https://www.jdselections.com/contact daily 0.75 2023-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce435d6bea1ed00016ba287/1558964652247-5MWXNMFZVOPGE4TY6U2Q/MHeiderich_ReflexionenZwei-05-copy.jpg Contact https://www.jdselections.com/about daily 0.75 2023-05-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1577139380334-DHM6ZETR8PZK9N1WTXU6/JDwine.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce435d6bea1ed00016ba287/1558964652247-5MWXNMFZVOPGE4TY6U2Q/MHeiderich_ReflexionenZwei-05-copy.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1577203157577-OOVFZGHHWKDG3SS2R1YM/PortoSelfie.JPG About JD Selections in Porto https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1577203852441-SMJZTNCFD8YHJXLCP7WQ/FamilySelfie.jpg About JD Selections Family https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1580950242219-TB9Y96JQSH4QGX2NT6XI/IMG_2776.jpg About https://www.jdselections.com/wineclub daily 0.75 2023-05-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1603841637131-YRNBQJSU2TIU098A95SC/icon-12pack-1x.png Wine Club https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1603841604379-R14P6DRABO72DZLQDQD2/icon-6pack-1x.png Wine Club - 6 Pack https://www.jdselections.com/register daily 0.75 2022-09-20 https://www.jdselections.com/trade daily 0.75 2025-04-19 https://www.jdselections.com/terms-of-service daily 0.75 2020-11-04 https://www.jdselections.com/bairrada daily 0.75 2021-04-16 https://www.jdselections.com/spring2021 daily 0.75 2021-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1616190039121-A8RDYVL8VYO8SISQF0L2/IMG_1202.jpg Spring 2021 Wines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1616190769958-Q611SS7FKPHOKYGKV32I/IMG_1203.jpg Spring 2021 Wines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1616190005614-ZLUG60WVSECO81X1N4LO/LuisSeabra.JPG Spring 2021 Wines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1618368868160-GRAZ3BL7HA51GIU9BV97/Tinta+Francisca.jpeg Spring 2021 Wines - 2016 Muxagat Tinta Francisca Club members received a taste of the incredible work being done at Muxagat (pronounced Moo-sha-got) in the Winter 2020/21 pack via the 2016 Tinto, the winery’s red blend. Muxagat is located in the tiny village of Meda almost 3 hours drive from Porto at the eastern end of the Douro Valley. The Douro is divided into three regions and you can refer to this wine map for orientation. The Baixo Corgo is the western-most part of the Douro, closest to Porto and the influences of the Atlantic Ocean. Cima Corgo is the middle section. The most rugged, least developed region is the Douro Superior with parts of it closer to Spain than to Porto and the coast. The region is sought after for its high elevation vineyards, extremes in diurnal versus nocturnal temperature, and situational position to ripen grapes and produce beautiful wines. Muxagat has been making wines here since 2002. Muxagat is a family-owned property, with Susana Lopes at the helm and she has helped drive awareness of artisan, terroir-focused Douro Valley wines forward through her work. Several of the wines are now only available on allocation, though luckily, we will always be able to secure the wines of our choice for the wine club. Winemaking is overseen by the legendary, Luis Seabra, widely regarded as the best winemaker in the Douro and one of the most influential wine professionals in Portugal. Note… we will be joined by Luis for a live discussion on June 6 at 5pm ET that you won’t want to miss! The Muxagat wines are a prime reason I began importing wines, and the 2016 Tinta Francisca is their “flagship” red wine. As with all Muxagat wines, the farming practices are sustainable and focus on the natural, long-term health of the land and vines. The grapes are harvested by hand and sorted immediately upon arrival at the winery. 75% of the stems were used in the stainless steel tank fermentation. Punch downs were a highly manual process, done by hand to ensure gentle treatment. Malolactic fermentation took place in used French oak barrels where the wine aged for 18 months before bottling in April of 2018. There is relatively little of this precious wine produced, with just 1,200 bottles total from the 2016 vintage. While blends are more common than monovarietal wines in the Douro Valley, Tinta Francisca is a grape that shows great depth but also softness and elegance on the palate. It is a grape with high natural acidity and floral notes, often reminding fans of Italian wines (including me) of the Nebbiolo varietal. With 5 years of age, the tannins are fine and support enjoyment of the wine both with or without food depending on personal preference. This wine is not sold anywhere else in the United States and I’ve only made it available to club members. I’m delighted to be able to share it with you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1618369252276-KPEBPQM08E7WUYZP4A7Q/Muxagat+Branco.jpeg Spring 2021 Wines - 2018 Muxagat Branco As mentioned above, blending is a common practice in the Douro Valley and more widely across Portugal. Blends sometimes receive negative views in the States, though their results can often produce wines of far greater depth and nuance given the varying characteristics of multiple grapes. If someone tells you a blend can’t produce high quality wine, shrug and point them to Bordeaux for example. And Portugal! Blending is traditional by Portuguese winemakers because many vineyards in the Douro and across most growing regions of the country have a “field blend” of multiple varietals planted and growing together. It becomes logistically impossible to separate the different grape varietals and thus they are picked and fermented together. Another common practice, as is the case at Muxagat, different varietals are planted separately in the same vineyard, harvested separately then blended in the winery. The final wine best resembles the full quality of the vineyard characteristics. With 2018 Muxagat Branco the dominant grape in the blend is Rabigato at 60%. Rabigato is a full-bodied, workhorse grape that responds incredibly well to the high elevation vineyards and hot, sunny summer days of the Douro Valley. I often compare it stylistically to Chardonnay. 30% of the wine is Arinto, another popular varietal in the region for its floral characteristics and high natural acidity. We’ll explore more Arinto wines in future club shipments as it is a varietal that thrives in multiple regions across Portugal. The final 10% is Gouveio which gives the wine additional structure and acidity. The resulting wine has incredibly broad appeal and versatility, and I am excited to include it in the club shipment as I consider it the perfect white wine heading into the warmer weather months ahead. Bright appearance and smelling of ripe peaches and pears and a full, round taste in the mouth without being too heavy. Because the wine has some bottle age there is a light honey quality not typically present in white wines that are released earlier. This is a wine I have a hard time putting down and I take it everywhere, from camping trips in the mountains to afternoons at the pool or the perfect pre-dinner grilling wine. With a moderate 12% alcohol it has a freshness that allows for enjoyment without food. It also pairs well with white meat, seafood of many types, and lighter pastas. I had it recently with several types of hard and soft cheeses and it was delightful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1618369805183-OA0U2XZNZIZ8G4AQUD71/Pormenor+Reserva+Branco.jpeg Spring 2021 Wines - 2019 Pormenor Reserva Branco Pormenor means “details” in Portuguese, and Pedro Coelho, owner and winemaker of Pormenor is hyper focused on the details that count when delivering incredible wines. Pedro is one of my original producer partners, a great family man, and a joy to open a bottle of wine with. One detail he insists upon is old vines, but in Douro Superior they are very hard to find. Douro Superior, sometimes referred to as Upper Douro is a relatively “new” development in Douro Valley wines… a bit of an oxymoron when speaking of a region that has a wine history spanning more than 2,000 years. But, it wasn’t until the 1960s when electricity arrived to parts of the Douro Superior that there was enough modern infrastructure and winemaking comforts that allowed for high quality wines to flourish. Most of the Douro prior to that time period was focused on port production with the primary growing regions further west toward Porto. Unfortified table wines were an afterthought and largely made from excess grapes not used in the more lucrative port wines. In more recent years a relatively new crop of younger generation winemakers seeking different growing conditions began realizing the terroir of the Upper Douro was yielding dry table wines (port is fortified) of distinction. Thus, the majority of the vineyards in the Douro Superior are relatively young. Pedro’s meticulous search and a bit of good fortune allowed him to secure vineyards in the Douro Superior with vines ranging in age from 40 to 95 years. The qualities that old vines impart through the magic of Mother Nature yields a much different experience in our glass. The first vintage of Pormenor was 2013, and Pedro’s approach to his wines starts in the vineyards. Another detail he refuses to bend on is the practice of organic farming to promote the health of his precious old vines. The 2019 Pormenor Reserva Branco is sourced from their oldest vineyards with vines aging from 80 to 95 years. Vines face north and southeast and are at elevations between 1,800 to 2,135 feet above sea level - optimal positioning for ripening grapes in this climate. The vineyard is planted as a field blend and dominated by Rabigato at 85%. The remainder is Malvasia Fina which has a gentle wax and smoke character to it. Harvests are by hand and Pedro’s aim is to make wines that reflect the beauty of the vines and land and thus another self-appointed detail is to stay out of Mother Nature’s way. In winemaking terms, this is minimal intervention and letting the fruit take its natural course toward the wine we are enjoying. Upon arriving at the winery the grapes are gently pressed with the juice decanting for 24 hours at low temperature. Fermentation is in large format, 225-liter used French oak barrels. It is spontaneous and natural with native yeasts only and no temperature control, additional hallmarks of minimal intervention winemaking. The wine then ages in the same barrels for 11 months on the fine lees (dead yeast cells). Aging wines on the lees can add body and additional flavors and is a practice Pedro does with his white wines. The wine is then naturally stabilized and is unfiltered, thus it can develop natural sediment after time in the bottle. Pormenor Reserva Branco is a “benchmark” reference for Douro Valley white wine and is often featured on wine lists at fine dining restaurants in Europe. Pedro produced less than 3,100 bottles in 2019 and we are the exclusive importer in the United States. The wine is vibrant and on the nose displays floral aromas, citrus, green apple, pineapple, and green herbs. Tasting the wine reveals the tension and intensity that old vine wines can impart along with balanced and elegant acidity. A light touch of wood is noticeable given the time in barrel, and the wine will certainly benefit from more time aging in bottle. The wine pairs wonderfully with foods that have medium fat content. Fish, white meats, soft cheeses, and risotto would be home runs. Chef Henrique of 2-Michelin Star restaurant, Alma in Lisbon has paired this wine for club members with a special dish. Watch the instructional pairing video and access the recipe here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1618370426974-BM2H4N34KVN2D8L50AIB/Pormenor+Tinto.jpeg Spring 2021 Wines - 2018 Pormenor Tinto Pormenor’s red (tinto) wines deliver using the same attention to detail and “DNA” of old vines and minimal intervention winemaking. The grapes for Pormenor Tinto are also from a field blend on old vines, but just west of Douro Superior in the part of the Douro Valley referred to as the Cima Corgo. The vineyard is 60 years in age and composed of traditional red grapes of the Douro all planted together: Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz (known as Tempranillo in neighboring Spain), Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca, and Rufete. 2018 was a warm year with low humidity and thus grapes matured relatively quickly. Harvest was in early-August, and in Douro where temperatures can soar, quality winemakers like Pedro preserve good natural acidity and maturation with a strict picking schedule. It is common for a 3-4 weeks difference in harvest dates between vintages depending on weather and the internal conditions of the grapes. As with all harvests at Pormenor, it is done by hand. After sorting at the winery, grapes were pressed with partial stems and fermentation occurs naturally with native yeast in stainless steel tanks. The wine is macerated for four weeks. Maceration is a winemaking practice that leaves the skins, seeds, and stalks of the grapes in contact with the juice. This can optimize the structure and flavor of the wine and it is a judgement call by the winemaker as to how long to macerate. The wine is then aged for 20 months in 225-liter used French oak barrels before bottling. It is naturally stabilized and unfiltered, so you might notice natural sediment in the bottle especially with age. The principles of Pormenor and Pedro’s process to avoid all unnatural additives in the vineyard or winery bring forth a purity in his wines that I enjoy immensely. We are treated to the sensory experiences of the fruit and the vines to reveal a pure example of Douro Valley red wine from old vines. Fresh, elegant, strong natural acidity, well-rounded tannins, and the aging in barrels is discreet. I’ve enjoyed this wine with and without food, though common pairings would include red and white meat, pasta, and a family favorite pairing of homemade pizza. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1618370635337-QWFZ26SVU9VBUX3WLAU4/Alias+Tinto.jpeg Spring 2021 Wines - 2017 V Puro Aliás Tinto V Puro returns as a producer we were introduced to with the Doravante wines in the Winter 2020/21 club shipment. The feedback on the Doravante red and white was overwhelmingly positive. Owner and winemaker, Nuno Mira do Ó joined us live for a discussion and Q&A, and if you were unable to tune in and would like to review it the video is here. Nuno owns and works three vineyards in close proximity in the Bairrada wine region, which we will feature regularly as one of Portugal’s regions producing astounding references of reds, whites, and sparkling wines. Nuno’s focus with V Puro (puro being the Portuguese word for pure) is to work exclusively with Portugal’s native varietals and showcase their natural elegance and freshness through old vines. Checking out Bairrada on the wine map shows it immediately next to the Atlantic Ocean, an important feature in the climate of the region. Summer brings hot days but cool, sometimes cold nights and the big temperature swings combined with the clay soils make the Bairrada an exciting region for artisan winemakers like Nuno. Whereas the Winter 2020/21 club wines featured fruit from his Doravante vineyards, the 2017 Aliás Tinto takes us to an adjacent parcel of even older vines. This image shows the vineyard positioning. The wine is 100% Baga and from a specific parcel of the Aliás vineyard that is entirely 100+ year old vines… a rare and special treat! The limited production of this wine is only 2,200 bottles. The 2017 growing season in Bairrada featured the trademark hot days of the Portuguese coastal summers and cooler Atlantic nights. The dry nature of the vintage had Nuno push up the harvest to preserve the freshness and depth of the fruit. The grapes are hand picked and fermentation begins in open lagar (large stone trough) with 10% stems included. Fermentation is through native yeast only and ends in barrels. The wine was then aged 20 months in used French oak before being bottled in September 2018 where it remained in its original location until I imported it for you earlier this year. The wine is in a great drinking window now, though it will age gracefully for many years. Give the wine some time in the decanter, and take that time to enjoy the floral and cherry aromas. Baga is a special grape that we will revisit a number of times, and this is a unique expression given the 100+ year old vines. In the mouth the tannins are smooth with great primary fruit and spice. There is a hint of Atlantic salinity (remember the proximity to the ocean) and balanced acidity. The wine pairs well with a wide variety of foods from red and white meat to seafood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1618371216567-053QGJZKE982HV6QKQF3/Vidente.jpeg Spring 2021 Wines - 2017 Mira da Ó Vidente Gazing back at the Portuguese wine region map, you’ll see that just east of Bairrada is the Dão region. We enjoyed the Textura wines from the Dão region in the Winter 2020/21 wine shipment and this time we revisit this exciting area through Nuno’s eponymous wine label, Mira do Ó. Nuno owns vineyards and makes wines in both regions, the Bairrada and Dão and his experience and understanding of the intricate nuances of these neighboring regions allows him to bring forth wines of distinction. Nuno’s professional training includes viticulture, and he is in constant search for the balance between soil, climate, and vines. He then seeks to sustain that balance through the sensory experience of the wines we enjoy. The Dão region has different yet equally attractive geographic and climatic conditions from neighboring Bairrada. Being further inland, the influence of the Atlantic Ocean is still present but muted. The dominant feature of the Dão is the presence of Portugal’s tallest inland mountain range, the Serra da Estrela. With peaks over 6,500 feet, it impacts growing conditions and keeps the warmer inland temperatures at bay enough to create a longer growing (ripening) season for the grapes. At 1,500 feet of elevation, Nuno’s vineyard in Dão is elevated from coastal Bairrada, which also helps mitigate the summer heat. Granite is the dominant soil type in this area and it imparts different elements on the vines than the softer clay soils further west toward the coast. 2017 Mira do Ó Vidente is made from 30-year old vines and is a blend of varietals native to the the Dão: Jaen, Alfrocheiro, Tinta Pinheira, and Touriga Nacional. Harvest is by hand followed by a slow fermentation in stainless steel tank. The wine is aged 10 months in used French oak barrel before bottling in May of 2019. On the nose you’ll smell cinnamon, cherry, and cocoa. Upon tasting, I find the tannins to be softening with bottle age but tense and the wine has a long, silky finish. I love this wine with food and pair it with a wide variety of meat-based dishes. https://www.jdselections.com/chefhenrique daily 0.75 2022-02-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1616790582259-WLCM32XOEJOPUXA83TPJ/COMTRADIC%CC%A7AO+EP21-11.jpg Chef Henrique - Food and Wine with Chef Henrique Sá Pessoa 2-Michelin Star Chef Henrique is the creative force behind Alma, a Lisbon destination restaurant. Chef Henrique provides food pairings exclusive to each JD Selections wine club shipment. Follow along in your home kitchen to re-create these incredible pairings, enjoy! https://www.jdselections.com/rose2021wines daily 0.75 2021-12-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1620707652866-R5OYI97KHBB2U1RK20X7/Muxugat_Rose_2019.jpg Rosé 2021 Wines - 2019 Muxagat Rosé Club Members have now received several examples of the incredible work being done at Muxagat (pronounced Moo-sha-got). The Winter 2020/21 pack featured the 2016 Tinto, the winery’s red blend. The Spring 2021 shipment delivered 2016 Muxagat Tinta Francisca and 2018 Branco. Muxagat is located in the tiny village of Meda almost 3 hours drive from Porto at the eastern end of the Douro Valley. The Douro is divided into three regions and you can refer to this wine map for orientation. The eastern-most region, far inland from Porto and the Atlantic Ocean is the Douro Superior. This part of Portugal can be rugged and feels remote, but also contains some of the country’s most prized vineyard land. With high elevation and big swings between daytime and nighttime temperatures, the Douro Superior has become a magnet for artisan wine producers. Muxagat has been making wines here since 2002. Muxagat is a family-owned property, with Susana Lopes at the helm. Winemaking is overseen by the legendary, Luis Seabra, widely regarded as the best winemaker in the Douro and one of the most influential wine professionals in Portugal. Luis is joining Wine Club members for a live discussion on June 6 at 5pm ET! Muxagat wines all begin with sustainable farming practices in the fields. Long-term health and vitality of the land is a major focal point for the team. Grapes for all Muxagat wines including the 2019 Rosé are all harvested by hand and sorted upon arrival at the winery. The Rosé is 50% Touriga Nacional and 50% Tinta Barroca. After pressing, the juice is split and half is fermented in stainless steel tank with the other half in used French oak barrels. The wine spends 9 months on the fine lees before being combined and bottled in May of 2020. This process reveals a richer, more full-bodied Rosé wine. The wine is more intense and complex than many Rosés, which leads to enjoyment both with and without food. This lovely Rosé is not sold anywhere else in the United States and I am excited to bring it here for your enjoyment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1620707629309-JJE846W66RLLZMC9VMA0/Vadio_Bruto_2017.jpg Rosé 2021 Wines - 2018 Vadio Sparkling Rosé Vadio is a family-owned and run project in the Bairrada wine region along the Atlantic Ocean between Porto and Lisbon. Vadio was founded in 2005 by husband and wife team, Luís Patrão and Eduarda Dias. Luís is a renown winemaker focused on extracting the traditional elements of the Bairrada’s natural grape varietals to produce authentic wines reflecting their place. Eduarda focuses on running the day-to-day operations. Luís and Eduarda, along with extended family members, farm 7.5 hectares across 4 vineyards. The winery is based in the small village of Poutena. They practice organic farming to ensure the health of their land and vines and the sustainability of the region’s biodiversity. The Atlantic Ocean’s climate influences combined with clay and limestone soils and native varietals contribute to the uniqueness of Vadio’s wines. They are known for their red wines featuring the Baga grape and the production of some of Portugal’s best sparkling wines. When I first tasted their sparkling Rosé, I knew I had to bring it to the United States to share with other Rosé and sparking wine lovers. The 2018 Vadio Sparkling Rosé is made from 100% Baga, a grape that is synonymous with the Bairrada region. Baga is the predominant red grape in Bairrada. It is a late ripening, vigorous grape of very small berries. In clay and limestone soils with good sunlight exposure, Baga can mature well and produce delicate yet nuanced wines. The vines that produce the sparkling Rosé are all 30-plus years in age and allow for Baga’s naturally high acidity to shine. Whole bunch clusters are pressed followed by fermentation part in used oak barrels and part in stainless steel tank. The final blend was done in January 2019 and then tirage. Tirage is a practice of making sparkling wines (including Champagne) where a liquid mixture of yeast, wine, and sugar is added to the still wine allowing for a secondary fermentation in bottle. After the second fermentation the wine ages 18 months before dégorgement in August 2020. This sparking Rosé is pink-salmon in color and has thin yet persistent bubbles. The nose bursts with bright red fruit. In the mouth the wine is creamy yet fresh, rich, and well-balanced. My favorite Portuguese sparkling wine! Chef Henrique of 2-Michelin Star restaurant, Alma in Lisbon has paired this wine for Wine Club Members with a special dish. Watch the instructional pairing video and access the recipe here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1620707814247-6HSHGCB95PAPEJ73SK1U/Pormenor_Rose_2019.jpg Rosé 2021 Wines - 2019 Pormenor Rosé Pormenor means “details” in Portuguese, and Pedro Coelho, owner and winemaker of Pormenor is hyper focused on the details that count when delivering incredible wines. Pedro is one of my original producer partners and Club Members received the 2019 Reserva Branco and 2018 Tinto in the Spring 2021 shipment. One detail he insists upon is old vines, which are often difficult to find in the eastern parts of the Douro Valley where Pormenor resides. Pormenor has vineyards in both the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior sub regions of the Douro Valley. This area is home to many of the country’s emerging winemaking stars and Pormenor is at the leading edge of making artisan wines “of place” that reflect the best of the Douro Valley. Pedro’s meticulous search for old vines landed him vineyards that range in age from 40 to 95 years. The qualities that old vines impart through the magic of Mother Nature yields a much different experience in our glass, especially with Rosé. The first vintage of Pormenor was 2013, and Pedro’s approach to his wines starts in the vineyards. Another detail he refuses to bend on is the practice of organic farming to promote the health of his precious old vines. The 2019 Pormenor Rosé comes from 50-year old vines in the Cima Corgo. The vineyard is also at high elevation, between 1,500 and 1,800 feet above sea level which allows a more moderated impact of the summer heat common in the Douro Valley. Harvests are by hand and Pedro’s aim is to make wines that reflect the beauty of the vines and land and thus another self-appointed detail is to stay out of Mother Nature’s way. In winemaking terms, this is minimal intervention and letting the fruit take its natural course toward the wine we are enjoying. 2019 Rosé is a blend of traditional, indigenous grapes of the Douro: Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Barroca. Harvest was the second week of September with optimal balance of natural alcohol level and acidity. Upon arriving at the winery the grapes are gently pressed with the juice decanting for 24 hours. Fermentation is natural with wild yeast and in used 225-liter French oak barrels with 7 months on fine lees (dead yeast cells). There is no temperature control during fermentation, no malolactic, and no battonage - a minimal approach in the cellar. The wine has an incredibly clean look and feel. It is bright red, mineral in quality from the natural approach with fresh red fruits on the nose and mouth. The wine has good structure given the old vine grapes and can be enjoyed with or without food. I’m the sole source for this wine in America and I’m excited to introduce Pormenor’s Rosé to you! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1620709275691-V0FEIVWE93S6Y5R57XQC/QDSA_Rose_2019.jpg Rosé 2021 Wines - 2019 Quinta de Sant’Ana Rosé Quinta de Sant’Ana is a breathtaking, historic property nestled in rolling vineyards between the Atlantic Ocean and Lisbon. James and Ana Frost, along with their seven sons and additional family members, infuse the Quinta with a genuine spirit and harness the property’s rich history of wine production and hospitality. James always says the wines are made in the vineyards, not the winery, and the care he and his family and winemaking team have for the land is clear. Situated less than 10 miles from the Atlantic coast and 300 to 450 feet above sea level, the Quinta is blessed with a unique microclimate of cool nights, cloudy, misty mornings, and sunny afternoons. The Atlantic climate sweeps across the electric patchwork of calcareous clay slopes with vines weaving into different aspects of valleys, peaks, and ridges. The resulting wines are fresh and elegant. James and his winemaking team, headed by the esteemed Antonio Maçanita, began converting the vineyards to full organic farming in 2015 and achieved organic certification in 2018. Minimal intervention winemaking guides all decisions in the winery allowing the natural characteristics of the terroir to shine through in the wines. Quinta de Sant’Ana 2019 Rosé comes from two vineyards on the property both south-facing. One is at the top of a hill on decomposing calcareous clay soil. The other at the bottom of the valley in cool, dark, deep soils with less sun exposure. The blend is of native varietals Touriga Nacional and Aragonez along with some Merlot. Harvests are by hand and was completed in mid-September for the 2019 growing season. Grapes are de-stemmed and crushed with the must settling for 24-hours at 44-degrees. Fermentation is in stainless steel tank at low temperature with native yeasts only. The wine is bottled after 5 months to maximize its aromatics. Salmon-pink color, the wine is delicate and dry with fresh strawberry and raspberry characteristics. There are hints of vanilla and wild flowers and the wine has racy acidity. Enjoy as an aperitif or with food, this is a lovely display of the incredible potential in the Lisboa wine region combined with organic farming and minimal intervention winemaking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1620755774484-P5RZEYPDO9VCLQ65SUKU/Aneto_Rose_2020.jpg Rosé 2021 Wines - 2020 Aneto Rosé Francisco Montenegro started Aneto Wines in 2001 on land his family has owned for multiple generations. Like many multi-generational farms in the Douro Valley, the family had sold quality fruit to port producers or other large, cooperative wineries. He farms 17 hectares though only a small portion of grapes grown are used in Aneto Wines. Grapes used for Aneto are from vineyards with age range between 25 and 80 years and harvested by hand. 17 hectares of vines span three farms across both the Baixo and Cima Corgo sub-regions of the Douro Valley, which provides a great interpretation of the heart of the Valley. This section of the Douro sees more traffic and tourism than Douro Superior given its proximity to Porto and better infrastructure for travel, but still feels rugged and ancient. Visiting wineries often requires appointments but gives a visitor an authentic view into artisan winemaking in an area that has 2,000 years of grape growing history. It is a memorable experience. Francisco is dedicated to sustainable farming practices to ensure the long-term health of his land. No synthetic products are used in the vineyards or the winery. The 2020 Aneto Rosé is made from grapes native to this part of the Douro: Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca. The soil of the vineyards at Aneto is part schist and part granite and the climate is Mediterranean though the Atlantic Ocean still plays its part with cool nights even in the summer months. Once the grapes are harvested, they are sorted in the winery and pressed before a 24 hour settling in stainless steel tank. Fermentation is in stainless steel and done through native yeasts only over the course of a month. The wine is then bottled early the following year. I first encountered Aneto Rosé in a tasting with owner-winemaker, Francisco at a resort local to his home and winery. The Rosé was the initial wine I tasted and it blew me away. It hits upon all of my favorite characteristics of this wine category: crisp without a sugary “dessert” taste, higher acidity that allows for the wine with or without food. Lower alcohol levels makes this a delicious option to enjoy over a longer period of time or multiple bottles with a group without being too heavy. I’m delighted to be the sole source of this wine in the United States… cheers! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1620755808907-R9GG93F4XKNWMHZ1GF31/Aneto_Rose_2019.jpg Rosé 2021 Wines - 2019 Aneto Rosé I tasted the 2019 Aneto Rosé with Francisco at his winery in November of 2019. At that time the wine was in stainless steel tank though it was already showing incredible promise. We bottled it in January 2020 and it was one of the first wines I sold commercially in the United States. It literally flew off the shelves in Colorado wine shops and the few restaurants that were opened with outdoor dining and takeout during Covid. The wine is wonderful. A year later we have less than 10 cases left of this wine for the entire country, and I have them all reserved for this special Rosé pack. The grapes and winemaking described above for the 2020 are aligned with the 2019 and stylistically the wines are aligned. There are variations in all vintages and the growing seasons from year-to-year are never exactly the same given Mother Nature at the weather controls. But this is a unique opportunity to taste both the 2019 and 2020 vintages of this delicious Rosé side-by-side and experience how a year of age impacts the wine in bottle. I’m grateful that the final bottles of this great vintage will be sent personally to you. https://www.jdselections.com/grapechic daily 0.75 2021-06-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1621624587324-06TQ61V47CI5WVNO2TP5/GrapeChic+JDS.JPG Douro Valley 3 Pack Explore the Douro Valley 3-pack of artisan Portuguese wine from the Douro Valley selected for you by Nicole Muscari of the blog, Grape Chic in partnership with JD Selections. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1623270548402-E3SQ3ZNG3VEV6EC5CGS9/3Pack_Aneto_Pormenor_Muxagat.png Douro Valley 3 Pack https://www.jdselections.com/seabra daily 0.75 2021-06-24 https://www.jdselections.com/fall2021 daily 0.75 2021-10-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1616123366529-E00VDC0O0O40A054E0XA/Rafa%2BSquare.jpg Fall 2021 Wines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1616190769958-Q611SS7FKPHOKYGKV32I/IMG_1203.jpg Fall 2021 Wines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1631763381551-PQIIAYJZNRAMZRBGC32O/JDCD+Douro+View+2.jpeg Fall 2021 Wines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1634007527611-DN61YNYWE5KFJMXJ8U8W/Fall+2021+WC+Vadio.jpg Fall 2021 Wines - 2017 Vadio Tinto Vadio is a family-owned and run project in the Bairrada region founded in 2005 by husband and wife team, Luís Patrão and Eduarda Dias. Luís is a renowned winemaker that helped bring organic farming and minimal intervention techniques to one of Portugal’s largest wine producers before striking out on his own. Eduarda handles the business development and administrative elements and together they are pursuing their passion of working with the Bairrada wine region’s most important native varietals to produce authentic wines. Luís and Eduarda, along with extended family members, farm 7.5 hectares (18.5 acres) across 4 vineyards in the Bairrada (wine map here) between Lisbon and Porto along the Atlantic Ocean. The winery is based in the small village of Poutena. They practice organic farming to ensure the health of their land and vines and the sustainability of the region’s biodiversity. The Atlantic Ocean’s climate influences combined with clay and limestone soils and native varietals contribute to the uniqueness of Vadio’s wines. They are known for their red wines featuring the Baga grape and the production of some of Portugal’s best sparkling wines. When I first tasted their wines and got to know the depth and care that Luís takes in the vineyards and cellar, I knew I had to bring it to the United States to share with you. Vadio Tinto is their “flagship” red wine and features the King Grape of the Bairrada… “Baga”. Among winemakers, sommeliers, and wine lovers in Portugal, Baga is something of a mythical grape varietal. It is notoriously challenging to work with, much like the Pinot Noir varietal in that way, but in the hands of a winemaker like Luís, the wines can be spectacular. The 2017 has some bottle age, but well-made Baga can age gracefully for decades. At Vadio, harvest is by hand and the 2017 Tinto has Baga grapes from all four vineyards. Each plot is vinified separately with the same process. 50% of the grapes are pressed with whole bunch (stems and all) included. The wine matures in used oak vats and barrels for 24 months before bottling with a minimum of 6 months age in bottle at the winery before release. The 2017 has an expressive bouquet in the glass suggesting wild berries and and balsamic notes. Elegance is a word that comes to mind when tasting this wine. Tannins are present but silky, and the wine has vibrant acidity. I like this wine with a variety of foods, but it is also one I pour a glass of regularly sans food. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1634007561070-BSUXYBHLKH4G6TRLEALM/Fall+2021+WC+Pura.jpg Fall 2021 Wines - 2018 Textura Pura Tinto For Wine Club Members dating back to our first shipment, you’ll remember Textura. I’ve been working with Textura since their launch, and their wines are rapidly gaining an incredible following from restaurant sommeliers globally. Their quality is undeniable. Textura is the Portuguese word for “texture”. This naming is purposeful as the winery’s founder and owner, Marcelo Araujo wants his wines to be about their textures and feel and importantly how it makes us feel to drink them. Textura vineyards and winery are in the Dão region (wine map) about 90 minutes drive outside of Porto. Touring the fields and looking through the the beautiful, organically farmed vines toward the Serra da Estrela mountain range is a worthy trip to make. The Dão has one of Portugal’s most attractive combinations of climate and geographic features offering optimal grape growing conditions, and Marcelo and his family made significant investments in understanding their land and building their winery (fit into the original location of a textile factory) to properly allow for organic farming and the vinification of their parcels separately. By doing so, their wines best reflect their place of origin. Winemaking is directed by Luis Seabra, whom many of you have seen live in one of our winemaker feature series (video here) about the Douro Valley. Luis is widely considered one of Portugal’s most influential viticulturists and winemakers, and his approach is minimalism and ensuring the wines we enjoy are not manipulated but reflect what the grapes and Mother Nature intended. The Pura wines are Textura’s peak, top-of-the-line wines. Pura is the Portuguese word for “pure”. 2018 Pura Tinto is sourced from a 55-year old vineyard outside of the village of Vila Nova de Tazem. The vineyard sits at 1,800 feet of elevation and is organically farmed, like all of Textura’s vineyards. The soil is granite and the grapes in the blend are Jaen, Baga, Alfrocheiro, Tinta Cão, and Tinta Pinheira. The fruit was hand-harvested on October 2 and 3 in a year marked by high temperatures in the beginning of August following a rainy Spring. This offered consistent water through the growing season for high-quality fruit. Grapes fermented naturally with native yeasts and aged in French oak vats, with 40% whole bunch clusters included in the first 30 days. The wine then spent 16 months in 225-liter used French oak foudre and was naturally stabilized before bottling. The wine is distinctive and delicate with aromas of red cherry, gooseberry, a touch of spice. On the palate it shows nice acidity, dry, very refined and pure tannins with great texture (as the name implies). A complex and long finish, this is one of my all-time favorite red wines in Portugal. Chef Henrique of 2-Michelin Star restaurant, Alma in Lisbon has paired this wine for Club Members with a special dish. Watch the instructional pairing video and access the recipe here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1634007589065-EHJHR4JOJW9QX70TA9SK/Fall+2021+WC+Trilho.jpg Fall 2021 Wines - 2018 Pormenor Trilho The distinctive Pormenor logo and braille features look familiar to many members, as we enjoyed the Tinto and Reserva Branco in the Spring shipment. For this shipment, I’m delighted to send Trilho Tinto. As Pormenor’s top line red wine, this is in short supply with only 1,800 bottles produced in 2018. Pormenor means “details” in Portuguese, and Pedro Coelho, owner and winemaker is hyper focused on the details that count when making incredible wines. I’ve been working with Pedro as long as I’ve been importing wine, and Pedro’s wines are an incredible reflection of the quality coming out of the Douro Valley. One of the details Pedro insists on is old vines and the vineyard producing the grapes for Trilho is 80 years old. This type of aged, fully mature old vine fruit is rare in the eastern part of Douro Valley where most vineyards are relatively new. This treats us to special qualities in these grape varietals not present in less mature vines. Elevation plays an important part in viticulture globally, but in the Douro Valley where daytime summer temperatures are regularly above 85-degrees, high elevation vines slow the maturation typically accelerated by warm weather. Old vines at high elevation are a prime combination for creating special wines like Trilho. The grapes in the blend are Tinta Roriz (known as Tempranillo in neighboring Spain), Tinta Barroca, and Touriga Franca. Harvests are by hand and Pedro’s focus is to stay out of Mother Nature’s way and minimize human intervention in the winemaking process. Grapes for Trilho are meticulously selected, a practice that drives the small production quantity. Fermentation is in large, old wooden vats called “balseiro” and done in three equal methods. One-third is fermented with 100% whole bunch. Another third with 50% whole bunch, and the final third just the fruit. The fermentation and maceration is eight weeks long with minimal pump overs to soften extraction. The wine is then aged in used French oak barrels for two years before bottling. Just as Pormenor Reserva Branco is a “benchmark” reference for Douro Valley white wine, Trilho Tinto is justified as such for Douro reds. The wine is discreet and doesn’t overpower. It is vibrant and fresh, and I would describe it as elegant but not overly lush or “big”. It has aging potential but can be enjoyed young. The wine pairs wonderfully with foods that would be typical for red wine though I almost always enjoy at least a little bit without food. