Written by Brenda McMillan | 09 February 2011
Posted in The Best You Never Had

Perched on the edge of a bird sanctuary like a robin on a bare branch (yes, they are back in Toronto), Herdade da Comporta has 12KM of unspoiled coastline, 2500 acres of rice fields, a turf farm, pine trees, marsh, and beehives, as well as 73 acres of vineyards (66 red, 7 white). Situated just south of Lisbon straddling the Alentejo and Setubal regions, the winery produces 200,000 bottles of very tasty vinhos. Fortunately (or unfortunately), I didn’t have to visit the estate to taste the wine. It came to Toronto via importer Daniel Santos of Tinto Wines.

The mid level offerings under the Herdade da Comporta label are delicious. The 2009 white, a combination of Arinto and Antão Vaz is a good expression of the grapes with its pineapple-floral nose, pale straw colour and tropical fruit and lemon flavours. Very clean and fresh. Grab some sushi or seafood... and why reach for Pinot Grigio when you can have something as tasty as this?

The 2007 Herdade da Comporta red, a blend of four indigenous grapes, has a strong ripe fruit nose, a deep cherry colour, a spiciness thanks to Trincadeira, and a soft acidity. Put it next to the cheese plate or pair it with anything you would use a shiraz for.

Parus, their premium wines, have a sparrow on the label (parus is Latin for sparrow). Pale gold 2009 Parus white is 100% Antão Vaz. Coastal weather ensures a balanced acidity in keeping with soft fruity flavours and aromas. Touch of sea salt on the long finish. Very elegant. Pass the seafood rice around.

Parus red, 80% Alicante Bouschet and 20% Touriga Nacional, is tall and elegant stork, I’d say. Deep burgundy with cherry edges, a soft fruit nose, ripe tannins and a full mouth feel make this one fly. Lovely long finish... please bring me a rare steak. 6800 bottles only.

Contact Tinto Wines for availability.

Written by Brenda McMillan | 01 November 2010
Posted in The Best You Never Had

We met at the Wine Reserve in Toronto, an underground secret hideaway for wine and wine lovers. He is tall with dancing eyes, an easy smile and a dishy Italian accent. The sexiest part about him, however, is his wine, and that is saying a lot.

Carlo Schiopetto, (along with his sister Maria Angela and brother Giorgio), now runs Schiopetto Wines, the winery their father started in 1965 in the vineyards surrounding the residence of the Bishop of Gorizia, one of the oldest wine estates in Collio. Their innovative wine-making techniques produce wines of superior quality from old vines. I tasted them with Carlo, then asked him which of the wines was his personal favourite. He hesitated before answering; it is like asking which of his children he prefers.

The darling of the day was Schiopetto Pinot Bianco Colio DOC 2008. A versatile wine, it is round and fruity with a balanced acidity and an elegance that carries through. In my humble opinion, this Pinot Bianco far overshadows the more popular Pinot Grigio we get here. Carlo likes it for his own reasons.

“In my opinion, this is a great feminine wine. It represents my favourite woman.” He drinks it often. Serve at 12º. 2500 cases available from Le Sommelier. $29.95 (6/cs).EW

While I enjoyed all five of the white Schiopetto wines presented, I found the red to be very intriguing. Podere dei Blumeri Rosso IGT 2003 hit me with a smoky-dusty nose that made me want to dive into the glass. When I did so, I found it was rich, refined and elegant with a table-loving acidity and spicy flavours. Very yummy. I wanted to kidnap the bottle and take it to dinner. A mix of Merlot, Refosco and Cabernet Sauvignon, this quaffable wine is available from Le Sommelier while supplies last. $45.00. 850 cases.

Written by Brenda McMillan | 27 October 2010
Posted in The Best You Never Had

I know the colours of Port wine are Ruby red, Tawny and Straw white, so when I saw a bottle of Pink Port, I was surprised. And curious. As I sidled up to the bar (I was at the Discovery Tasting of Port and Douro Wines, so the bar was a tasting table) I was handed a glass of Porto Cruz Pink. It was served cold, which is different from other Ports. It smelled sweet like candied fruit, raspberries maybe, and honey. It also tasted sweet and mildly fruity with a slight medicinal taste that reminded me of taking penicillin as a wee child. Some coolers have the same flavour profile. The medicinal side isn’t overpowering and it isn’t unpleasant, but I wouldn’t choose to drink it straight when there are options like mixed drinks.

The Cruz Diamond, a blend of the Port, club soda and a slice of orange over ice, makes this wine sing, as does Cruz Pink, which has tonic and ice. There are a lot of cocktails that could include Cruz Pink instead of vodka to add a kick (but not such a hefty one) and complexity to the likes of cranberry juice. This is where it excels.

I had to ask how they made it pink, as its source is the same Douro grapes as the rest of their line of Ports. I was told that skin contact is kept to a minimum but after that, the process is the same.

Ten million bottles of Cruz Pink have been sold world-wide so far. Porto Cruz, a company established in 1887, is trying hard to catch the attention of younger drinkers with this product, which makes perfect sense from a marketing perspective. As long as these drinkers eventually grow out of their short-pants pink and into more sophisticated colours like red, tawny and white.