É um orgulho abrir a lista do Top 100 da Wine Spectator e ver não um, não dois mas quatro rótulos portugueses no Top 10 e o pódio quase todo nosso!

De cerca de 20.000 vinhos provados ao longo do ano, a revista norte-americana Wine Spectator elegeu, em Novembro, os 100 mais marcantes, em prova cega.

Além de termos seis referências na lista de 2014, com um arrebatador primeiro lugar para o Dow’s Porto Vintage 2011, que levou a muitas notícias com títulos do tipo “o melhor vinho do mundo é português”, a Wine Spectator voltou a incluir uma referência portuguesa nas escolhas para as épocas festivas.

João Portugal Ramos, Reserva, 2012, Tinto, mereceu novo destaque e ainda assistimos a alguma conversa sobre como os vinhos Portugueses têm melhorado de qualidade ao longo dos últimos anos. Ora espreitem:

O que a Wine Spectator disse sobre as escolhas portuguesas:

#1 Dow’s Vintage Port – Powerful, refined and luscious, with a surplus of dark plum, kirsch and cassis flavors that are unctuous and long. Shows plenty of grip, presenting a long, full finish, filled with Asian spice and raspberry tart accents. Rich and chocolaty. One for the ages. Best from 2030 through 2060. 5,000 cases made. —KM 

#3 Prats & Symington Douro Chryseia – An elegant and monolithic red, pure and powerful, with hints of lushness to the concentrated red plum, raspberry and dark currant flavors. This is filled with black olive and baker’s chocolate notes, backed up by grippy tannins. Finishes with refined accents of slate and white pepper. Best from 2016 through 2022. 2,400 cases made. —KM

#4 Quinta do Vale Meão Douro – A lush, seductive red, filled to the brim with an array of dark fruit and kirsch flavors, accented by plenty of cream and spice notes. Silky tannins and molten chocolate hints add richness. The long finish echoes with mineral and white pepper details. Best from 2015 through 2022. 2,300 cases made. —KM

#13 Fonseca Vintage Port – Massive, concentrated and powerful, this offers lush, heady flavors of dark plum, blackberry and cherry tart, with touches of anise. Shows plenty of grip as well, with a long, rich finish of dark chocolate, toffee and cream. Best from 2040 through 2060. 2,190 cases imported. —KM

#27 Quinta do Portal Douro Colheita – Mocha, hot spice and chocolate notes fill this decadent red to the brim. Very long midpalate, with accents of slate and spice. Finishes with smoke, cream and cedar details. An exotic red from Portugal. Drink now through 2019. 8,160 cases made. —KM

#56 João Portugal Ramos Alentejo Ramos Reserva – Black olive, dark currant and dried plum flavors give this red plenty of power and lift. Quite minerally as well, featuring an intense and balanced finish that lingers with fig paste and raspberry ganache elements. Drink now through 2020. 41,800 cases made. —KM