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1634007618907-CGK0XBTVC6WXUS40NSXZ/Fall+2021+WC+Aneto+T.jpg Fall 2021 Wines - 2016 Aneto Tinto Francisco Montenegro started Aneto Wines in 2001 on land his family has owned for multiple generations. He farms 17 hectares though only a small portion of grapes grown are used in Aneto Wines. Grapes used for Aneto are from vineyards with age range between 25 and 80 years and span three farms across both the Baixo and Cima Corgo sub-regions of the Douro Valley, which provides a great interpretation of the heart of the Valley (wine map). I met Francisco at a tasting he hosted at the Six Senses Resort and Spa in the Douro. It was my first trip to the Douro Valley and before I had ever considered importing wine. His wines and my initial discussions with him helped forge my decision to start importing. Francisco is dedicated to sustainable farming practices to ensure the long-term health of his land. No synthetic products are used in the vineyards or the winery. Francisco directs all aspects of the family’s wine business, and their aim is to remain a small, artisan producer dedicated to reflecting their land and the Douro. 2016 Aneto is a blend of Tinto Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional Tinta Roriz, and Tinto Cão grown in schist soil, the dominant soil type of the Douro Valley. Grapes are harvested manually before pressing at the winery and settle in open stainless steel tank where fermentation occurs using only indigenous yeast. The wine is aged for one year in used French oak barrels before bottling. To me this is “new classic” Douro red… it is fresh, well integrated, has oak but soft oak notes and not overpowering. The fruit is present but nicely balanced. I find myself drinking this wine regularly as a “house red” in the most enjoyable way. It pairs well with a wide range of foods and with 5 years of bottle age, it pairs with seafood (especially grilled seafood). Pop, pour, enjoy, repeat! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1634007647986-4IQ3659D1N1KSINCKJKB/Fall+2021+WC+Aneto+Br.jpg Fall 2021 Wines - 2019 Aneto Branco Francisco takes a pure, direct approach to making Aneto wines. He focuses his efforts and prime fruit on his Tinto, Branco, and Rosé. He experiments, but he has a point of view on what his farm, vines, and fruit are aimed at. This is refreshing approach, as he guides his wines to a very enjoyable style reflecting the middle of the Douro, and like their geography, right down the middle on the combination of high quality, approachability, and enjoyment. I am including the current releases of both Tinto and Branco in this club shipment, but if you want to try the Rosé, you can get it here. Aneto Branco is a blend of Gouveio, Viosinho, Cercial grown on transitional soil of schist and granite. Grapes are harvested manually and after selection and pressing, settle for 24 hours in stainless steel tank. Low temperature fermentation using only indigenous yeast over the course of one month brings the wine to fruition before bottling in the Spring of 2020. Like Aneto Tinto, 2019 Branco can be popped and poured for enjoyment right away. Fruit is restrained on the nose, but very present through the palate and the acid structure of the wine allows for enjoyment with seafood, chicken, and cheese courses. Or, as I like to do, pop it before dinner and enjoy it while cooking and preparing and follow it up with the Aneto Tinto! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1634007671958-K84VIIM8YNZLNGAG36TM/Fall+2021+WC+QSA+Br.jpg Fall 2021 Wines - 2019 Quinta de Sant’Ana Branco I am delighted to introduce Wine Club Members to Quinta de Sant’Ana. Nestled in rolling vineyards between the Atlantic Ocean and Lisbon, the Quinta (Portuguese word for “farm”) is a breathtaking property to experience Portugal. James and Ana Frost, along with their seven sons and additional family members, infuse the Quinta with a genuine spirit and harness the property’s rich history of wine production and hospitality. A popular destination for weddings, group retreats, families, and couples looking for a getaway, the Quinta is an oasis of enjoyment less than an hour outside of Lisbon. Quinta de Sant’Ana produces a wide range of wines reflective of the Lisboa wine region’s deep history from their organically farmed vineyards. James always says the wines are made in the vineyards, not the winery, and the care he and his family and winemaking team have for the land is clear. Situated less than 10 miles from the Atlantic coast and 300 to 450 feet above sea level, the Quinta is blessed with a unique microclimate of cool nights, cloudy, misty mornings, and sunny afternoons. The Atlantic climate sweeps across the electric patchwork of calcareous clay slopes with vines weaving into different aspects of valleys, peaks, and ridges. The resulting wines are fresh and vibrant. James and his winemaking team, headed by the esteemed Antonio Maçanita, began converting the vineyards to full organic farming in 2015 and achieved organic certification in 2018. Minimal intervention winemaking guides all decisions in the winery allowing the natural characteristics of the terroir to shine through in the wines. 2019 Branco comes from grapes grown in two vineyards on south facing slopes; one at top of slope on broken calcareous soils with high sun exposure and the other in the valley bottom on cool deep soils with less sun exposure. The blend is dominated by Fernão Pires and Verdelho. The grapes are hand picked in two stages, with a one week interval to retain acidity and freshness on one end and richness and fruit on the other. Smooth pressing of whole bunches by pneumatic press to extracts the best must, which is allowed to settle for one day. Fermentation is in steel vats at very low temperatures. The two lots are then blended after completion of fermentation and remain in stainless steel tank for six months to maintain its aromatic potential. The wine is pale citric yellow and has an expressive aromatic floral profile with a touch of tropical - passionfruit and lychee. The freshness dominates with a hint of minerality, rounder in the mouth and balanced acidity. Enjoy this wine on its own or paired with seafood or lighter meats. https://www.jdselections.com/dourovalley daily 0.75 2021-09-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1631763689813-M7IEU30A9YWZPKZBILSZ/Wine+Lounge.jpg Travel - Douro Valley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1631763381551-PQIIAYJZNRAMZRBGC32O/JDCD+Douro+View+2.jpeg Travel - Douro Valley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1631763627130-MXXUY5BNZ70HQPALAMT1/Room+Balcony+Pool.jpg Travel - Douro Valley - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1631400149912-DQ973MIFVG5L8NOLSBMT/Quinta+Pool+River.jpg Travel - 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Lisbon - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1631589569835-2CS00TA8X0UFTUQ7X10O/Patio+Flowers+View.jpg Travel - Lisbon - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1631589767755-R2YI87J4W9ULC2SHX57R/Spa+and+Model+on+Table.jpg Travel - Lisbon - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1631588207027-I49I0WXCIFQH9XRPIM0H/Lumi+Bar+Patio.jpg Travel - Lisbon - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.jdselections.com/porto daily 0.75 2021-09-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1631766589043-UPV7QTF6AW37CQXI3QDS/IMG_4220.jpg Travel - Porto - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1631764821732-RHFDBIY96DMRXNBHR8XX/IMG_2960.JPG Travel - Porto - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1631765282405-7WUHB6ETY1JZCVHORLCT/IMG_4217.jpg Travel - Porto - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1631765496275-D1W2TA0W12OC21BRWKDD/IMG_4218.jpg Travel - Porto - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1631764351622-ENW8S91N88BOW4RNMSH9/IMG_4215.jpg Travel - Porto - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1631765974403-N1CH9BOCTVK3E850DK03/IMG_3215.jpg Travel - Porto - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.jdselections.com/qsawineshop daily 0.75 2023-02-07 https://www.jdselections.com/winter2022 daily 0.75 2022-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/5bbea649-8335-47c1-9213-97ef81c05eee/Jeff+and+Miguel+Lisbon.jpg Winter 2022 Wines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1616190769958-Q611SS7FKPHOKYGKV32I/IMG_1203.jpg Winter 2022 Wines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/0fff7d98-28d4-4b9a-a1be-b89e618ca09b/JD+and+Rafa.jpg Winter 2022 Wines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/26690793-ae9c-406d-a5a6-280da391dd95/2022_Winter_Druida.jpg Winter 2022 Wines - 2018 Mira do Ó Druida Tinto I’ve been eagerly awaiting the day to bring this specific wine to Wine Club Members. Nuno Mira do Ó is fast becoming a traveling winemaking legend throughout Portugal. His ability to translate native varietals in varied soil types and climates has him making wines in the Dão, Bairrada, Vinho Verde, Alentejo, and Lisboa wine regions. He rests his last name on his wines from Dão… Mira do Ó. Nuno’s professional training includes viticulture, and he is in constant search for the balance between soil, climate, and vines. He then seeks to sustain that balance through the sensory experience of the wines we enjoy and this philosophy is on full display with the 2018 Druida Tinto The Dão wine region (wine map here) has highly attractive geographic and climatic conditions for growing grapes and is home to some of the country’s most exciting wineries. The impact of the Atlantic Ocean as a cooling agent joins forces with the Serra da Estrela mountain range and both help to moderate warm summer nights with cool evenings. At 1,500 feet of elevation, the vineyard position also helps lengthen the ripening season and mitigate heat. Mira do Ó vineyards in Dão sit on granite soil and are ideal for growing the Druida Tinto varietal blend of Jaen, Alfrocheiro, and Touriga Nacional. Harvests are done by hand and fermentation done in open lagar with traditional foot treading. Each varietal is fermented separately with 50% whole bunch. The 2018 Druida Tinto blend is 40% Jaen, 30% Alfrocheiro, and 30% Touriga Nacional. The wine ages for 18 months in French oak barrels, with 30% of the wine seeing new oak and 70% used. The wine was bottled in June 2020. The wine shows black pepper, cinnamon, cherry, and violet flowers. It has elegance and structure in the mouth with present, but silky tannins. A unique combination of elegance and power that the Dão region provides is on full display here. 2-Michelin Star Chef Henrique Sá Pessoa of Alma in Lisbon has paired this wine for us. Check out the video and recipe here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/73f0b111-af17-4e45-9783-25f784af7693/2022_Winter_Primeiro.jpg Winter 2022 Wines - 2018 Miguel Louro Primeiro Nome Tinto Miguel Louro’s family has been making wines in the northern part of the Alentejo around the village of Estremoz since 1979. He grew up surrounded by wine culture at Quinta do Mouro, the family’s farm. After studying Agronomical Engineering at the University of Lisbon, Miguel completed internships in the Douro Valley and gained international experience making wines in Italy and Germany. Miguel Louro began his eponymous wine project in 2010 to fulfill his desire to create wines that respect the deep history and tradition of the Alentejo region but do so without make-up or intervention. Miguel returned to the Alentejo and planted 5 hectares of vineyards in Estremoz, where he seeks to produce wines with freshness in an area known for great terroir. The vineyard is farmed with organic practices to promote and ensure the health of his land and surrounding environment. He takes a strictly minimal approach in the winery, producing wines low in alcohol content and full of the character representing the special place where they are from. I spent time with Miguel over the summer and tasted through past, current, and future vintages of his wines. He’s the definition of a passionate, solo vigneron putting everything he has into his vines, winery, and the lovely product we enjoy in the bottle. This wine is the Wine Club’s first foray into the Alentejo wine region (wine map) which runs along the east-central part of the country inland against the Spanish border. The geographic area of the Alentejo covers one-third of Portugal’s land mass, though from a wine production standpoint, I tend to focus on the very northern part of the region. The areas of Estremoz (you’ll see the town of Borba on the wine map) and north in Portalegre. These areas of Alentejo tend to be higher in elevation and help mitigate the intense heat found in the eastern portion of the country. These areas have higher thermal amplitudes of warm days but cooler nights, optimal for growing grapes. The 2018 Primeiro Nome (Portuguese for first name) is 40% Aragonez, 30% Trincadeira, and 30% Alicante Bouschet grown in schist and silt-loam soils in Estremoz. Harvests are done by hand and the wine ferments in stainless tank. It then spends 16 months in used French oak barrels before bottling. The wine is dark red in color with blackberry and spice notes on the nose. It is a medium bodied wine with strong but polished tannins, nice freshness, and a balanced finish. A great wine to pair with charcuterie or any type of meat dish. Pro tip - when opening a wine with a wax-sealed top… open it like any other bottle. Take the corkscrew and twist it through the top of the wax into the cork, almost as if the wax was not there. The cork might take a bit more muscle to come out, but it will! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/513a682c-2fa8-47a1-bf45-cf56a1945506/2022_Winter_Encoberta.jpg Winter 2022 Wines - 2018 Textura Encoberta 2018 Encoberta is the third red wine from the incredible Dão Region winery, Textura. Textura is gaining worldwide renown as fast as any Portuguese wine producer I’ve ever seen. Earlier Wine Club shipments featured the Pretexto Tinto and Pura Tinto. Overall, Textura makes more than fifteen references per year combined red and white. Their quality is undeniable. Textura vineyards and winery are in the Dão region (wine map) about 90 minutes drive outside of Porto. I’ve visited Marcelo Araujo, the owner numerous times in the past year as we’ve developed our working relationship and friendship. He continues to make significant investments in organic viticulture, hiring, and winery technology to keep pushing the boundary of quality. The Dão has one of Portugal’s most attractive combinations of climate and geographic features offering optimal grape growing conditions. Marcelo and winemaker, Luis Seabra are focused on organically farming the most optimal sites in the Dão to best reflect this historic land. Encoberta is the name of a small village is the Castendo sub region where the vineyards for this wine are found. 2018 Encoberta is 50% Jaen, 25% Alfrocheiro, 15% Tinta Roriz, and 10% Touriga Nacional. The vineyards are close to 30 years old, at 1,500 feet of elevation, and of granite and clay soil. The grapes were harvested by hand in late-September and fermented in used 5,000 liter French oak vats. 35% whole bunches were included and the wine aged 15 months in a combination of used French oak foudre and large format oak vats. This is a characteristic “Dão wine” - denser and more structured than the Pretexto and Pura bottles sent previously. Black fruit and spice, dry, earthy, rich, and a long finish. I love drinking this wine in winter. Curl up on the couch with a book and a glass of this, or pair it with a wide range of meat or sauced dishes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/13634e33-1288-49ac-bbf1-327ada546665/2022_Winter_Muxagat.jpg Winter 2022 Wines - 2018 Muxagat Tinta Barroca Club Members who have done the full first year know and love Muxagat (pronounced Moo-sha-got)! These wines from the Douro Valley have taken off in a big way here in the United States and are now sold prominently at restaurants and retail shops in New York, California, and Colorado. Muxagat is located in the tiny village of Meda almost 3 hours drive from Porto at the eastern end of the Douro Valley (wine map). Located in the sub-region Douro Superior, this rugged growing area is at high elevation up against the Spanish border. The vineyards have been in the Lopes family for generations, and more recently Susana Lopes has taken both the viticulture and wine profile to great heights. Winemaking is overseen by the legendary, Luis Seabra, who joined us to speak about Muxagat and the Tinta Francisca wine in June of 2021. You can watch the webinar recording here. These wines and my relationship with Susana, her family, and Luis are a major reason I began importing Portuguese wines. These are special, authentic people working very hard to drive the country’s wines forward. 2018 Muxagat Tinta Barroca is one of the most delicious Portuguese wines I’ve encountered. There’s no better way to describe it that “fun”! The key to this red and its light, fresh, enjoyable profile… no oak. As with all Muxagat wines, the farming practices are sustainable and focus on the natural, long-term health of the land and vines. The grapes are harvested by hand and go immediately to a cement vat for a one-month maceration with fermentation by native yeasts. The wine ages in underground cement tanks for 9 months without ever seeing an oak barrel. This process highlights the purity of the fruit with great acidity and freshness. An easy-drinking, highly versatile wine, I like to drink this wine at a cooler temperature than most reds but not as “cold” as a white wine. A great red to drink without food, it also pairs well with white meat, pasta, and barbecue. Pop and pour! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/ab4c52c4-ac61-4418-91ac-933a0d2ddce5/2022_Winter_Alcunha.jpg Winter 2022 Wines - 2018 Miguel Louro Alcunha Branco Selecting the first wines to introduce Club Members to the Alentejo was a fun task. There’s a lot of exciting wines coming out of the the northern part of Alentejo. While tasting Miguel Louro’s wines together with Miguel in Lisbon over the summer, I knew immediately it had to be his wines that lead the way. The 2018 Alcunha (nickname in Portuguese) is a prime reason. I love everything about this wine. If you’ve ever done a 20+ bottle wine tasting evaluation… there are always one or two bottles that hit you in a way you keep coming back to. This is one of those wines for me. 2018 Alcunha is made from 100% Rabigato, a grape I love which is making a name for itself internationally from several emerging Douro Valley producers. Wine Club Members have enjoyed the Rabigato varietal from Muxagat and Pormenor in prior shipments. Often described as the “Portuguese Chardonnay” it has characteristics that winemakers love… especially its high natural acidity and great aromatics. It is also able to stand up on its own and while it can be blended, definitely does not need to be as is the case with Miguel’s Rabigato. As with the Primeiro Tinto mentioned above, the grapes for 2018 Alcunha come from a small plot Miguel farms following organic principles at his family’s quinta in Estremoz. The grapes were harvested by hand and the juice left with skin contact for 12 hours. The wine fermented in used oak barrels where it aged for 7 months. This is a serious white (branco) wine with depth, tension, acidity, and a great mouthfeel. It has aging potential, but is incredibly enjoyable now. The wine has never seen the shores of the United States until now, and I imported it exclusively for Wine Club Member enjoyment. Cheers! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/5a7eac72-688a-4f17-aa5b-bbecd9efd0c0/2022_Winter_MarcioLopes.jpg Winter 2022 Wines - 2020 Marcio Lopes Pequenos Rebentos Alvarinho The 2020 Marcio Lopes Pequenos Rebentos delivers our Wine Club’s second journey with the Alvarinho grape varietal. I love Alvarinho, and Portugal is blessed with some of the best terroir in the world for showcasing it… the Vinho Verde region. No, the name Vinho Verde is not for the green color of what many perceive as the wines from this region in northern Portugal (wine map). The region is named such because of the fertile, lush, green farmland and scenery that dominates the landscape. This is Alvarinho country, and the best place for growing Alvarinho in Vinho Verde is the sub-region of Monção e Melgaço. Named after two villages at the very northern tip of Portugal on the southern banks of the Minho River separating Portugal from Spain, some including me argue this is the best site for Alvarinho… period. This is where you’ll find Marcio Lopes… a maestro and global advocate of the virtues of great Alvarinho. Marcio comes from a family history in agriculture and at the age of 6 was treading grapes in the lagar with his Grandmother. After graduating from the University of Porto with a degree in Agronomic Engineering, Marcio began working with Anselmo Mendes, widely considered one of the best winemakers in the Vinho Verde region. To further his education, Marcio spent 2008 in Australia making wine for two properties. His homeland soon beckoned him back and in 2010 he launched his first vintage of Pequenos Rebentos, dedicated to the natural expression of Alvarinho and other native varietals to the Vinho Verde region. He has quickly made a name for himself and in 2019 won Portugal’s “Best Upcoming Winemaker” award. 2020 Pequenos Rebentos Alvarinho is everything I love about Alvarinho Monção and Melgaço - freshness, minerality, and balance. The grapes are from selected growers Marcio works with and farmed sustainably from old vineyard systems. Grapes are harvested by hand and pressed gently with 8 hours of skin contact and decanted for 48 hours. Fermentation is natural and done in stainless steel tanks. The wine then ages for 5 months with battonage. Battonage is the practice of stirring the wine with the dead yeast cells (lees) that settle at the bottom of the tank. This adds complexity, volume, and aromas to the wine. This is wine of strong varietal character, showing the Alvarinho grape “as it should be” per Marcio. Rustic, fresh, and well-rounded. Fruity and with herbal aromas from the skin contact. This wine can be enjoyed without food or paired well with fish or white meat. https://www.jdselections.com/spring2022 daily 0.75 2022-05-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/0fff7d98-28d4-4b9a-a1be-b89e618ca09b/JD+and+Rafa.jpg Spring 2022 Wines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1631763381551-PQIIAYJZNRAMZRBGC32O/JDCD+Douro+View+2.jpeg Spring 2022 Wines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/11bc29b5-df3d-47d8-8ce4-0e84a783b100/Quinta+Santiago+JD+and+Joana.jpg Spring 2022 Wines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/9fe19391-a7ef-4cf3-ae62-1c940e07e80f/2019+Cherry+Tree.jpg Spring 2022 Wines - 2019 Quinta do Javali Cherry Tree Tinto Quinta do Javali has its roots in traditional Douro port and table wines, and is a family-owned business spanning 18 hectares (44 acres) in the heart of the Douro Valley. The farm has a heritage of winemaking dating back to the 17th century and has been in the Mendes family since 1982. Against this backdrop, António Mendes has created one of the more forward thinking wine projects happening in Portugal today. He’s taken a relatively small part of the land and over the past few years converted it to a fully certified organic and biodynamic vineyard… an unheard of practice in traditional Douro! The vineyards are guided by slabs of slate, plowed by horse, and tilled by wild pigs (Javali in Portuguese). Work in the vineyards is guided by the celestial cadence of Steiner’s calendar and monitored by meteorological stations installed throughout the property. This is next level, heroic viticulture and a monstrous understatement to say that António is years ahead of his port producing contemporaries with his work at Javali. Further investments in the winery allow for varietals and plots to be vinified separately. Decisions are rooted in the conviction of showing terroir, expressing the land as purely as possible, and driving the Douro’s reputation for authentic table wines forward. Lucius Annaeus Seneca’s quote “If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable” is mounted above the cellar and proclaims Javali’s bold vision for Douro wines. The 2019 Cherry Tree Tinto is a field blend of red grapes grown on old vines. More than 30 grape varietals exist in the vineyard, all harvested by hand and vinified together in used French oak barrels. Fermentation is natural and spontaneous and the wine ages 12 months in used oak barrels. I was delighted to discover this wine in Lisbon in the summer of 2021, and to bring it to you for your enjoyment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/7a972359-5bf7-45d9-97e8-9b564630559b/2018+Stone+Vineyard.jpg Spring 2022 Wines - 2018 Quinta do Javali Stone Vineyard Tinto As with the 2019 Javali Cherry Tree Tinto mentioned above, all aspects of the Stone Vineyard are guided by a strict adherence to biodynamic principles. Biodynamic wines are produced from grapes that are grown in vineyards farmed with biodynamic principles, where a holistic approach to viewing a vineyard as an ecosystem rather than a single entity is applied. In addition to not using chemicals and following all of the rules of organic certification, these principles are based on the writings of Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner and focus on maintaining balance and equilibrium throughout a vineyard. These principles include executing vineyard practices on certain days, following the lunar calendar, and creating special composts to generate soil fertility. This is not a common practice in Portugal, and is far forward of common viticultural practices in the Douro Valley. That said, these practices produce a wine of incredible authenticity to the land. The outcome on both 2019 Cherry Tree and 2018 Stone Vineyard sets a benchmark in the Douro for which António Mendes and his family will build upon and others will take note and follow. Like 2019 Cherry Tree, the Stone Vineyard as its immediate neighbor is an old vine field blend of 30-plus grapes. They are all grown, hand harvested, and vinified together. 