Leaking Bucket has Emptied and Self Regulation Just Does Not Work.

Back in 2008 I wrote a blog titled, Leaky Buckets, Rain and New Alcohol Legislation in Ireland . I questioned the ability of our govt to protect the alcohol trade, and consequently the wine trade, and its customers from poorly tarined staff and the inappropriate selling of alcohol. I suggested that anyone incapable of working out a budget within billions when the economy was on the way UP would get it equally wrong on the way DOWN and these were the muppets looking after how alcohol would be handled throughout the State.  

Well, the leaking bucket that was our fiscal economy has been allowed to empty. How about the sale of alcohol? Currently the major part of the Irish trade has been allowed to regulate itself. As idiotic as it may seem this self regulation means signing up to a voluntary Code of Practice. This Code was drawn up by the major retailers and the Dept of Justice. It is administered by the Alcohol and Beverage Federation of Ireland within IBEC. This is a cosy club whose sole intention is to sell as much alcohol as possible, in as many ways imagined, so long as they don't stray too far from the Code. There is no staff training and no penalties for transgressors of the Code other than a threat from the Dept of Justice that, if they are really bold, they will be forced  to sell through stand alone stores only!

All of this is going on while the independent wine and off licence trade is not obliged to sign up to the Code at all because they sell through stand alone stores already. That's just plain stupid. Not only should everyone selling alcohol be obliged to sign up to the Code but it should not be voluntary and it should not be administered through the trade that it purports to regulate. 

Long shadow of Regulation is needed

What's happened since the Code was introduced? Well, it took a Prime Time TV show to stop the illegal delivery of alcohol by signed up members to the Code and those who didn't have to sign up in the first place. In 2009 I despaired in a blog titled, Wine Trade in Recession and Mr Lenihans Budget, when I wrote, "No-one seems to mind that it's now possible to phone in your illegal booze order and have it delivered to your front door!!" We had the spectacle of NOFFLA (Independent Off Licence representative body) defending itself on telly AFTER its members has been found guilty. NOFFLA's defence was based on the fact that it had instigated a training programme (Responsible Trading in the Community) that told its members to be good boys. This 'training' is self regulated, secretive and there are no penalties for straying off side! Sounds like another Code to me.

Current problems include:

• Selling off site via credit card
• Delivering off site continues with far too few checks on age
• The Code is not visible in stores
• Alcohol is still on sale across many stores when it should be in one area only
• No staff training - and irrelevant WSET exam results are still being used as proof of expertise!
• Self regulation is not working
• Too few people realise that price wars on alcohol (wine especially) are direct contributors to disease and anti social problems. Currently this problem has been allowed to grow in kitchens right across the land. 

What should be done?

• Independent, relevent and current staff training certification needs to be compulsory for anyone allowed to sell alcohol. This includes all checkout operators!
• Self regulation must be abolished.
• All off site deliveries must be accompanied by proof of age.
• Below cost selling needs to be abolished. Just to make this simple the real cost can be expressed as taxation plus X . This should be available on line for every product for everyone to inspect. 
• Three Strikes and you're Out should be adopted. Operators must be in fear of losing their Licence.

Organic, Biodynamic, Sustainable Viticulture, Integrated Pest Management, Alternative Viticulture, Integrated Production, Environmental Viticulture, Carbon Neutral….. Oh Dear……..!

Very often these days a bottle of wine will have a mini wine course written into its back label. The idea I suppose is that wine makers want to show why their bottle is different to the thousands of others that are on sale. The problem is they don’t seem to know when they are creating confusion rather than simply educating.

Take the various terms that are routinely used on bottles to describe grape growing regimes. How can Sustainable Viticulture help versus Integrated Pest Management when the former doesn’t even seem to have a legal definition and the latter could equally be applied to a well managed flea circus! If a term is not in common usage then it should be defined in some way when it is used on a bottle of wine. Here’s my quick and easy guide.

