2014 Quinta do Pinto, Red Wine, Estate Collection, European West Coast, Portugal.
This mature, dark garnet and richly flavored red blend from Quinta do Pinto is made from Touriga Nacional, Aragonêz, Syrah and Merlot coming off vineyards in the Lisboa region of Portugal, is a remarkable value that is drinking fabulously right now. Kinda of a Bordeaux meets Rioja in style, this nicely balanced full bodied 2014 Quinta do Pinto red shows off a palate of crushed berry, dark currant, cherry and plum fruits, along with hints of cedar, anise, dried flowers, mocha and subtle loamy earthiness. The tannins are opulent and smooth and this wine has a serious palate impact and still retains a freshness, making it a crowd pleaser and goes easy with hearty cuisine and or hard cheeses. The Quinta do Pinto, is a woman-owned and passionately run winery by two sisters, Rita Cardoso Pinto and Ana Cardoso Pinto, along with winemaker Rui Reguinga, is definitely a winery to follow and this wine is a great place to start. I really enjoyed the white wine, Vinhas do Lasso, a blend of Fernão Pires (A.K.A Maria Gomes) and Arinto, as well.
As noted by their US importer, Banville Wine Merchants (Winebow), Quinta do Pinto, as mentioned here as well, is a family-owned estate located just north of the coastal Portuguese capital of Lisbon, and was originally established in the 17th Century, though risen in quality in more recent times while it has been owned by the Cardoso-Pinto family, who took over the estate about a 100 years ago. The Cardoso-Pinto’s are dedicated to a more natural approach in the vineyard and in the cellar, working sustainably, they believe in respect for terroir and minimal intervention in (their) winemaking. The influenced by the cool Ocean and the climate the wine have a vibrant and elegant profile. Soils here are Jurassic clay and limestone, and the Quinta do Pinto wines are crafted from native and international varietals that include, as noted, Touriga Nacional and Arinto, as well as Aragonêz, Syrah and Merlot, and fermented in temperature controlled concrete vats and then in, for this red blend, used French barrels. This one, matured in oak for 12 months and then bottle rested in the cellar for close to 8 years, making it nicely balanced, fully evolved and delicious on release, as on display here. Portugal has so much going on these days in the wine world, with many unique regional wines and a good mix of traditional and modern styles from which to chose from, and Quinta do Pinto does an excellent job of melding both.
($18 Est.) 91 Points, grapelive