Quinta do Correio

(produced by Quinta dos Roques)

DÃO: In the northern center of Portugal, the Dão DOC in the Bieras Wine Region is one of the country’s oldest and most famous wine regions, dating back to Roman times. Grapes are grown in very granitic soil, the best in the foothills of the Serra da Estrela mountains. Many vineyards are planted on south facing slopes to take full advantage of the sun. Sheltered by mountains, creating its own micro-climate, the high plateau of the Dão enjoys hot, dry summers and very cold winters with good rainfall. Other than a few estates like Roques, 90% of the vineyards are one hectare or less, separated by small villages and pine forests. Encruzado, Malvasia Fina, Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro, Jaen(Tinta Mencia), Roriz(Tempranillo) & Tinta Cão are the leading grape varieties.

“I am tempted to say Quinta dos Roques is the Ch. Latour to the Ch. Margaux of Quinta da Pellada, but I would quite understand Portuguese frustration at this observation.” Jancis Robinson.

“A revolution has been taking place in the vineyards and cellars of Portugal. . . nothing short of astonishing!” says Jancis Robinson, foremost authority on grape varietals in her latest book, “Jancis Robinson Tastes the Best Portuguese Table Wines.”

Quinta dos Roques, and its co-owned properties, Quinta do Correio and Quinta das Maias, lead this revolution with high quality wines and innovation in producing the first group of seriously regarded Portuguese varietals that have set the standard for all the rest of the producers and greatly reduced the reliance on often ill-matched field blends. As a result of this innovation, Roques was named “Producer of the Year for its 1996 varietals by the foremost Portuguese national wine magazine. The 1996 Touriga Nacional from Roques was acclaimed one of the ten best wines of the twentieth century in the by The Quarterly Review of Wines.

Quinta do Correio - From Portugal’s famous Quinta dos Roques Dão wine region producer comes this wonderful pair of white and red wines at a very modest price. Named after the old postal station in the foothill vineyards of the Serra da Estrella mountains, these wines provide a fresh and lively introduction to the more sophisticated blends that are aged in wood. Aged for only a short time in stainless steel tanks, these wines reflect the sense of fun and enjoyment displayed in the whimsical “postage stamp” label with its perforated edges. Correio makes up one-third of Roques 100 acres of vineyards that spread out over 12 plots in the area of Abrunhosa do Mato (between Nelas and Mangualde). The Correio vineyards and wines include most of the same varietals that are used in Roques and Maias.

TASTING NOTES FOR CURRENT VINTAGES in stock

Quinta do Correio Branco 2006 -At the heart of the melon and citrus flavors of this white wine is the powerful Encruzado varietal, blended with Malvasia Fina, Bical and Cerceal. Although the Malvasia is bone dry, its unique honeydew melon flavor and scent , providing the captivating aroma and soft, rich fruit that pervade the structure given by the Encruzado. Bical and Cerceal maintain the crisp acidity of the wine.

Quinta do Correio Tinto 2003 - This red wine develops its well-rounded, rich fruit flavors from Touriga Nacional, Jaen (Tinta Mencia), Alfrocheiro, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) and Rufete. - “From the top estate of Quinta dos Roques, comes this blend of five indigenous grape varieties. It has an alluring nose, deeply set with briarwood and bramble fruit, with a fine, rich, Dundee cake spice. On the palate it is smooth and quite full-bodied, with loads of cinnamon spice and curranty, dried fruit but plenty of oomph for barbequed meats.” 87 point rating Tom Cannavan, Fine Expressions Magazine.