Organic: No artificial fertilizers or pesticides used. Soil fertility, vine diseases and pests managed by natural products only.

Sustainable: Organic if possible. An attempt to ensure long term survival of the vineyard, the farmers and society in general.

Integrated Pest Management: A sustainable and natural approach to managing pests by avoiding the use of pesticides

Biodynamic: Advanced organic production where earth forces are harnessed by the use of biodynamic compost and the observance of natural earth rhythms.

Alternative Viticulture: catch all term used to describe organic, biodynamic and sustainable viticulture.

Environmental Viticulture: Loose term to describe grape farming that attempts to protect its environment.

Carbon Neutral: All carbon emissions associated with all aspects of grape production are measured to ensure the vineyard does not add carbon to the atmosphere.

Paul Dolan Vineyards, California : Greenest of the Green

 

A single vineyard can of course use combinations of these at the same time. Biodynamic however necessitates an organic approach. An organic approach does not mean the grape or indeed the wine produced will, by necessity, be a better product.

Carbon Neutrality, adherence to biodynamic and organic practices can, and are, measured and certified. Sustainability, however, has many differing definitions around the world.

Grape quality does not equate to farming regime. This is especially so in the short term. Over time however, it is generally agreed that the more environmentally friendly one can be then the more sustainable the enterprise will be and that this in turn will improve quality, lifestyle and health for all concerned. Wine quality depends on access to quality grapes. Depending on the choices a wine maker makes however wine quality may be increased or decreased regardless of how good the grapes are. Thus, while back label statements regarding farming techniques by right should be left off the bottle, as on their own they do not equate to quality, they are a good indicator of the quality levels aspired to.

Domaine de la Vougeraie in Burgundy - Biodynamic and excellent wines

Gran Reserva - What is it?

Last year I took a Chilean wine label on sale in Tesco to task for having the temerity to say it was a Gran Reserva Especial. As there is no legal definition in Chile for the term 'Gran Reserva' I found it not only amusing but also quite silly to say it was a 'Special' kind of a nothing!

Two months ago I was asked to taste a Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2009 from Chile. When I enquired what the label actually meant I was told that it was a wine makers selection ie Gran Reserva is better than Reserva is better than, well, the rest of the range.

The Tesco wine is clearly using the term Gran Reserva as a marketing ploy. The second example is attempting to grade quality. Both are allowed on labels and yet when we compare them to Spain where the term Gran Reserva often has legel definition neither of the examples from Chile would be permissable.

Is this fair for the consumer? Clearly not, as this type confusion might end up being deliberate deception. 

In Rioja a red wine can be labelled Gran Reserva if it has been aged a minimum of five years, two of which must be in oak. In the case of white wines the aging requirement is four years, six months of which must be in oak. In reality the best labels often age their red wines considerably longer than the minimum. This is a lengthy, expensive and technically difficult process. Therefore it is very much reserved for the best wines. In Ribero del Duero, also in Spain, the minimum ageing requirement is five years for a Gran Reserva. And so on across the Spanish DO's. where the term Gran Reserva means something. Or does it?

Yesterday I was attracted to a recent Superquinn arrival. Castillo Santa Barbara, Valdepenas, Gran Reserva 2001. Price tag €6.00. OK, so you get what you pay for. I got a pleasant fruity number. I did not get an aged wine. In fact I'd suggest the cork hasn't been in the bottle any longer than a couple of weeks!! I hope I'm wrong as I'd hate to see Spain rubbishing its labels.

Ah, ageing beauties? The Clay Station 2002 is a Delicato wine being dumped by JC's in Swords at €3.99 a bottle. It's past its best but is still rewarding in a broad and soupy kind of a way. Look at the cork. It's compressed and well coloured. The Gran Reserva on the other hand has a new cork in it. Where has the wine been since 2001? Ageing? No. This is a young wine showing no oak character, no aged character and no complexity. Surely it must all be at least 9 years old? Hope so, but I would need to be shown more proof than I tasted from this bottle.

