A Wine Spectator já anunciou o seu
top 100 para 2005. Desta lista, só 4 vinhos portugueses têm direito a aparecer (são 3 vinhos do Douro e 1 do Alentejo):
27 Quinta do Vallado Douro Reserva 2003 94 / $36 • PortugalFrom traditional Port country comes this red table wine that joins the old with the new. At the direction of family proprietors Guilherme Alvares Ribeiro and wife Maria Ferreira, a restructuring of the vineyards was completed in 1998. This wine is a blend of more than 20 varieties, including old-vine Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela and Touriga Franca, as well as Touriga Nacional and Sousa from the newly planted vineyards. 2,000 cases made.
55 Quinta de Roriz Douro Prazo 2003 91 / $13 • Portugal
Winemakers Charles Symington and Pedro Correia blend Tinta Roriz (40 percent), Touriga Franca (30 percent), Tinta Barroca (20 percent) and Touriga Nacional (10 percent) for this affordable introduction to the dry reds from the Portuguese region famed for its Port wines. The grapes are primarily sourced from younger vines, and the wine was aged for nine months in 2-year-old French oak casks. 2,000 cases imported.
73 Quinta de Ventozelo Douro Reserva 2000 90 / $14 • PortugalAfter years of anonymity, this large Douro estate was acquired in 1999 by the Spanish shellfish company Proinsa, and since then has bottled table wines and Ports under the domaine name. This reserva is a blend of Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga National, Tinta Barocca and Tinto Cão. It is aged 12 months in new American oak and spends a minimum of six months in bottle before release. 7,000 cases made.
99 Cortes de CímaTouriga Nacional Alentejo 2002 91 / $20 • PortugalAmerican Carrie Jorgensen went to Portugal in 1988, a century after her great-grandfather had immigrated from that counry to the United States. She and her Danish husband, Hans Jorgensen, established a winery that today encompasses more than 200 acres. All the grapes for this 100 percent Touriga Nacional bottling are sourced from estate vineyards, and the wine was aged for nine months in new French oak. 12,062 cases made.
De realçar os 24 vinhos da Califórnia (a juntar aos 4 vinhos no Oregon e 2 em Washington, afinal é uma resvista americana...) e 11 da Austrália. A vizinha Espanha teve 6 vinhos neste top 100. Chile, que sempre foi considerado um país a ter em conta neste mercado, só aparece com um vinho.
Aqui vão os parabéns do Portuense aos 4 produtores premiados, especialmente ao Chico! :)