100% whole bunch clusters are used and the location of these vines tend to provide a slightly longer maturation. The grapes ferment naturally and spontaneously in used French oak barrels and age there for 12 months before bottling. The wine is ruby red in color with a strong fruit profile on the nose (strawberries, blackberries, and red plums). The structure of the wine is incredibly balanced. The minerality conferred by the terroir of Fonte do Santo allows for an elegant tasting experience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/b91237e2-8815-4f94-a42f-435256548954/2018+Apelido.jpg Spring 2022 Wines - 2018 Miguel Louro Apelido Tinto Last shipment I introduced you to the wines of Miguel Louro from the Alentejo wine region (wine map). His wines were so popular, I had to include one more red wine this shipment. Miguel Louro’s family has been making wines in the northern part of the Alentejo around the village of Estremoz since 1979. He grew up surrounded by wine culture at Quinta do Mouro, the family’s farm. After studying Agronomical Engineering at the University of Lisbon, Miguel completed internships in the Douro Valley and gained international experience making wines in Italy and Germany. Miguel began his eponymous wine project in 2010 to fulfill his desire to create wines that respect the deep history and tradition of the Alentejo region but do so without make-up or intervention. From 5 hectares of vineyards in Estremoz, he seeks to produce wines with freshness in an area known for great terroir. The vineyard is farmed with organic practices to promote and ensure the health of his land and surrounding environment. He takes a strictly minimal approach in the winery, producing wines low in alcohol content and full of the character representing the special place where they are from. 2018 Apelido Tinto is a blend of Trincadeira, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, and Aragonez. Grapes were harvested by hand in September and fermented in stainless steel tank. It was bottled 10 months later. This wine is meant to be drank a bit younger and the 2018 feels incredibly fresh now and I’d think over the next few years. It is a gastronomic wine, and I recommend drinking it with a wide variety of food from chicken, meat-based dishes, pasta, or even pizza. Pop, pour, and enjoy! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/da621a3e-975a-4dad-9a19-6ecd7c1c7fb4/2018+Pormenor.jpg Spring 2022 Wines - 2019 Pormenor Tinto One year ago I introduced Club Members to the wines of Pormenor (details in Portuguese). Pedro Coelho, the owner and winemaker, is not only one of my original import partners, but has become a family friend. His wines continue to showcase the potential and exceptional quality of the Douro Valley. Pedro is hyper focused on the details that count when delivering incredible wines. Pormenor is in the eastern part of the Douro Valley, called Douro Superior and is one of the producers at the forefront of bringing the entire Douro Valley forward in viticultural and winemaking practices. His first vintage was 2013, which is relatively new in the span of old world wine production. But, in terms of organic viticulture and minimal intervention techniques in the winery, he has been revolutionary in the part of Portugal best known for traditional port wines. One of Pedro’s “must-have” details is old vines. Through old vines, Pedro believes a vineyard can best express itself in the fruit. The grapes for Pormenor Tinto are from a field blend 60 years in age and composed of traditional red grapes of the Douro all planted together: Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz (known as Tempranillo in neighboring Spain), Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca, and Rufete. As with all harvests at Pormenor, it is done by hand. After sorting at the winery, grapes were pressed with partial stems and fermentation occurs naturally with native yeast in stainless steel tanks. The wine is macerated for four weeks. Maceration is a winemaking practice that leaves the skins, seeds, and stalks of the grapes in contact with the juice. This can optimize the structure and flavor of the wine and it is a judgement call by the winemaker as to how long to macerate. The wine is then aged for 20 months in 225-liter used French oak barrels before bottling. It is naturally stabilized and unfiltered, so you might notice natural sediment in the bottle especially with age. Pormenor Tinto is one of a few reference Douro reds for me. When someone asks me for a red wine best representing Douro’s future, I point them to this bottle. The principles of Pormenor and Pedro’s process to avoid all unnatural additives in the vineyard or winery bring forth purity in this wine. Fresh, elegant, strong natural acidity, well-rounded tannins, and the aging in barrels is well integrated. Cheers! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/110c5335-ac86-4c62-88a6-0b41a31fb21a/Moncao+Alvarinho.jpg Spring 2022 Wines - 2020 Quinta de Santiago Chapim Alvarinho Alvarinho is back! As one of the signature grape varietals in Portugal (and the Iberian Peninsula overall) this is a grape I love to enjoy, talk about, and share. My favorite producer of Alvarinho is Quinta de Santiago. Quinta de Santiago is a family-owned farm spanning 7.5 hectares (18.5 acres) along the banks of the Minho River in the Monção and Melgaço sub-region of Vinho Verde. It has been in the Santiago family since 1899. For about 100 years, Quinta de Santiago's main activity was the production of wines, olive oil, lupine, cereals, milk, meat, and fruit for self-consumption. Grapes grown in the vineyards were sold to large cooperatives in the region. This changed in 2009 and from the passion and determination of then owner, Grandma Mariazinha Santiago (aged 86), her children, and grandchildren, a boutique winery was born. Now at the head of the family’s winery is Joana Santiago, a self-described “authentic Minho woman” - driven to honor her family’s heritage. It is from a multi-generation devotion to the family’s land and vineyards that the special qualities of Quinta de Santiago are rooted. Three generations of the Santiago family combine tradition, modernity, and enthusiasm to create authentic wines expressing the terroir of the region’s and farm’s native varietals. Not content to simply showcase some of the country’s finest Alvarinho, Joana is pushing the boundaries and highlighting specific vineyards from the family farm. This bottle of Alvarinho comes from a single vineyard known as Chapim. Single vineyard wines are common in many parts of the wine world, but to do so in the cradle of Portuguese Alvarinho, Monção and Melgaço, it is rare. Blends of multiple vineyards dominate, but Joana wants to show the terroir of this specific, special vineyard in its solo glory. And we are glad she does as I’m hopeful you agree upon tasting the wine. Grapes are harvested by hand followed by a gentle press. Fermentation is spontaneous with native yeast in stainless steel vats. The wine ages for 9 months on the fine lees before bottling. This wine is both elegant and complex with hints of both citrus and orange blossom. In the mouth, there’s great tension and richness with the freshness characteristic of the varietal. Enjoy this with most starters, salads, oysters, fish, and white meats. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/82af7a10-f803-41e0-af9b-ddd87dfeeff1/Cisma.jpg Spring 2022 Wines - 2019 Quinta de Santiago Cisma Loureiro Along the northern border of Portugal and Spain, Quinta de Santiago is uniquely positioned to benefit from a microclimate ideal for growing Alvarinho but also another grape native to the region, Loureiro. The particular orientation of the Quinta (farm) shelters the vineyards from significant Atlantic influences but preserves thermal amplitudes ideal for ripening indigenous varietals. Soil is predominantly clay given the the proximity to the Minho River and viticulture follows organic practices. Joana is hyper-focused on sustainability and biodiversity. She has organized and leads a group of regional growers focused on water use and the preservation of local natural resources. Wines are fermented with native yeasts and the aim is to let this special land and fruit tell the story in the glass. Cisma is a joint-venture between Joana and Pedro Coelho, of Pormenor. Club Members are by now familiar with Pormenor through several bottles including the 2019 Tinto from this very shipment. These two winemakers share a common goal of advancing artisan Portuguese wines globally by letting the land and terroir do the talking… minimal human intervention. This is what makes their work special and why I love working with them. They are humble servants of Mother Nature. 2019 Cisma is 100% Loureiro grown on the Quinta de Santiago estate. After hand harvesting, the grapes are pressed and the juice decants naturally at low temperatures. 50% of the juice ferments in stainless steel vat and the other 50% in used French oak 500-liter barrels. The wine ages 9 months in the same vats used for fermentation, which shows an entirely different side of the Loureiro varietal than typical of this region. Loureiro is naturally fruity and exuberant, and Joana and Pedro wanted to showcase its “serious side”. The wine is incredibly approachable, so drink without food but it will also work with most lighter dishes. Perfect for the summer months ahead! https://www.jdselections.com/mlwwebinar daily 0.75 2022-05-11 https://www.jdselections.com/profile daily 0.75 2022-08-31 https://www.jdselections.com/basket daily 0.75 2022-08-31 https://www.jdselections.com/c7-checkout daily 0.75 2022-08-31 https://www.jdselections.com/club daily 0.75 2022-08-31 https://www.jdselections.com/collection daily 0.75 2022-08-31 https://www.jdselections.com/product daily 0.75 2022-08-31 https://www.jdselections.com/reservation daily 0.75 2022-08-31 https://www.jdselections.com/shop daily 0.75 2022-09-20 https://www.jdselections.com/home daily 1.0 2023-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/d773b850-7cbf-4ed4-857c-caf91e98ad96/Corks%2BTiles.jpg https://www.jdselections.com/producers daily 0.75 2025-07-25 https://www.jdselections.com/producers/sou monthly 0.5 2021-02-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1605066497147-2AM2V7AA11VWUIRFT2GR/Nuno+and+Joana+Sign+BW.jpg Producers - Sou - Sou Sou, the Portuguese word for “I am”, is a special project born from the friendship of two renown winemakers, Nuno Mira do Ó and Joana Santiago. The duo seeks dual visions: the true expression of a varietal they feel is one of the best in the World, Alvarinho, and to showcase forgotten red varietals native to the region. The very northern tip of Portugal in the Vinho Verde region is home to Monção and Melgaço, widely considered the ultimate terroir for unlocking the true potential of what Alvarinho can be. In times past, the region was home to an incredible array of native red grapes as well. Joana and Nuno are passionate about resurrecting and highlighting this history. All fruit for the Sou wines comes from Quinta de Santiago. Through sustainable viticulture and a minimalist approach in the winery, Nuno and Joana bring a raw, pure expression of Alvarinho and native red varietals to fruition. To know Joana and Nuno individually and spend time with them is a pleasure. To experience their care and daily focus on their work is impressive. To see them in combined action working together as a team is awesome. The Sou wines are special for many reasons, not the least of which is the two people who bring them to life. Wine Details Sou Alvarinho 2019 Sou Alvarinho 2020 Sou Tinto 2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1605069466302-ILI3FGSG8QI11H9TH1CP/IMG_0234.jpg Producers - Sou Sou Joana Tank https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1605069572144-3YOWH7M4MCWR2KVVFGVK/Bottle+Vineyard+BW.jpg Producers - Sou Sou Alvarinho https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1605069652605-ZYMRMI9PH1DWIOAV2PLM/IMG_0233.jpg Producers - Sou Sou Nuno Guitar https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1605069732155-O7IH51DIM1MZZM0VL76K/Sou+Bottles+BW.jpg Producers - Sou Sou Alvarinho Bottles https://www.jdselections.com/producers/muxagat monthly 0.5 2021-02-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/4add92fb-9275-4953-997f-b706085089bf/81C7E456-50A4-4A1A-993C-B3E30BE1E07A.JPG Producers - Muxagat - Muxagat Since its inaugural vintage in 2002, Muxagat (pronounced Moo-sha-got) has sought their true north expression of the Douro Valley, Portugal’s most famous wine region. Located in the village of Meda in the Douro Superior, the winery is closer to Spain than Porto and the Atlantic Ocean. The magnificent vineyard sits majestically at high elevation, where it is impossible not to marvel at the serene beauty surrounding you. The rugged beauty of Meda and the surrounding villages and vineyard land is undeniable. Owned and operated by Susana Lopes and her family, Susana is the second generation stewardess of this project. Susana is a force in this region, and she is unafraid to walk boldly in a different direction than more traditional-leaning producers. Her vision brings forth both the field blend wines the region is known for but also single varietal whites and reds that show her land and the native grape varietals in their individual glory. Her husband Maike tends the vines. The winemaking process is guided by legendary winemaker Luis Seabra with resident winemaker, Ana Silva overseeing daily operations in the cellar. Muxagat was born from a desire to explore and experiment with the unique terroir of the Douro Superior while also being a caretaker with future generations in mind. Viticulture is focused on long-term sustainability. The winery is housed in a century-old barn. Walking through the property with Susana is a visceral experience in handmade, artisanal winemaking, and you can