Country Portugal Region Douro Grape Varietal Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesca, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz Type: Still wine  

Eric Solomon Selection. (Best importer 2006, Food and Wine Magazine) 

Lavradores de Feitoria 2003 "Trs Bagos" Douro ($16.99) This is a very dark garnet wine, almost black in the glass. Port-like scents are appealing and forward, black plums and cherries and even a warm brandy-like note. The full-bodied flavor is fruit-forward, ripe black fruit and dried fruits shaped by grippy acidity and firm tannins. The similarity to Port ends at that point - it's dry, of course, and it's not fortified. But you can sense the shared heritage, and for that matter the shared fruit. FOOD MATCH: Breaking away from the obvious red meat, I fashioned a sweet'n'savory pasta dish to work and play with the wine's ripe fruit, lavishing baked penne with a "pink" sauce of ricotta and goat cheese with fresh and sun-dried tomatoes. (Best Value 2006 Robin Garr WineLovers.com 

Country Portugal Region Minho Grape Varietal 100% Louriero Type: Still wine  

Wine Spectator: 85 points
Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: 89 Points

2004 Quinta do Ameal Loureiro Vinho Verde ($16)
Medium straw color. Fresh grassy, citric nose, with notes of orange pith and quinine. Very bright and focused, with brisk flavors of Meyer lemon, pink grapefruit, fresh sage and oregano. This wine offers very good length, finishing on a plump, juicy melon note.

Quinta do Ameal has won various awards and received coverage in the leading trade magazines. The wine, made using 100% Loureiro grape variety, is fermented and aged in new French oak barrels for 6 months. The floral character of the Loureiro blends perfectly with the wood aromas, adding to the overall complexity.

Past awards: Gold Medal and Trophy 2000 and 2001 - C.V.R.V.V. (Vinho Verde Regional Viticulture Committee); Gold Medal 2000 Label Competition - C.V.R.V.V.; Best Buy Award 2000 and 2001 - "Revista de Vinhos"; 2000 and 2001 Best in the Region - "Revista de Vinhos".

Rrecognised by the international wine press, including Jancis Robinson (Wine of the week ), Steven Spurrier( Decanter-Best Old World White), Hugh Johnson, Guido Francque, Tom Marthinsen, Matthew Jukes, Paula Bosch,Wine&Spirits, Harpers, Washington Post, Finantial Times, Revue des Vins, among others.

The Ameal vineyards are referred to in the annals of the Refios do Lima convent, which were written some time before 1710. The ancient Quinta do Ameal is situated in one of the oldest parishes in Portugal, established even before the country itself (1143). Quinta do Ameal wine is produced in this sub-region of Lima, where the Loureiro grape variety is at its most aromatic and tasty. The wine is characterised by its freshness and youth, possessing a floral and fruity aroma.

"This is a first-rate Portuguese red — the 2003 “Tradicional” from Quinta do Alqueve. One of the criticisms of red wines from Portugal has been that they can be Port-like, suffering from a baked, over-ripe quality. But that’s certainly not one here.
The wine is from Portugal’s Ribetajo region, about 40 miles north of Lisbon. Quinta do Alqueve’s Tradicional is a blend of four grapes: touriga nacional, tinta roriz (tempranillo in Spain), trainadeira and periquita. To better understand Quinta do Alqueve’s Tradicional, think of a wine that is somewhere between a Bordeaux and a Burgundy. It reminded me a little of cabernet sauvignon and merlot, on the one hand, and pinot noir on the other. It is not a powerful, high-alcohol wine. Instead, it’s got lean elegance. The aroma suggests a fruit orchard in the fall, a ripe earthiness that instantly takes the mind to such a setting. In your mouth plum and blueberry come into focus, along with a hint of powdered cocoa on the long finish. The wine is barrel-aged for 12 months, and the wood influence is subtle. It is softly tannic with good acidity and is drinking beautifully now. Food: It went nicely with a grilled pork chop and some buttered rice. Grilled chicken and cold sliced lamb would be good partners as well. The wine was also delightful to sip by itself, slightly chilled on a warm summer afternoon before lunch." Edward Deitch,
Wine columnist