Nick Dobson Wines Vinho Verde

Vinho Verde
The DOC Region of Vinho Verde is located in the northwest of Portugal, sandwiched between the Atlantic coast to the west, the Spanish region of Galicia to the north, the Douro and Tras-os-Montes to the east, and Beiras to the south. Rather confusiingly, the boundary of the Vinho Verde DOC region are identical to those of the VR Minho region (VR means Vinho Regional, a bit like France's "Vin de Pays" classification) and the terms are used interchangeably. To compound this, the term "Vinho Verde" is also applied to the wines from this region. The name translates as "Green Wine", referring to its youthful freshness rather than its color. Wines from Vinho Verde are light and fresh, and are intended to be drunk young. They are characterised by a small amount of CO2 pressure and hence definite pétillance, which adds to their refreshing character, but this is insufficient to qualify them as semi-sparkling wines. White, red, and rosé wines are made, but output is predominantly white. The white wines are often lemon or straw coloured, with moderfate alcohol levels, usually between 9 to 11% ABV, and are made from local grape varieties Loureiro, Arinto, Trajadura, Avesso and Azal. The reds are typically deep red, quite tannic, and are mostly made from Vinhão, Borraçal and Amaral grapes. The rosés are very fresh and fruity, usually made from Espadeiro and Padeiro grapes. Best of all, wines from Vinho Verde offer outstanding value for money. Quality can be outstanding; the region has many small growers (over 30,000 in 2005) and whilst many of these are small, some even part-time, who supply the large co-operatives responsible for the bulk industrial product found in supermarkets, there are also many small quality-driven artisan growers producing high quality wines of character.

Quinta da Raza, Celorico de Basto

Our supplier in Vinho Verde is the outstanding Quinta da Raza, whose history goes back to the 17th century, yet the property has remained in the same family ever since. The vineyard has always been significant economically, due to the importance of the high quality of grapes produced, ranging from Azal, Arinto, Vinhão to Alvarinho. The wines, produced exclusively with the estate's own grapes, are modern, fresh, well-balanced, and in a style which owes much to Raza's heritage and which offer great value for money. Present generation José Diogo Teixeira Coelho has continued the family tradition of Vinho Verde production since 1987, and in 2008 he was named Grape Grower of the year, by the "Comissão de Viticultura da Região dos Vinhos Verdes“ (Viticulture Commission of the Vinho Verde Region).

Quinta da Raza Vinho Verde Branco 2009
Ref: 3511000

Forget any preconceptions you may have about Vinho Verde - Raza's entry level Vinho Verde is a delight; a lovely refreshing summer wine which should be served chilled to 8-10ºC and which slips down nicely with shellfish, fish, or white meat dishes.

A very pale lemon-green, with a nose of white flowers, underripe orchard fruit, and citrus limey notes. On the palate it's clean, crisp, refreshing, with orchard fruit flavours. The finish is good, with clean crisp lively acidity and good length.

Medal of honour in the 2010 Contest of the Viticulture Commission of the Vinho Verde Region.

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Price: £7.20 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Dom Diogo Vinho Verde Branco Azal Colheita Seleccionnada 2010 Quinta da Raza
Ref: 3511008

*£

Vinho Verde can be made with any of seven recommended white grape varieties, and this premium Vinho Verde is made from 100% Azal, a white Portuguese variety grown almost exclusively in Vinho Verde. Azal is generally considered to be a quality variety which is naturally highly productive, and has good fruit and a refreshing acidity. It is a frequent constituent in Vinho Verde blends, being one of the seven recommended varieties, but is rarely vinified as a single varietal. (Even rarer is Azal Tinto - a red variety). This wine is superb stuff; it has a delicate and intense aroma, and has good fruit on the palate and a creamy texture. There is a mineral base underpinning the fruit, and the crisp acidity along with the slight CO2 prickle makes the wine highly refreshing. Very unusual and quite delightful - and a bargain. Drink at 8-10ºC with fish, seafood, or white meats.

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Price: £9.00 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Dom Diogo Vinho Verde Branco Azal Colheita Seleccionnada 2010 Quinta da Raza

Dom Diogo Vinho Verde Branco Arinto Colheita Seleccionnada 2010 Quinta da Raza
Ref: 3511009

*£

Another single varietal wine from Vinho Verde, this one made from the Arinto grape. Arinto is a grape with relatively high acidity, tamed during the vinification process to produce elegant lemon-coloured wines which can be very refreshing.

This example has a complex nose of gooseberries, mineral, and a hint of mint. On the palate again gooseberries, some herbs, and camomile, all wrapped up in a lovely creamy texture. Refreshing spritz.

When I was tasting the white wines from Vinho Verde, I wrote in my tasting book "best wine so far" and I don't think now that I was wrong. The price-quality relationship of the wines from this part of Portugal is superb; these are some of the cheapest wines in my entire list, but they are quite outstanding.

Drink at 8-10º C with fish, seafood, white meats, pasta, and risottos.

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Price: £9.00 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Dom Diogo Vinho Verde Branco Arinto Colheita Seleccionnada 2010 Quinta da Raza

Dom Diogo Alvarinho Escolha 2010 Quinta da Raza
Ref: 3511010

**£

For me this is the highlight of the Quinta da Raza range.