feel the care they put into each step. I knew immediately I had to share these wines with in the United States, and my relationships with Susana and Luis is a primary reason I started JD Selections. Wine Details Branco 2023 Os Xistos Altos 2019 Tinta Barroca 2023 Tinto 2018 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1577657289625-9CUW3IFP89MK6S92RTOF/Meda+Vineyard.jpg Producers - Muxagat JD Selections Meda Vineyard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1577659391883-YAO5VN2LAISRGMV1TDZY/LuisSeabra.JPG Producers - Muxagat JD Selections Luis Seabra https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1577656544675-UHG4XKBBSR93BGSMWBT2/Muxagat+Bottles.jpg Producers - Muxagat JD Selections Muxagat Bottles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/53e91b97-8a07-4d01-ba72-6be0e8df6318/IMG_3608.jpg Producers - Muxagat JD Selections Muxagat https://www.jdselections.com/producers/quintadesantana monthly 0.5 2021-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1611154225831-9J2XMKMFE2SFLYLJDK60/QSA+View.jpg Producers - Quinta de Sant'Ana - Quinta de Sant’Ana Nestled in rolling vineyards between the Atlantic Ocean and Lisbon, Quinta de Sant’Ana is a breathtaking property to experience Portugal. James and Ann Frost, along with their seven sons and additional family members, infuse the Quinta with a genuine spirit and harness the property’s rich history of wine production and hospitality. James always says the wines are made in the vineyards, not the winery, and the care he and his family and winemaking team have for the land is clear. Situated less than 10 miles from the Atlantic coast and 300 to 450 feet above sea level, the Quinta is blessed with a unique microclimate of cool nights, cloudy, misty mornings, and sunny afternoons. The Atlantic climate sweeps across the electric patchwork of calcareous clay slopes with vines weaving into different aspects of valleys, peaks, and ridges. The resulting wines are fresh and elegant. James and his winemaking team, headed by the esteemed Antonio Maçanita, began converting the vineyards to full organic farming in 2015 and achieved organic certification in 2018. Minimal intervention winemaking guides all decisions in the winery allowing the natural characteristics of the terroir to shine through in the wines. Wine Details Branco 2021 Forte do Picoto Alvarinho 2019 Sparkling Rosé 2017 Rosé 2019 Riesling 2017 Tinto 2018 Reserva Tinto 2016 Homenagem Tinto 2015 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/fd354721-7b0e-4840-813d-2c36727bc707/QSA+View+from+Vineyard.jpg Producers - Quinta de Sant'Ana Quinta de Sant'Ana https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/97be0f5e-0ca1-46cf-a3fc-a7bafebfc65b/QSA+Rose+Bucket.jpg Producers - Quinta de Sant'Ana Quinta de Sant'Ana Rosé https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/2f05ed66-22af-4cc9-9099-57bbfe643199/QSA+Family+Grape+Stomp.jpg Producers - Quinta de Sant'Ana Quinta de Sant'Ana Grape Stomping https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/d482f387-bd14-4eee-b875-26fb36d35b83/QSA+Branco.jpg Producers - Quinta de Sant'Ana Quinta de Sant'Ana Branco https://www.jdselections.com/producers/miguellouro monthly 0.5 2021-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1614656319953-RGVMVU4NE4SUSPLGP4A8/MIguel+Grapes.jpg Producers - Miguel Louro Wines - Miguel Louro Wines Miguel Louro began his eponymous wine project in 2010 to fulfill his desire to create wines that respect the deep history and tradition of the Alentejo region but do so without make-up or intervention. This personal project reflects his family origins having grown up in the Alentejo surrounded by wine culture at Quinta do Mouro, his family’s farm. After studying Agronomical Engineering at the University of Lisbon, Miguel completed internships in the Douro Valley and gained international experience making wines in Italy and Germany. Miguel returned to the Alentejo and planted 5 hectares of vineyards in Estremoz, where he seeks to produce wines with freshness in an area known for great terroir. The vineyard is farmed with organic practices to promote and ensure the health of his land and surrounding environment. He takes a strictly minimal approach in the winery, producing wines low in alcohol content and full of the character representing where they are from. Wine Details Apelido Branco 2019 Apelido Tinto 2017 Apelido Tinto 2018 Primeiro Nome Branco 2019 Primeiro Nome Tinto 2018 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/a4f2d8f6-b636-4038-ae22-3dc1a43d8842/Miguel+Up+close.jpg Producers - Miguel Louro Wines Miguel Louro https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/19098d9a-7f5a-4fd7-aab2-14af160cf569/Vine.jpg Producers - Miguel Louro Wines Alentejo Vineyard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/8c279214-a9b3-425a-b935-6b51c9289721/Apelido+Branco.jpg Producers - Miguel Louro Wines Miguel Louro Apelido Branco https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/501b7533-7f06-4b7a-a5ca-091373b41d06/Apelido+Tinto.jpg Producers - Miguel Louro Wines Miguel Louro Apelido Tinto https://www.jdselections.com/producers/adegadovulcao monthly 0.5 2022-10-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/5be2e31e-c698-4a81-ac9f-1f3085346d29/Gianni+Cinzia.jpg Producers - Adega do Vulcão - Adega do Vulcão Adega do Vulcão, or winery of the volcano, has its roots in the tragic 1957 eruption on Faial, in the Azores Islands. That eruption decimated the northwestern end of the island including the area around the village of Capelo. With it, the island’s rich viticultural history was destroyed, until recently. In 2015, Gianni and Cinzia Mancassola began buying land around their home in the village of Capelo with the intent of restoring it to its former viticultural heritage. With the help of a local agronomist, they started replanting the first vineyards in Capelo since the 1957 eruption. Their focus is entirely on native varietals mostly Arinto dos Açores. Farming is organic with 7 hectares under vines (3.5 producing in the 2022 harvest) with plans to buy more land for conversion. Organic certification inspections start in late-2022. Viticulture is overseen by André Ribeiro, local viticulturist and enologist and owner of Entre Pedras. Fruit from these vineyards is used in the Ameixambar wine, a blend of Arinto from Faial and Pico Islands. Winemaking is overseen by renown enologist, Alberto Antonini. In 2016 Gianni and Cinzia began buying old vineyards on Pico Island, wanting to protect and showcase the terroir of both Pico and Faial. They now own 6 hectares of old vines on Pico in the Criação Vineyard UNESCO World Heritage Site. Current vine age range is between 70 and 90 years. This is a gently sloped basalt rock bed that provides fully matured grapes with a lot of structure, flavor, and aromas. Great natural acidity is a hallmark of Arinto dos Açores and of course, being next to the sea, salinity is present. These vineyards are used in the production of the Ameixambar blend, as well as the Pé do Monte (foot of the mountain) reserve wine. Adega do Vulcão also produces a single-vineyard wine from a 3.5 hectare parcel on Pico Island that has been owned and farmed by the Brum family sine the late 1700s. The wine is called, Terra Brum. What began as a passion for land recovery on Faial has spawned one of Portugal’s most interesting artisan wine projects. I am honored to represent these wines in the United States. Wine Details Ameixambar Arinto dos Açores 2020 Pé do Monte Arinto dos Açores 2021 Terra Brum Arinto dos Açores 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/153d745b-7956-4776-9967-5367f7cb1a28/Faial.jpg Producers - Adega do Vulcão Adega do Vulcao https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/77cab6f7-2159-4054-af17-c6f3e9e1cd6d/Pico.jpg Producers - Adega do Vulcão https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/48e714a0-4f66-48ca-b0a4-31a9ff343e8e/Jeff+Gianni+Cinzia.jpg Producers - Adega do Vulcão Adega do Vulcão https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/7e400bef-7f30-49d7-a949-e8b0403a30c4/3+Wines.jpg Producers - Adega do Vulcão Adega do Vulcao https://www.jdselections.com/producers/entrepedras monthly 0.5 2022-10-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1666268689618-IKY9G4FBM41N2COEOMM1/Andre+Ribeiro.jpg Producers - Entre Pedras - Entre Pedras Entre Pedras, “between stones” is the dream of two friends André Ribeiro and Ricardo Pinto. They aim to show the terroir of Pico in the Azores Islands in its unvarnished purity. Volcanic mountains, sea, salt, stone. Surreal viticulture between the stones their ancestors first laid more than 500 years ago. André’s roots are deep on Pico, as a multi-generational native of the island. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agronomy with a master’s in viticulture and enology. He worked with António Macanita at Azores Wine Company from 2017 to 2021. André also serves as the viticulturist for Adega do Vulcão and their consultant winemaker. Ricardo focuses on sales and business operations. During his time working with Macanita at Azores Wine Company, André started Entre Pedras using 1.5 hectares of 90-year-old vines his family owns on Pico. The vineyard has a natural cave beneath it, where André bottle ages some wine. The first vintage was 2019. André and his family have longstanding relationships established with local growers which enable them to purchase additional fruit to support production with the aim of purchasing more vineyards over time. Arinto dos Açores is the dominant grape varietal grown on Pico with a multi-century history on the island. Vineyards were first organized generations ago, purposefully planted along the coast to escape the cloud cover consistently surrounding the volcano’s mountain peak. Pico Mountain is Portugal’s tallest peak. Vines are rooted in “lajido”, lava crust beds formed over centuries of eruptions and surrounded by stone hedges. All vineyard work is entirely manual. Yields are low, averaging 1,000 tons per hectare. Total production for the 2021 vintage was 7,200 bottles of passionate, artisan craftsmanship. They believe fully in their terroir and consider themselves stewards of it as well as ambassadors to bring you to Pico through the experience of their wines. I believed instantly in the authenticity of what André and Ricardo are doing and am excited to share their work with wine lovers in the United States. Wine Details Entre Pedras Arinto dos Açores 2021 Entre Pedras Efusivo Arinto dos Açores 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/3889f531-0fc3-4c1a-be88-073bc2f7f372/EP+Founders.jpg Producers - Entre Pedras Entre Pedras https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/a8c083d9-75d4-40d8-85c9-9e3e2ae7d874/Criacao+Velha.jpg Producers - Entre Pedras Entre Pedras https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/83d231f6-424c-4727-a27f-b7a5ab3bd824/Andre+Ladder+Cave.jpg Producers - Entre Pedras Entre Pedras André Ribeiro https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/3a17d35f-f86b-43c9-bacb-128deb0df70a/Efusive+and+Entre+Pedras.jpg Producers - Entre Pedras Entre Pedras https://www.jdselections.com/producers/miradoo monthly 0.5 2025-07-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1602003932143-USS3ZU68OVVL1AKCW3I7/Nuno+Walking+Vineyards.jpg Producers - Mira do Ó - Mira do Ó Nuno Mira do Ó is a one-man viticulture and enology powerhouse. A deep-thinking, well-traveled, generous person totally focused on expressing the great terroir of his native country. His peers look his way for guidance because his experience bringing forth wines of place covers almost every major wine region in Portugal. He launched his eponymous brand in the Dão wine region with Druida Encruzado. The wine is named for the ancient Celtic druids whose connection to the earth and plants drove their quest to achieve spiritual equilibrium through the balance of nature. As an enologist and viticulturist, Nuno is in constant search for balance between the soil, the climate, and the vines. Mira do Ó wines seek to attain perfect sensory balance with the utmost respect for nature. This is a pursuit driven by passion and a desire to share wines filled with freshness, elegance, and aging potential. These wines are handcrafted in the Dão from indigenous varietals with vineyards in granite soil sitting above 500 meters of elevation to capture the region’s cool climate. Wine Details Druida Encruzado 2022 Grande Druida Encruzado 2019 Druida Tinto 2019 Vidente Tinto 2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1600141102510-O7WWCCVS9OJ0QAUJX0SL/Nuno+Wine+Barrels.JPG Producers - Mira do Ó Nuno Mira do O wine tasting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1604028232671-OFYFG56890D6VAJ8620Z/prunningalia%CC%81s.jpg Producers - Mira do Ó Mira do O Pruning https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/733708cd-59d8-4385-82e7-ca71bb69e094/Nuno+Racking.jpg Producers - Mira do Ó JD Selections Mira do Ó https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/47c3943c-49f9-42d3-af36-033542287bf1/Nuno+M.jpg Producers - Mira do Ó JD Selections Mira do Ó https://www.jdselections.com/producers/textura monthly 0.5 2025-07-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/90a61fcd-f009-43b6-b557-55e00c341769/IMG_1413.jpg Producers - Textura - Textura Marcelo Araujo started Textura with his family with the 2018 vintage. His passion for great wine, Portugal, and the terroir of Dão began years earlier. After moving his family from Brazil to Portugal, Marcelo set out on a new path, leaving a successful career in investment management behind. Like all that Marcelo pursues, he does it with full commitment and with both hands personally in each detail. Marcelo purposefully