Boas Uvas Red

MARCH WINE CLUB:

Bold wine Style logoBoas_Uvas_Red_bottleTaboadella Winery
Boas Uvas
Red

Dão, Portugal

BOLD WINE STYLE

Boas Uvas Red displays a deep ruby color, with aromas of blue fruits, plums, and blackberries, accompanied by subtle floral and spicy notes from its aging in wood. With a well-defined structure, it reveals smooth yet firm and well-integrated tannins. It boasts lively acidity and a long, elegant finish.

WINE DETAILS:

  • Varietals: Touriga Nacional, Jaen, Tinta Roriz, Alfrocheiro
  • Appellation: Dão, Castendo sub-region
  • Alcohol: 13.5% vol.
  • Producer: Bucozal
  • Recommended Serving Temperature: 60.8ºF-64.4ºF
  • Pairing Suggestion: Pairs well with game meats, lamb, veal dishes, aged cheeses, and cuisine with intense flavors.

VINEYARD HARVEST:
From September 6th to October 3rd. An atypically cold spring, combined with the delayed pruning decided by the technical team, resulted in a slight delay in the vegetative cycle. This strategy successfully avoided exposure to the late frosts that occurred during the first half of April in the Dão Demarcated Region. Flowering took place under sunny conditions, enabling a generous berry formation with fully developed clusters. June, July, and August were dry months, with high daytime temperatures, but cool nights that allowed the clusters to develop with balanced ratios. These temperature variations, along with perfectly adapted and well-established vineyards and the richness of water in the subsoil, facilitated a balanced ripening process. This resulted in an exceptional grape quality, reflected in wines with a unique profile and richness.

VINIFICATION AND AGING:
The grapes were carefully selected in the vineyard and destemmed. Fermentation occurred in stainless steel tanks under temperature control. Approximately 30% of the wine aged in 500-liter French oak barrels for about 12 months.

ABOUT THE WINES:
Boas Uvas, meaning “Good Grapes”, is a fresh and fun line of wines from the team at Taboadella Winery in Portugal’s Dão region. Featuring a smooth, fruit-forward red blend and a richer, oak-aged Red Reserva, these wines highlight native Portuguese grapes like Touriga Nacional and Alfrocheiro. With a playful spirit and serious quality, Boas Uvas brings the charm of Dão to every glass.  

ABOUT TABOADELLA WINERY:
The Amorim family have been involved with the world of wine since 1870, when they first started producing cork stoppers for the Port Wine cellars, in Vila Nova de Gaia. Today, it is one of the most renowned family groups in Portugal with businesses in many countries and many different sectors.

Since 1999, the fourth generation of the family has been involved in wine, through the capable hands of Luísa Amorim, upholding profound respect for the historical heritage and the reputation of two of Portugal’s most important wine regions. In the Dão and Douro, with a total of 127 hectares of vineyards, the Amorim family solely grows indigenous grape varieties, parcel by parcel, in a practice that combines traditional processes and sophisticated technology to produce exceptional wines.

Two estates, where the vineyards and wine have ancestral roots. Two pioneering wine tourism projects in Portugal that maintain the local culture and uphold a profound respect for the historical heritage of two great wine regions – the Douro and the Dão. Learn more about the history of Taboadella>


Portuguese-beef-stewPortuguese Stewed Beef

INGREDIENTS:

  • one (4 ½-pound) chuck roastcut into 2- to 3-inch (5- to 8-cm) chunks
  • 2 tablespoons crushed red peppers, or more to taste, or ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 large (9 oz) onioncut into slices
  • 1 bunch parsleycoarsely chopped
  • 6 to 8 cloves garlicsmashed and peeled
  • 2 bay leaf
  • ½ teaspoon allspice berries
  • 4 whole cloves
  • kosher saltto taste (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 oz) unsalted butter or lard
  • 2 cups hearty red table wine
  • 2 tablespoons store-bought or homemade tomato paste
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

For serving:

  • Boiled white potatoes(optional)
  • Roasted red peppers(optional)
  • Cooked greens(optional)

DIRECTIONS:

