1996 Quinta do Portal Moscatel Reserva

[Kris Henderson]

I asked my wine store for something that goes well with pumpkin pie and this is what they suggested. I've been looking for different things to taste so I took them up on their suggestion. This is made like a vintage port except instead of using the the usual blend of port grapes the wine is made from muscatel. It is also fortified to 18% alcohol. Here's a short note on the wine:

Kind of an orangish diesel color that has a nice glow to it and is very clear. On the nose there are very rich aromas of dried fruits. The palate is smooth and rich with more notes of dried fruit. No tannin and just enough acidity to balance the sweetness. Very Good.

A good match with the pumpkin pie.

[Roy Hersh]

I was not overly impressed when tasting this wine a few weeks ago while at Portal. Nice and fresh and light in style. TN to follow someday soon. I can imagine that it would go well with the pie though, as that would provide some intriguing combinations.

[Kris Henderson]

Hi Roy, I should probably explain the "very good" at the end of my taste note. I copied this note from cellar tracker which assigns "very good" 85 points and "excellent" 89 points. My gut feel tells me this wine is somewhere around 85 points which is where the "very good" comes from. Perhaps assigning a word rating is misleading and I should just break down and assign numerical points.

I've been working on finishing this bottle off since Thanksgiving and still have half a bottle in my fridge. In addition to the dried fruit notes I'm also picking up a florally aroma and a hint of caramel on the nose. On the palate I'm picking up a slight amount of woodyness.

I do agree that this is fresh and light in style. It's straight forward, not very complex, and easy to drink. I think it's interesting though because it's something I've never seen from Portugal before. Looking forward to reading your taste note.

[Steven Kooij]

Thanks for the (rare) Douro Moscatel TN, Kris! I've tasted the Portal only once at a trade show, and liked it quite a bit. The best (IMHO) are the vintage dated ones made by the AC de Favaios (1975, 1980 and 1989). I believe these are also exported, though on a small scale. Should you come across it: I once tasted a Niepoort NV Moscatel: very impressive! I do think that it is a one-off bottling.

Do you also like (or have you tried) Moscatel from Setubal? There are some gems being produced there (for a very reasonable price, as well!).

[simon Lisle]

Steven I have tried the Moscatel Setubal and agree it is good I have a 75 left in the cellar which cost 16 euros

[Kris Henderson]

Steven,

I have not tried a Moscatel from Setubal. I'll keep an eye out for it and pick one up if I ever come across it. Thanks for the tip.

[goncalo devesas]

Steven,

I have not tried a Moscatel from Setubal. I'll keep an eye out for it and pick one up if I ever come across it. Thanks for the tip.

Hello Kris, if you have the oportunnity to try or buy the Moscatel de Setubal 2000 from Jose Maria da Fonseca, "private collection" of Domingos Soares Franco, blended with an old Armagnac, very aromatic, flavour of prunes, lemon and orange, wonderfull when serving it at 12º/14º.
Don´t miss it

[Andy Velebil]

Wow, I love when some of the these old threads are brought back to life. Especially when at the time this was originally posted I had yet to try anything from Portal. Well, a few years later, lots of wines from them, and having visited and stayed at Portal several times I can also say this isn't my favorite Moscatel from them. Their newer versions are better IMO. They have more complexity and grip and don't seem as light bodied as this one does.

[Kris Henderson]

Hi Goncalo,

Well, even after nearly four years, I still have not tasted a Moscatel de Setubal. I will try to search that one out.