chose the Dão region because of its attractive combination of climate and geographic features and the ability for this place to be clearly shown in the wines. Nestled against Portugal’s tallest inland mountain region, the Serra da Estrela, the Dão is quickly becoming a magnet for some of Portugal’s best winemakers as the prime location for showcasing several of the country’s prominent, native varietals. Marcelo made significant investments in understanding this land and building their winery (fit into the original location of a textile factory) to properly allow for organic farming and the vinification of their parcels separately. This experimental mindset allows this relatively new project to better understand their land and how to deliver it authentically to the bottle. Winemaking is directed by Mariana Salvador with Luis Seabra consulting. Wine Details Pretexto Branco 2022 Textura da Estrela Branco 2021 Pura Branco 2020 Textura da Estrela Tinto 2020 Pretexto Tinto 2021 Pura Tinto 2018 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/faa8f874-314e-4d92-b989-0add0d2e1760/662BDB95-8A40-41FC-A88A-C3D442D0813B.JPG Producers - Textura Textura Wines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1600137985383-O3PE9IMZVJU57V91H5RJ/IMG_3391.jpg Producers - Textura Textura Pretexto https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/4461aa12-6cf5-4eef-b1a4-27b3d0d7a053/1b638746-6e21-45d7-8f7e-56a97491fc7c.jpg Producers - Textura Textura Wines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/5f03a3ec-2d97-4e3d-8b0c-22f1254dacb6/IMG_1388.jpg Producers - Textura Textura Wines https://www.jdselections.com/producers/vpuro monthly 0.5 2021-02-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1600142222682-CB2D0GFJLLYUPTT9TCWT/IMG_3973+copia.jpg Producers - V Puro - V Puro “Puro”, the Portuguese word for pure. V Puro is the passion project of two long-time friends, enologists, and viticulturists, Nuno Mira do Ó and João Soares. The pair love old vines, and have a passion for hunting down and working with old vine Baga. Their discovery of an ancient vineyard in Bairrada with vines between 80 to 120 years of age sealed their partnership. The duo seeks to unlock the wonderful, fresh, intense flavors only possible from old vines. The Atlantic influence in the Mediterranean climate combined with clay and limestone soils and their native varietals create unique wines of place. While very limited in quantity, these wines offer a unique story about the history of Baga, the special place the vines are rooted, and the depth of friendship and passion Nuno and João bring to them. Wine Details Aliás Branco 2019 Doravante Branco 2019 Aliás Tinto 2019 Doravante Tinto 2017 Outrora Tinto 2017 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1600140988937-CWBNRC9H66GNZK4DEGCA/IMG_3383.jpg Producers - V Puro JD Selections V Puro https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1600141102510-O7WWCCVS9OJ0QAUJX0SL/Nuno+Wine+Barrels.JPG Producers - V Puro JD Selections V Puro https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1600142734800-4E1UH4DRV8BF9E2IBO5Z/oldoutroravine.jpg Producers - V Puro JD Selections V Puro https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/0409986b-d22d-41bd-8d4b-d19ea1fa8091/outrora+2010.jpg Producers - V Puro JD Selections V Puro https://www.jdselections.com/producers/frey monthly 0.5 2020-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1581286691457-6VAL7ZJY0PMCYQKT307X/Pedro+Vat.jpg Producers - Frey - Frey Pedro Frey is the descendant of several generations of grape growers in the Douro Valley and his family traditionally sold their grapes to the big port producers. Pedro grew up in Porto and would spend his summers at the family farm in the countryside. He has duel degrees in viticulture and enology and honed his craft with winemaking experience and technical visits on five continents including wineries in France, Italy, Australia, Argentina, and California. Pedro moved full-time to his family’s farm in Lamego in 2012 to start his business and his first vintage was 2013. He personally works 3.5 hectares of vines and hand built his winery in a century-old farmhouse. With a focus on indigenous varietals, the vineyard is composed of vines more than 100 years old. High altitude and soils rich in granite and schist provide great natural acidity and enable the production of fresh, mineral wines. With organic viticulture and minimal intervention in the winery, making Frey wine is very natural. Pedro uses only wild yeast, avoids acid or fining additives, and mainly uses gravity and buckets in a handcrafted process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1581296502700-RW18FRTI8MUKFDLTEVPH/Pedro.jpg Producers - Frey JD Selections Pedro Frey https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1577677941821-T0NEU9KM1VBYW6ZO6VJX/JD+and+Pedro+sq.jpg Producers - Frey JD Selections Jeff and Pedro https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1581286663811-EF808Y9K91WQO2MWTWU8/Bottles.jpg Producers - Frey JD Selections Frey Wine https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1577318823097-QM06IW3NQ89BA1XHDK6Y/Pedro+and+Lobo.jpg Producers - Frey JD Selections Pedro and Lobo https://www.jdselections.com/producers/javali monthly 0.5 2025-07-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/3e1bf69f-83f5-47de-8f59-b9c0d9dfccb9/Javali+Antonio+Mendes.jpg Producers - Quinta do Javali - Quinta do Javali Quinta do Javali is a unicorn-level unique destination pioneering an entirely different view of how to represent terroir in the Douro Valley. At its peak, 700-plus meters above the Douro River, on a rock pile overlooking the steeply sloped Clos Fonte do Santo vineyard stands António Mendes Sr. He’s worked this family-owned farm of 25 hectares since 1982 and his land has been under vines since the 1650s. Against this pristine backdrop, António has created one of the most forward thinking wine projects happening in Portugal today. As he speaks about his vision for his land, his wines, and his family, he can’t help but contain a natural, bubbling enthusiasm that wells from deep within and can be heard several vineyards over. He is a larger-than-life, passionate man of strong conviction. The vineyards are guided by slabs of slate, plowed by horse, and tilled by wild pigs (Javali in Portuguese). Work in the vineyards is guided by the celestial cadence of Steiner’s calendar and monitored by meteorological stations installed throughout the property. Viticulture is organic and biodynamic and in the certification process… a unique practice in the Douro Valley. Quinta do Javali’s history is rooted in port production, as the smallest registered port Producer in the Douro Valley, like all things they do it by hand and with intense focus on quality. They have made a range of traditional, broader-shouldered wines for decades, but more recently began moving their focus to lighter, lifted, aromatic and elegant wines António Sr. and his son, António Jr. enjoy drinking. This profile fits his terroir like a glove. António and his family have made significant investments in a new winery allowing for plots to be vinified separately and showcased in various formats. Decisions are rooted in the conviction of showing terroir, expressing the land as purely as possible, and driving the Douro’s reputation for authentic table wines forward. Lucius Annaeus Seneca’s quote “If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable” is mounted above the cellar and proclaims Javali’s bold vision for Douro wines. I’m honored to walk this path with the Mendes family. Wine Details Crazy Javali Branco Crazy Javali Tinto Pet Nat 2022 Clos Fonte do Santo Cherry Tree Vineyard 2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/631ae475-0233-42a3-bde8-69ee945488d5/Javali+Horse+Vineyard+and+Valley.jpg Producers - Quinta do Javali Quinta do Javali vineyard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/fc455de9-9ce0-40de-a060-68eb0d72e0d4/Javali+Winery.JPG Producers - Quinta do Javali Quinta do Javali Winery https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/13b0824f-a10d-4da6-bde6-43e14f1ff1eb/JD+Antonio+Javali.jpg Producers - Quinta do Javali Quinta do Javali Antonio Mendes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/200a7fa4-54d0-4a4d-aace-57b2a81e9835/Javali+Antonio+Bottles+Lunch.jpg Producers - Quinta do Javali Quinta do Javali https://www.jdselections.com/producers/santiago monthly 0.5 2025-07-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/fc9f8696-b2dd-4540-95d7-c4512ed1804a/Joana+and+new+labels.jpg Producers - Quinta de Santiago - Quinta de Santiago Quinta de Santiago is a magical place, a family-owned farm at Portugal’s northern tip on the border with Spain in the Vinho Verde wine region. This 7.5 hectare farm has been in the Santiago family since 1899 and is infused with generations of history, love, and passion for their land and surrounding region. Originally the Quinta’s primary activity was the production of wines, olive oil, lupine, cereals, milk, meat, and fruit for self-consumption. Grapes grown in the vineyards were sold to large cooperatives in the region. This changed in 2009. Grandma Mariazinha Santiago (aged 86), full of passion and determination, challenged her children and grandchildren to create a boutique winery. Its purpose: showing that World-class Alvarinho and native varietals from Monção can shine. Fast forward more than a decade and it is assuredly safe to say Grandma Mariazinha would be proud. At the head of the family’s business is Joana Santiago, a self-described “authentic Minho woman” - driven to honor her family’s heritage. It is from a multi-generation devotion to the family’s land and vineyards that she drives their view and vision of expressing excellence in their wines. Four generations of the Santiago family combine tradition, modernity, and enthusiasm to create authentic wines expressing the terroir of the region’s and farm’s native varietals. Quinta de Santiago is uniquely positioned to benefit from a microclimate ideal for growing Alvarinho, Loureiro, and numerous red grapes indigenous to this area. The particular orientation of the Quinta shelters the vineyards from significant Atlantic influences but preserves thermal amplitudes ideal for ripening indigenous varietals. Soil is predominantly clay given the the proximity to the Minho River and viticulture follows organic practices. Joana is hyper-focused on sustainability and biodiversity. She has organized and leads a group of regional growers focused on water use and the preservation of local natural resources. The wines are overseen by the legendary, Nuno Mira do Ó, with whom Joana also partners on their Sou joint venture. Wines are fermented with native yeasts. Wine Details Vinho Verde 2024 Pisco Alvarinho and Loureiro 2024 Chapim Alvarinho 2023 Sou Alvarinho 2020 Sou Tinto 2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/73ebade4-082a-4cc2-89cb-749f354caf3e/Joana+Vineyard.jpg Producers - Quinta de Santiago Quinta de Santiago Joana Santiago https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1638745566222-ZLMDT6J6IOZ6FKYY7XY4/Quinta+Santiago+View.jpg Producers - Quinta de Santiago JD Selections Quinta de Santiago https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/0e14cc19-33ac-4013-adb6-8f8e02370cb4/Chapim+and+Flowers.JPG Producers - Quinta de Santiago JD Selections Santiago Chapim Alvarinho https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/11bc29b5-df3d-47d8-8ce4-0e84a783b100/Quinta+Santiago+JD+and+Joana.jpg Producers - Quinta de Santiago Quinta de Santiago Joana Santiago https://www.jdselections.com/producers/pormenor monthly 0.5 2025-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1595795737067-YKYUBWMYV76W3DMPMFA9/Pedro+Closeup.jpg Producers - Pormenor - Pormenor Pormenor Vinhos is the dream of owner and winemaker, Pedro Coelho to free himself from the bounds of tradition in the Douro Valley. Pormenor translates to “details” and launched with the 2013 vintage rooted in a fierce belief of what Pedro did not want from his wines: high alcohol, extraction, new oak. Instead, Pedro is locked in on the potential for Douro wines to show freshness, restrained alcohol, and elegance. One of the details Pedro insists on to delivery on this vision is old vines. With vines ranging from 45 to 100+ years primarily in the Douro Superior, he has found and secured incredibly rare vineyard material. Another important detail is high elevation vineyards which help combat the natural heat of the valley. He works with indigenous varietals only and fermenation is done through native, wild yeasts. Pedro is a larger-than-life, positive, gregarious force of nature. His laugh is infectious and constant as he leaves a positive impression on everyone he meets. To know Pedro is to know this gentle, genuine human and to see this personality in his wines. He is confident and comfortable in what he seeks for Pormenor, and to show this beauty from a place he loves to have his feet, the Douro Valley. Wine Details Branco 2023 Reserva Branco 2021 Ginga Tinto 2023 Tinto 2020 Trilho Tinto 2018 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1595796175449-HWPZ5SJX6RGTM85F6KW2/Foto+Capa.jpg Producers - Pormenor JD Selections Pormenor Vineyard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1595796218708-I6GNFP3Y7AGSD1G1XBG6/Pormenor+Wine+Bottles.jpg Producers - Pormenor JD Selections Pormenor Wines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/1595796327631-N6WB02TWUYY6AQWKLBC1/Pedro+Pormenor.JPG Producers - Pormenor JD Selections Pedro Coelho https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5df6b7b8d477c67e1c76048d/79049cb0-d9b8-4974-8c0b-e37b1b215ba7/d26b03e0-2cf6-4e11-a6fa-48a39e40d05b.jpg Producers - Pormenor Pormenor