Alvarinho is the Portuguese name for Albariño, the primary white grape widely grown just over the Spanish border in the Rías Baixas subzone in Galicia. The variety is thought to be related to Riesling, and is noted for its distinctive aroma, which bears similarities to Viognier, Gewurztraminer, and Petit Manseng, with notes of yellow stone fruit such as apricot and peach. It is considered by many to produce Spain's premier white wine. It is also a significant variety in northern Portugal where it is used to make single-varietal wines, and also appears as a component of some Vinho Verde wines.

This single-varietal example has a fruity nose with gooseberries and hints of yellow stone fruit, along with delicate aromas of rose petals. There is plenty of fruit on the palate, and good length. Drink at 8-10º C with plain grilled fish or white meats.

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Price: £13.80 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Dom Diogo Alvarinho Escolha 2010 Quinta da Raza

Quinta da Raza Vinho Branco Grande Escolha 2009 (Alvarinho/Trajadura blend)
Ref: 3511004

*£

Ths wine is a blend of Alvarinho (see above) and Trajadura grapes. Trajadura is a lightly scented but full bodied white grape grown widely in Vinho Verde and normally blended with other local varieties in many Vinho Verde wines. Occasionally, as here, it is blended with Alvarinho to produce a premium Vinho Verde. Trajadura is also grown in Galicia in Northern Spain, under the name Treixadura. Very occasionally it is used for single-varietal wines though these tend to be quite light.

This paricuar Alvarinho/Trajadura blend is a very pale green with golden hues, and has a creamy nose with gooseberry aromas, not unlike a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. On the palate there is good crisp acidity, with lots of fruit. The finish is long and flavoursome. This would make an ideal partner for shellfish such as mussels, and also for salmon, trout, monkfish or sea bass.

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Price: £10.50 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Quinta da Raza Vinho Branco Grande Escolha 2009 (Alvarinho/Trajadura blend)

Dom Diogo Vinho Verde Rosé Padeiro de Basto 2010 Quinta da Raza
Ref: 3511011

*£

Padeiro de Basto is a synonym for Tinto Cão, a grape used in the production of both fine Port and Vinho Verde wines. Highly productive, it produces ruby to garnet-red colour wines with a distinctive aroma and taste, harmonious and flavoursome. It makes lovely rosé wines, such as this example.

A dark salmon pink, with aromas of strawberries and redcurrants, with a lively zippy acidity and masses of fruit on the palate. Good body, pétillant with more red berry fruit, with good length and a finish dominated by redcurrants. A lovely summer wine; drink well well chilled with barbeques, grilled meats, and salads.

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Price: £9.60 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Dom Diogo Vinho Verde Rosé Padeiro de Basto 2010 Quinta da Raza

Dom Diogo Vinho Regional Minho Rosé Touriga Nacional Colheita Seleccionnada 2009 Quinta da Raza
Ref: 3511006

**£

Tourigan Nacional is the principal quality red wine grape in Portugal. The colour of this wine is in my opinion more like a pale red - possibly that of a clairet from Bordeaux - than a rosé, with strawberry, redcurrant, and glacé cherry aromas on the nose, all reflected on the palate. Good body, with more red berry fruit, with good length and a finish dominated by redcurrants. Notable pétillance gives this wine a tremendously refreshing character. A lovely summer wine; drink well well chilled with barbeques, grilled meats, and salads. This is truly amazing stuff, fantastic value for money, and deserves to be tried.

Silver Medal in the 2010 Contest of the Viticulture Commission of the Vinho Verde Region.

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Price: £8.70 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Dom Diogo Vinho Regional Minho Rosé Touriga Nacional Colheita Seleccionnada 2009 Quinta da Raza

Dom Diogo Vinho Verde Tinto Vinhão 2010 Quinta da Raza
Ref: 3511012

**£

Vinhão is a high quality red grape variety, recommended for use in all parts of Vinho Verde. There are few red varieties here, and Vinhão is the most used in the region. Productive, this grape variety produces red-garnet colour, vinous, full-bodied, balanced and flavourous wines.

This is a truly amazing wine well worth some of your attention. It has an incredible depth of colour - high opacity, almost inky - which leads you to expect a tannic monster, yet the Vinhão grape has here produced a wine which is soft, fruity, highly juicy & sappy, yet very flavoursome, and with just a little bit of spritz, which adds to the refreshing character. The taste is vaguely reminiscent of an Austrian Blauer Portugieser, with a creamy texture, and earthy flavours, overlaid with lots of rich ripe red berry fruit. The firm tannins and slighty spritz make this a great companion for food - fatty duck dishes from southwest France spring to mind as a good match - but this wine will also chill well, making it an ideal summer red, perfect for al fresco dining and barbeques.

This is a lovely wine, really distinctive and unusual, and with character by the bucketload - and I urge you to try it.

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Price: £9.60 (Including VAT at 20%)

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Dom Diogo Vinho Verde Tinto Vinhão 2010 Quinta da Raza