  1. The day before cooking, in a large bowl, coat the beef with the crushed red pepper, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
  2. About 4 hours before you intend to sit down at the table, scatter the onion slices, parsley, garlic, and bay leaves in the bottom of a Dutch oven. Tuck the allspice and cloves in a piece of cheesecloth tied together with kitchen twine or in a tea ball and toss them in the Dutch oven. If desired, season the beef with salt. Place the beef on top and dot with the butter or lard. 
  3. In a measuring glass or bowl, stir together the wine, tomato paste, and cinnamon and pour it over the beef.
  4. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to a very gentle simmer, cover, and cook until the meat is very tender, 3 to 3 ½ hours, turning the pieces occasionally. For a more stew-like version, keep the lid on for the duration of cooking. For a more concentrated, glaze-like sauce version, about halfway through cooking, remove the lid to let some of the liquid evaporate so the sauce can concentrate in consistency and flavor.
  5. Remove the bay leaves and the cheesecloth pouch or teaball. If desired, serve the caçoila with boiled white potatoes, roasted red peppers, and cooked greens.

Information & Photos © Boas Uvas, Taboadella, and Weinbauer – All Rights Reserved.
© Recipe courtesy of Leite’s Culinaria – All Rights Reserved.


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March Wine Club Pairing Recipe

MARCH WINE CLUB:

Bold wine Style logoBoas_Uvas_Red_Reserva_bottleTaboadella Winery
Boas Uvas
Reserva Red

Dão, Portugal

BOLD WINE STYLE

Deep ruby color, with prominent fresh and fruity aromas of red fruits such as cherry and plum, complemented by a subtle touch of spice. A well-balanced wine with smooth tannins, revealing lively acidity and a persistent, slightly fruity finish.

WINE DETAILS:

  • Varietals: Touriga Nacional, Jaen, Tinta Roriz, Alfrocheiro
  • Appellation: Dão, Castendo sub-region
  • Alcohol: 13% vol.
  • Producer: Bucozal
  • Recommended Serving Temperature: 59ºF-62.6ºF
  • Pairing Suggestion: Pairs well with grilled meats, game dishes, aged cheeses, and traditional Portuguese cuisine.

VINEYARD HARVEST:
From September 6th to October 3rd. An atypically cold spring, combined with the delayed pruning decided by the technical team, resulted in a slight delay in the vegetative cycle. This strategy successfully avoided exposure to the late frosts that occurred during the first half of April in the Dão Demarcated Region. Flowering took place under sunny conditions, enabling a generous berry formation with fully developed clusters. June, July, and August were dry months, with high daytime temperatures, but cool nights that allowed the clusters to develop with balanced ratios. These temperature variations, along with perfectly adapted and well-established vineyards and the richness of water in the subsoil, facilitated a balanced ripening process. This resulted in an exceptional grape quality, reflected in wines with a unique profile and richness.

VINIFICATION AND AGING:
Fermentation occurred in stainless steel tanks under temperature control. Approximately 20% of the wine aged in 500-liter French oak barrels for about 12 months.

ABOUT THE WINES:
Boas Uvas, meaning “Good Grapes”, is a fresh and fun line of wines from the team at Taboadella Winery in Portugal’s Dão region. Featuring a smooth, fruit-forward Red Blend and a richer, oak-aged Red Reserva, these wines highlight native Portuguese grapes like Touriga Nacional and Alfrocheiro. With a playful spirit and serious quality, Boas Uvas brings the charm of Dão to every glass.

 

ABOUT TABOADELLA WINERY:
The Amorim family have been involved with the world of wine since 1870, when they first started producing cork stoppers for the Port Wine cellars, in Vila Nova de Gaia. Today, it is one of the most renowned family groups in Portugal with businesses in many countries and many different sectors.

Since 1999, the fourth generation of the family has been involved in wine, through the capable hands of Luísa Amorim, upholding profound respect for the historical heritage and the reputation of two of Portugal’s most important wine regions. In the Dão and Douro, with a total of 127 hectares of vineyards, the Amorim family solely grows indigenous grape varieties, parcel by parcel, in a practice that combines traditional processes and sophisticated technology to produce exceptional wines.

