15.99 (normally £17.99) 

Notes: Premier cru vineyard; floral, elderflower, dry, good acidity; can age 5-7 years.

4. Bodegas Murviedro Cañada la Torre Malvasia 2021
Grape: Malvasia
Region: Valencia, Spain
ABV: 13%
Price: £16.99 

Notes: High altitude above sea level; pale, lemon, lychees, oily, rose, petal, dry, acidity, floral, richer.

5. Encostas Do Alqueva Flor de Penalva Reserva Tinto 2021
Grape(s): Touriga Nacional, Jaen (Mencia), Alfrocheiro, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo)
Region: Dão, Portugal
ABV: 13%
Price: £11.99 

Notes: Purple, vanilla, cedar, dark, ripe fruit, sweetish, smooth, soft.

6. Herència Altés Cupatge 2021
Grape(s): 53% Garnata Negra (Grenache Noir), 47% Syrah
Region: Terra Alta, Spain
ABV: 14%
Price: £14.99 

Notes: Purple, plummy, sweetish, vanilla, soft, some tannins, spicy, good length.

7. Finca Neuva Rioja Crianza 2018
Grape: 100% Tempranillo
Region: Rioja, Spain
ABV: 14%
Price: £17.99 

Notes: Vanilla, fruit, good balance & length, lighter than normal Rioja.

8. Borsao 'Tres Picos' Garnacha 2020
Grape: 100% Garnacha
Region: Campo de Borja, Spain
ABV: 15.5%
Price: 17.99

Notes: 20-25 days, maceration, five months in French oak; deeper knows, vanilla/okay, sweetish, tannic, big flavours, dark, ripe fruit.

My favourite white was the Pagos del Galir Godello 2021, and my favourite red was the Borsao 'Tres Picos' Garnacha 2020. We went back the next day and bought 18 assorted bottles.