Moral of the tale. EU authorities need to get to grips with terminology. Consumers need to be wary. Spain needs to protect itself.

    

Curious Wines Encounter

I dropped down to the Curious Wines Christmas Wine Fair in Cork at the weekend. It might be efficient but that Dublin to Cork road is spectacularly boring. Not so Curious Wines who had a mountain of exciting wine open. Great to see Curious Mike, Matt and Curious Dad; Curious Julien, who has come across recently from Bubble Bros, was on hand with others to show off for the day.

A good crowd of customers had paid their way in to taste through the range. Good buzz.

I like the warehouse - not sure about the outside colour - did they need planning for it - probably be able to see it from the airport....at night! It's a retail wine store laid out as a wine warehouse. So, its ok to just buy a single bottle. Mind you, as most customers will have driven a distance to get there in the first place, I suspect the single bottle customer is rare. The selling space is clear and bright and has loads of large type, info leaflets.

On the day I found most of the wines had a clear sense of place and a distinct varietal approach to life. Thus the French trio of Reine de L'Arenite Fleurie la Madone, Chablis la Colombe and Sancerre la Clochette were excellent ambassadors for their regions. Equally impressive as true varietals were the Santa Alicia Carmenere (Chile), Poggiobello Merlot (Italy)  and the Valdamor Rias Baixas Albarinho (Spain). 

The Curious Wines range has been expanding recently and they are now importing more of the range for themselves.This is evident throughout the warehouse and in their brochure by 'Star Buy' and 'New' signs against wines that are not familiar labels. This is the adventure in a warehouse like this.  Explore and don't be afraid to ask questions. The place doesn't work unless you do. It's all about engagement, conversation and making new friends. Rest assured though that all of the wines on sale at Curious Wines are very good indeed so this is no pig in the poke. No, this is a sure bet.

Retailing wine of this calibre at affordable pricing is the only way forward for the independent wine trade in Ireland. This is not competing with the supermarkets; this is developing areas where the supermarkets cannot go. This is confident independence.

Olive Hanahan of Castlemary Farm fronting a lot of empty wine boxesa and an amazing range of local produce 

  

Curious Dad!

Tesco Festive Wines - worth looking at.

When I write I listen to country music. Right. There. It's out. Mostly it's John  Prine. What's this got to do with wine? Not a lot except that I was at a 100 wine Tesco Festive Wine Tasting yesterday and I was struck by the fact that all I hear these days is that supermarkets are the bad guys because they're pricing model is wrecking the wine trade.

"No-one can compete against super market prices".

"Have you seen what they're doing to the brands?"
"They are abusing their buying power"

"Producers are being crucified"

"It's a race to the bottom. No-one can win"        

Eh, yeah I have. So, what's the problem? Maybe a bit like coming on out and saying I like country music I might also put the cat in with the pigeons and say I like what the supermarkets are doing to wine!

There are a number of players in the wine trade who can take a leadership role in terms of where the trade is heading. One of these are the supers. Currently they have been allowed to lead us into believing that we should buy by price and that their price is the best. Well, very often their price is the best! Very often the quality of their wines is as good as elsewhere also.

The supermarkets buy their wine from a combination of producers and their agents. This is the second player. They constantly claim they have no choice but to deal on terms dictated to them by the supermarkets. Do they or are they stuck in a rut with their own business model dependant on volume sales? If they are then this is a problem of their making and not caused by the supermarkets at all!  

My final group is the consumer. Ah, the derided consumer. 'How can he be so naiive as to believe the stories of half price offers and weekend specials and so on. Sure, can't he see that the supermarkets are making their full margin at the lower price, making that price the correct one?' Margin achieved by a supermarket is of no relevance to a consumers wine choice. If the quality is fine and the net result is satisfaction then why the hell should anyone pay a higher price? If independent wine merchants have a problem with this then there is a problem with their business model and it is intrinsically unfair to lay any blame on the consumer. I would go further and say leave the supermarket alone and concentrate on the wine. 