Two estates, where the vineyards and wine have ancestral roots. Two pioneering wine tourism projects in Portugal that maintain the local culture and uphold a profound respect for the historical heritage of two great wine regions – the Douro and the Dão. Learn more about the history of Taboadella>


Portuguese-francesinha-sandwichPortuguese Francesinha Sandwich

INGREDIENTS:

  • 8 slices of bread
  • 4 slices of ham
  • 8 slices of cheese
  • 150 grams sirloin steak (about 5.2 oz.)
  • 4-6 linguiças (Portuguese sausage)
  • kosher salt
  • black pepper

For the sauce:

  • 1 large blonde beer
  • 1 cup fried tomato sauce
  • 2 tbsp port wine
  • ½ cup beef broth
  • 1 tbsp salted butter
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 1 garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • ½ tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp piripiri (Portuguese chili)

DIRECTIONS:

For the sauce:

  1. In a big saucepan, heat the olive oil and add the garlic and the onions. Cook them until golden.
  2. Pour the beer and simmer until the alcohol evaporates (about 5 minutes).
  3. Pour the beef broth, the fried tomato sauce, the port wine, the Piri Piri (chili) and the butter to give shine to the sauce. Add the cornstarch slowly avoiding lumps.
  4. Simmer for a couple of minutes until the sauce is thick.

Francesinhas:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF
  2. Cook the beef chopped in small strings. Season with salt and black pepper.
  3. Cook the linguiças sliced in half lengthwise.
  4. Take 4 slices of bread for each Francesinha. Cut the center of two slices to make room for the filling. The other two will be the bottom and top of the francesinhas.
  5. Fill the bread with the sausages, the beef and the ham roughly chopped. Cover the francesinhas with the cheese and melt in the oven for 5 minutes.
  6. Cover with the sauce and serve with french fries.

Information & Photos © Boas Uvas, Taboadella, and Weinbauer – All Rights Reserved.
© Recipe courtesy of The Cookware Geek.


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December Sweet Club: Iowa

Sweet Wine ClubQuinta-do-noval-late-bottle-vintage-bowQuinta do Noval
Late Bottled Vintage Unfiltered

Douro Valley, Portugal

NECTAR WINE STYLE

“This unfiltered LBV presents a deep ruby color and has an intense and elegant aroma. Great aromatic richness and a mouthful of ripe black fruits and spices. It has fine but solid tannins that gives it a structure of great amplitude and a long and flavorful finish. It is made to be enjoyed as soon as it is bottled.” – Carlos Agrellos, Technical Director

This wine is a remarkable example of the Noval style. Treated exactly like a Vintage Port with only noble grape varieties that are sourced exclusively from estate vineyards, trodden by foot and unfiltered. This expression differs in its extended aging, seeing five years in casks instead of the typical two years for Vintage Ports. Definitely an LBV with a difference, this wine has fine structured tannins, great freshness and purity of fruit. It is delicious to drink today, but will age beautifully in its bottle.

WINE DETAILS:

  • Analysis: 19.5% alcohol / volume
  • Varietal: Blend of six traditional Portuguese grape varieties: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Cão.
  • Appellation: Douro Valley, Portugal
  • Aging: Matures for 5 years in French Oak
  • Fermentation: Grapes were trodden by foot to obtain the must, then during fermentation macerate to obtain the best possible extraction in the “lagares”, the traditional stone vats from the Quinta
  • Farming: The vineyard is farmed sustainably
  • Critical Acclaim:
    • 90 points – Wine Advocate
    • 90 points – Wine Enthusiast

Vineyard:
All grapes come from the Quinta do Noval vineyard, in Pinhão – the heart of the Douro Valley. A blend of these higher quality varieties are planted throughout the vineyard due to the major replanting project of the early 1990s. At this age, the fruit at the estate is entering the prime of quality.

Vintage Note:
2014 is characterized by heavy rainfall that was well distributed throughout the year. With reasonable temperatures in winter and a fresh month of August, the vines were able to maintain a healthy appearance, with lots of leaves throughout the cycle; this protected the grapes from the peaks of heat during the summer, safeguarding the health of the bunches. At the end of August, the harvest was looking wonderful, with beautiful, healthy grapes and an excellent sugar and acidity balance, ideal for making great Port.

