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Winner Details

Portugal: Red, Douro


2015: Gold 4 Silver 4 Bronze 1 Commended 5
2014: Gold 1 Silver 4 Bronze 3 Commended 0

If you’re the kind of person who likes their wines to enter a room quietly and stand demurely in the corner until spoken to, then you should probably cover your ears now. The Douro reds here were big, Big, BIG. The vinous equivalent of Caitlin Moran, they did their own thing and didn’t give a damn who they offended in the process.

But, crucially, this year, as well as having plenty of character, they were also in balance. In the past, tasters have left these flights with their gums bleeding, but this year it was much love all round. Four Golds for a niche region like this is, to be sure, slightly indulgent, but the quality was simply irresistible.


From the Tasting Teams

‘I liked the style of these; good food wines. I’d feel very confident recommending them to a customer, so long as they didn’t have a problem with oak or alcohol.’ Oscar Miller, Vinoteca King’s Cross

‘People know the Douro for port, so you can recommend these without taking them out of their comfort zone.’ Laura Rhys MS, team leader

‘You could see the real ability of Portuguese wines here. There was concentration. They’re very physical wines with a lot of tannin and fruit. Real personality.’ Matteo Malquori, Hakkasan Hanway Place

‘The balance of the wines we chose was not overpowering or over-concentrated. They had good purity and elegance, especially considering that these are big grape varieties.’ Andrea Briccarello, team leader

‘People are very open to be introduced to these wines. It’s not such an unusual thing to have at the table these days, I don’t think. People are open to having these wines suggested to them.’ Mark Graham, Butlers Wharf Chop House


Award winners

Found 14 wines

Portugal: Red, Douro Valley

Quinta do Vallado, Touriga Nacional 2012, Douro, Portugal

Gold medal winner

Wonderful tension between the wood and the ripe fruit scored Gold for Quinta do Vallado. ‘Fresh sweet nose of jammy black fruit, with forest fruits on a concentrated palate and a long finish,’ commented Matteo Malquori of Hakkasan Hanway Place, with Neil Bruce of Studio Alto adding: ‘Big, with bags of black, spicy fruit and fine, ripe tannins.’ Pair with venison.

£18.32 Bibendum

Quinta do Crasto, Reserva 2012, Douro, Portugal

Gold medal winner

A second Gold to add to its white Gold for Quinta do Crasto for this velvety symphony of soft plums, dark cherries and spice. ‘Perfumed nose with violets and sweet red berries. Soft red berry palate with easy vanilla oak,’ said team leader Tom Forrest, with Matteo Malquori of Hakkasan Hanway Place adding: ‘Love the potential of this rich, dark, fruity red.’ Match with desne dishes such as oxtail or pigeon.

£15.65 Enotria&Coe

Sogrape, Casa Ferreirinha, Quinta da Leda 2009, Douro, Portugal

Gold medal winner

An accomplished performance brought Gold home for Casa Ferreirinha.

'Luxurious, soft and spicy, with serious, clean, precise fruit, this has a lush finish, with vanilla tannins,' said a contented Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, adding: 'Juicy and fabulous. Perfect with ribeye steak.'
'Dark and proud,’ said Neil Bruce of Studio Alto, continuing: ‘Appetising dried fruits and spice, this is big and lovely.’ ‘Perfumed, black, Ribena-like fruit aromas. Sweet and ripe,’ said team leader Tom Forrest.

£18.78 Sogrape UK

Quinta das Bandeiras, Passagem Reserva 2010, Douro, Portugal

Gold medal winner

'Stunning, perfumed nose of aged cellars and rich fruit,' said Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, continuing: 'Fantastic mouthfeel, dry but fruity. And ageworthy.'
‘Interesting and complex,’ noted team leader Laura Rhys MS, adding: ‘Dark, meaty and inky, with cherry, currant and mulberry.’ 'Good with ragout of hare or blackened cod with truffles and chorizo,' advised Jones.

£12.65 The Flying Corkscrew

Quinta do Crasto, Crasto Superior 2012, Douro, Portugal

Silver medal winner

‘Bold, dark and juicy, with plenty of power,’ said team leader Laura Rhys MS, continuing: ‘Bright, with lovely complexity and spice.’ ‘Savoury, spicy notes of clove, black pepper and cinnamon,’ added Charles Van Wyk of FJB Hotels.

£11.51 Enotria&Coe

Christie's, Castelinho Reserva 2011, Douro, Portugal

Silver medal winner

‘Bright, fruity, pretty and floral,’ said Neil Bruce of Studio Alto, continuing: 'Deep, dark, ripe fruits, with plenty of depth and flavour.'
Team leader Tom Forrest added: ‘Cedar spice with mineral aromas, mocha coffee with even tannin and spice.’ Perfect with pizza.

£8.50 The Cave

Sogevinus, Curva, Reserva Tinto 2011, Douro, Portugal

Silver medal winner

‘Concentrated black fruit aromas with savoury cinnamon and spice; ripe mulberry on the palate with silky cedar notes to finish,’ said Charles Van Wyk of FJB Hotels. ‘Clean, sour red cherry fruit and a little spicy,’ added Oscar Miller of Vinoteca King's Cross.

£8.40 Amathus

Quinta do Vallado, Reserva Tinto 2012, Douro, Portugal

Silver medal winner

‘Deep ruby colour with floral, violet perfumes. Super-creamy on the palate, with spicy blackcurrants, pepper and spice,’ said team leader Tom Forrest. ‘Chewy, ripe and big, with lots of savoury, smoky, developed black fruit characters,’ added Neil Bruce of Studio Alto.

£22.75 Bibendum

Horta Osório Wines, HO, Achado 2012, Douro, Portugal

Bronze medal winner

‘A little reductive on the nose, but good dark fruit on the palate,’ began team leader Laura Rhys MS, continuing: ‘Meaty body with soft spice, high alcohol but pretty well integrated.’

£8.50 Horta Osório

Quinta do Sagrado, Sagrado Reserva 2007, Douro , Portugal

Commended medal winner

£10.08 Marta Vine

Quinta da Zaralhôa, Colheita 2010, Douro, Portugal

Commended medal winner

Horta Osório Wines, HO, Reserva 2012, Douro, Portugal

Commended medal winner

£21.38 Horta Osório

Horta Osório Wines, HO, Colheita 2012, Douro, Portugal

Commended medal winner

£10.85 Horta Osório

Quinta do Noval, Cedro do Noval 2010, Douro, Portugal

Commended medal winner