So, were the wines any good yesterday. Yes they were.

Were the wines good value yesterday. Yes they were.

Will consumers be satisfied buying these wines from Tesco. Yes, they will.

Will the Irish wine trade collapse tomorrow because of the supermarkets pricing strategies? No, it won't.

Why the trade won't collapse is another days work but if we take a look around us we will see a load of very fine Christmas Wine Fairs across the country. They are all offering value and quality and they are all pushing their own brand and their own usp. That looks to me like a healthy trade competing with vigour and intensity. Long may it last.

Yesterday I was particularly impressed by Tesco's Italian and Sparkling wine selections. Here's a snap shot of all the wine that impressed me:

Australia

Jacob's Creek Pinot Noir €8.99 is excellent; both the Denman Chardonnay and Semillon do it for me; Tingleup Riesling is a brill intro to Aussie Riesling; then trade up to Tim Adams - excellent all round range of wines from the Clare Valley; if you're into cricket then at €12.99 you can indulge yourself with the wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon from the Botham-Merril-Willis label;

Chile

 I surprised myself by liking Yali from Chile (I must get rid of my inbuilt prejudices - where did they come from anyhow?!) Yali is ok! Errazuriz have brought a very worthy Sangiovese in at €9.99 while their unoaked Chardonnay is excellent and I even have time for their Merlot;

France

As it was Beaujolais Nouveau day I was pleased to see Tesco Beaujolais Villages performing well at €6.65; Louis Jadot's Borgogne Chardonnay is good and the Tesco Finest Alsace Gewurztraminer is an excellent intro to the flowery nature of that grape; I love Tesco Finest Cremant d'Alsace Riesling 2008 - it's a fine bottle of fizz with attitude - watch out for this on special, I bought some on half price recently at €7.99; Blason de Bourgogne Pouilly Fuisse (19.99) would suit turkey, both Thanksgiving and Christmas, meals well; match it with Tesco Finest Hautes Cotes de Nuits for a good Burgundian red wine; Tesco Finest Premier Cru Champagne is a winner all round.

Italy

Marchesino Pinot Noir at €5.49 impressed as did the Tesco Chianti Classico at €9.99; Tesco Finest Gavi at €11.99 is a great food wine and a good example of Gavi and I just love the Tesco Finest Barbera d'Asti Superiore at only €11.99; the Bisol Prosecco (€14.99) is excellent while the Tesco Finest Barolo at €21.73 is very accurate to the style and one of the best values of its type in town; Famiglia Teraccia Chianti Reserva is really very good indeed.

New Zealand

Villa Maria range is all good at €12.85 (sometimes goes way down on special); completely love the intensity of the Spy Mountain Sauvignon Blanc.

South Africa

Pity you can't actually see the label (it's just a blur!) on the Tesco Finest Ken Forrester Chenin Blanc because the wine shows fine oily varietal character very well. Tesco Finest Beyeres Truter Pinotage has lovely smoked edges and a big soft heart; at €23.25 the Paul Sauer Kanonkop blend is a really super wine   

  

Spain

Torres Vina Sol is always a good crisp bet while Tesco Cava Brut has true citrus fruit Mediterranean charm.

Clearly there were wines that did not impress at all. It was not all rosy. I think the fast selling Oceans Edge Pinot Grigio from NZ is awful; ditto McWilliams JJ Shiraz and the palate of the McWilliams Mount Pleasant Elisabeth Semillon; I will also avoid the fake herbal notes of the Tesco Organic Sauv Blanc and the incredibly clumsy Promenade des Papes Cote du Rhone Villages. I have a NO NO against Blason de Bourgogne Pinot Noir and I'm not fan of the Chablis Chateau de  Ligny.  The Tesco Dao is wishy washy (rather than silky and soft) and the Darling Sauvignon Blanc is just a bit weak on the palate - no zing!

Overall the range presented yesterday gets the thumbs up.

Now I have to go away and hide. I fear the independent wine trade might come looking for me. Should make an interesting debate!

    

Winner of a Case of Georges Dubeouf Beaujolais Noveau!

Congratulations to Manic Mammy who, along with teems of firstpress followers, sent in the correct answer to our Noveau Competition. A case of Georges Dubeouf  Beaujolais Nouveau 2010 will now wind its way to Manic. 

Thanks to everyone who entered. I really got a great kick out of all the entries received. Loved the comments. Must do this again soon.

All correct entries were assigned a number at random from the total number of entries received. A random number was then generated from the total and the winner was found. I wish I had a box for everyone but as we all know that will never happen! I wrote 'teems' as at one stage it seemed that emails were pouring in!!!

Win a Case of Georges Duboeuf Nouveau - Happy Beaujolais Nouveau Day!

All over the world posters today will declare, 'Il est arrivé!' Today is the third Thursday of November and that means Beaujolais Nouveau can be released onto the market.

WIN A CASE OF GEORGES DUBOEUF BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU 2010

HOW MANY CRU VILLAGES ARE ALLOWED TO PUT THEIR NAME ONTO A BOTTLE OF BEAUJOLAIS?

Answers to kevin@kevinecock.ie. Ireland only. One prize only. Competition closes at midnight tonight 18th Nov.. Results on Friday this week. Thanks to Febvre & Co. for the prize!

Readers of this blog will know that I like to join in the fun of Nouveau day. Last year I gave a BIG Hug to Nouveau and then tasted and critiqued three different wines at an amazing http://www.greatfood.ie/ Nouveau luncheon!

This year we celebrate the recent announcement that the legendary Georges Duboeuf label will now be distributed in Ireland by Febvre and Co. This follows the closure of James Adams Ltd. Duboeuf and Nouveau are part of the wine calendar and if anyone espouses the sentiment expressed by my 10 point Guide to Nouveau from last year surely it's Georges Duboeuf. 

It's supposed to be Fun - so Have FUN

It's a post vintage Celebration - CELEBRATE

It's the first of This Years Vintage

Nouveau cannot be Responsible for the rest of Beaujolais?

Drink as Young as Possible but

Don't shun it at Christmas Time

If it's light and fruity then give it a thumbs up

Don't expect it to be the cheapest wine in the store - why should it be?

Have a laugh at the labels lol

Look forward to next year already

I Vini dei Feudi di San Gregorio

The wine press is constantly looking for a good story. Unfortunately this has allowed it to develop a habit whereby it often writes about wine that no-one actually buys! Can't say I blame the writers. I have sympathy for anyone who has to churn out a piece, week in and week out, when its fairly obvious that they have developed their own personal palate onto a plane higher than that of the common consumer! Is that fair comment?

The real story, however, is not always 'wine centered'. In these cases palate preference can be set aside. Very often the story of a wine is about the people behind the label. There are stories in the wine world of intrigue, deception, greed and downright stupidity. Equally there are moments worth recording of personal triumph, genius and devotion. The epilogue to many of these stories can be found in the wine. It is not uncommon therefore to find a wines' style or vintage influenced by factors other than climate, soil, tradition or legislation.

Recently I was invited by Italian food and wine specialists, Italicatessan,  to a tasting of the wines of Feudi di San Gregorio. Even though distribution for the label is patchy in Ireland I went along because the Italian region of Campania that these wines come from has always intrigued me. Also, I had been impressed by this wineries stellar rise into the UK market about ten years ago followed by relative silence. Where had they gone to and what if anything are they now doing in Ireland?

The tasting was held at the very fine Il Divo restaurant above Comans in Rathgar, Dublin. Our host was none other than Antonio Capaldo, Chairman of Feudi di San Gregorio and son of founders Enzo Ercolino and Mirella Capaldo. He engaged us with stories and detail over an amazing and memorable meal designed by Il Divo to match his wines.

Campania attracts tourists easily. Naples, Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii help! It doesn't, however, attract that many wine buyers. Lack of investment and an earthquake prone region just doesn't suit the supermarkets. Besides, Italy has so much to offer that it was often easier to avoid a few difficult areas and leave them to the 'Italian specialists'. Thus, while it has always been possible to buy wines ex Campania they have come at a price through small, quality, distributors. Thus Mastroberardino seemed to have always been knocking around while the likes of Avellino have been more noticeble as recent arrivals. 

Then Feudi di San Gegorio arrived. Antonio tells us that he is a financial marketeer turned wine maker. He arrived back home after a succesful career elsewhere. His father had led the way before him. His father was also a very succesful market analyst strategist etc etc and had worked elsewhere his whole working life. When he saw his ancestral home region levelled (once again) by an earthquake and realised how poor the region still was in the early 1980's he 'went home'. He went home and invested in, and began, a new business with the intention of boosting local employment and bringing cash back into the region. The new business was based on an ancient tradition of growing local grapes over a variety of landscapes and soil types at varying altitudes principally in the mountainous sub region of Campania known locally as Irpinia.

The winery that was built to receive these grapes is testament to how new and modern this whole venture is. What a great thing to do. The first wines were bottled as recently as 1991.Currently there are about 120 registered wineries and Feudi di San Gregorio is up with the top three of the region in terms of output. Mind you this investment was not for the faint hearted. It seems that something in the order of €20 million gave the family a state of the art winery, a world class visitors centre, a Michelin starred restaurant and a tasting room straight off the holo-deck of the starship Enterpise!

 Campania is home to some fantastic ancient Italian grape varietals. 60 % of the regions production is white. The principal white grapes are Fiano, Falanghina, Falerno and Greco di Tufo. Red grapes include the immense Aglianico and Primitivo varietals. There is little doubt that these grapes should be better known. I have no doubt they will be. It's only a shame that they may have to be successful out of Australia or Argentina before Campania is recognised at all! They are unforgettable. The whites respond gracefully to their high mountainous environments, and immature soils, by showing captivating perfumes and textural intensity. The reds can be anything from delicious for easy drinking to magisterial for ageing and high occasion dining.

Feudi di San Gregorio is a modern example of how old vines and ancient environments can still be harvested to produce something unique and exceptional. The wine world should not stop at a few recognisable varietals on our supermarket shelves. It must not. Tomas Clancy aptly quotes a Mallorcan wine maker in a recent blog titled, Majorca, Balearic Bottles and the Song Of DNA, "The plant is crying out to us. It wants its DNA, its song to be heard, but we aren’t listening. In the vineyards across the world we are throwing that song away. In the vineyard all these plants are clones, they sing the same song." In this regard Feudi is preserving ancient tradition and plant DNA and then bottling it not just for now but for the future!

Antonio showed us how the company continues to move forward. Among many projects they are now also producing an iconic Merlot based wine named Patrimo, an extensive range of high end sparkling wines, a top Aglianico from Vulture in Basilicata and a Primitivo from Manduria in Puglia.

  

Wines tasted at Il Divo:

Falanghina Sannio DOC 2009

Greco di Tufo DOCG 2009

Fiano di Avellino DOCG 2009

Primitivo di Manduria DOC 2008

Aglianico Campania 'Rubrato' IGT 2008

Aglianiaco del Vulture DOC 2007

Taurasi DOCG 2005 

Photos courtesy of www.feudi.it

Corkscrew Wine Fair this Sunday at The Westbury

Every year the Corkscrew of Chatham Street puts on a great Wine Fair at The Westbury. They put in genuine time and effort and then give all the proceeds away to charity.

This year The Corkscrew Annual Winter Wine Fair takes place this Sunday, 14th of November.

Tickets are €25 are all proceeds go to Cheeverstown. They can be bought online here: http://www.thecorkscrew.ie/ticket-to-the-wine-fair-14th-november.html

As always, all proceeds go to a very worthwhile charity. This time round they are supporting the very deserving Cheeverstown in Tempelogue, whose work is much needed and deserves all of the funding that they can get, so please think of them too.

The other significant thing to think about is that once again there will be over 100 of the best wines available in Ireland today on tasting! They advise some restraint, but don't necessarily expect it - three laps of the room should cover the most of what's on offer from white, red, sparkling and fortified wines that come from all corners of the earth.

The Corkscrew tells me that once again they be supported by some of their importers and as ever, it will be great to meet them and to see what new wines are available as we approach the Wintertime proper!

ViniPortugal Wine Workshop Dublin 2010

I enjoyed this. We were recently treated to a broad selection of Potuguese wines via a non stop running commentary from Jean Smullen. The wines were donated by their respective agents and the visuals were provided by ViniPortugal who was represented by Tania Branca Oliveira.

Portugal underperforms on the Irish market. One of the reasons for this is that in the past the category was presented to the consumer as a source of inexpensive wine. In essence it was price pointed before it had been given a chance to grow beyond Mateus Rose lamp stands. Another reason is that 'varietal shopping' does not suit a country, such as Portugal, that excels at producing wine from indigenous grapes. Where are all the familiar names gone to, asks the world wary consumer! Finally, we just don't have the long slow burn educational and marketing initiatives that are needed to get the message across that Portuguese wines are exciting, great value and brilliantly made.

This tasting showed off the white wines of Portugal very well. I admit to being surprised. With regards to the reds it was hard to criticise any of the wines on show. There was a fabulous range of styles and price points: something there for everyone! I hope ViniPortugal can keep up the good work. The message is there for delivering and the wines are already here.  

The wine     The Vintage     The Grape(s)     The Region

Sparkling Wine

Mateus Rose     NV     Baga     DOC Bairrada

White Wines

Terras do Minho     2009     Trajadura, Arinto and Loureiro     DOC Vinho Verde 

Giro Sol     2009     Loureiro     DOC Vinho Verde

Duque du Viseu     2009     Encruzado, Verdelho and Bical     DOC Dão

Prova Regia     2009     Arinto     DOC Bucelas

Tagus Creek     2009     Chardonnay and Fernão Pires     VR Tejo

Alento     2008     Roupeiro, Arinto and Antão Vaz     VR Alentejo

Versatil     2009     Arinto, Antão Vaz and Viosinho     VR Alentejo

Cistus     2009     Rabigato, Códega, Malvasia Fina and Arinto     DOC Douro

Rosè Wines

Pink Elephant     2009     no grapes given     VR Lisboa

Rosé da Peceguina     2009     Touriga Nacional 50%; Aragonês 50%

Red Wines

Grilos     2008     Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheira adn Tinto Roriz     DOC Dão

Callabrigia     2003     Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro     DOC Dão

Palha Canas     2007     Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Castelão     VR Lisboa

DFJ     2008     Pinot Noir and Alfroncheiro     VR Lisboa

Monte da Pecequina     2009     Aragones, Alicante Bouchet and Touriga Nacional     VR Alentejo

Santa Vitoria    2008    Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira, Syrah. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon     VR Alentejo 

Marquis de Borba     2008     Aragones and Trincadeira     VR Alentejo

Dom Rafael     2008     Aragones, Trincadeira and Alicante Bouchet     DOC Alentejo

Pegos Claros     2005     Castelão     DOC Palmela

Sa de Baixa     2008   Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca   DOC Douro

la Rosa     2008     Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Francesca     DOC Douro

Quinta do Vallado     2006     Sousão     DOC Douro

Cistus Reserva     2007          Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesca and Tinta Roriz     DOC Douro

Criticisms? There were no wines solicited from the supermarkets. This was an opportunity lost as the only picture I came away with was what the independent trade is up to. Non stop commentary can be distracting when you are trying to taste so many wines.