WineStyles’ Wine and Cheese Pairing: This LBV Port from our ‘Nectar’ section will pair well with a strong cheese, such as a blue cheese. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

About Quinta do Noval:
Open since 1715, Quinta do Noval is one of the oldest Port houses known around the world. Today, Quinta do Noval is part of the international viticultural group of AXA Millésimes. It is unique among Port houses in that most of the Ports are made from estate-grown fruit and all of the vintage Noval wines are from the single Quinta Do Noval vineyard on magnificent old terraces. Their team is devoted to looking after their great vineyard terroir, and strive to make wines worthy of the Quinta do Noval name every year. 
Learn more about their history here.

Information and photos © Vintus and Quinta do Noval – All Rights Reserved.


Sweet ClubLove the Sweet life?
“Wine” not try our Sweet Club! 

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April Wine Club Pairing Recipe

Portuguese Prego with Green Piri-Piri

INGREDIENTS:

  • Sandwich:
    • 1 clove garlic, crushed
    • 2 small rump steaks (about 150g each), all fat trimmed
    • 2 tbsp olive oil 
    • 1 tbsp sherry vinegar 
    • few stalks of flat-leaf parsley 
    • 2 ciabatta rolls, lightly toasted
    • 2 handfuls of Arugula 
  • Green Piri-Piri Sauce:
    • small handful of basil leaves
    • small handful of flat-leaf parsley leaves
    • 1 jalapeño, roughly chopped
    • 1 tbsp sherry vinegar
    • 2 spring onions, chopped, including green bits
    • ½ a clove of garlic, roughly chopped
    • ½ tsp granulated sugar

DIRECTIONS:

  • STEP 1: Rub the garlic over the steaks then put in a sandwich bag and tip in the olive oil, sherry vinegar and parsley stalks. Smooth everything together, then use a rolling pin to bash the steaks a few times. Leave to marinate for 1-2 hours. 

  • STEP 2: To make the sauce, put all the ingredients into the blender with 1 tbsp water and whizz until as smooth as possible. This will make more than you’ll need for the recipe, but will keep for a week in an airtight jar.

  • STEP 3: Heat a griddle or frying pan to high. Remove the steaks from the bag, brushing away the garlic and parsley stalks. Season the steaks well with salt and pepper, then sear the steaks for 2 minutes on each side. Set them aside on a plate to rest. Cut the ciabatta rolls in half, then toast on the griddle or frying pan. Then, put the ciabatta halves onto the plate, toasted side down, to soak up any juices. 

  • STEP 4: Slice the steaks, then top the rolls with the green sauce and arugula. Enjoy!

© Recipe courtesy of Olive Magazine.

APRIL WINE CLUB:

Bold wine Style logoCasadasGaeiras-VTCasa das Gaeiras
DOC Obidos Red

Lisboa, Portugal

BOLD WINE STYLE

The DOC Óbidos Red wine has distinct notes of blackberries and blackcurrant with hints of coffee, and subtle nuances of cloves and black pepper. All flavors are in balance with the body and freshness of the wine.

Varietal: Syrah, Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz
Analysis:
13.5% alcohol / volume
Region: Lisboa
Total Acidity: 5.5 +/-1
pH: 3.5 +/-0.5
Fermentation: Fermented in stainless steel vats
Serving Temperature:
60.8ºF-64.4ºF
Harvest: September and October
Winemaker: Tiago Correia
Critical Acclaim:

  • Gold in Berliner Wein Trophy 2020
  • 90 Points and Best Buy by Wine Enthusiast 2020

THE REGION:
The Geographical Indication (IG) Lisbon is one of the most important Portuguese wine regions, in terms of vineyard area and wine production. Formed by gentle hills, of low relief, IG Lisboa extends from the capital of Portugal to the north, along the coast, in a range not exceeding 40 km wide. This multifaceted region encompasses several denominations of origin, ancient and modern, with distinct characteristics. The climate is temperate, influenced by the Atlantic ocean, with relatively mild summers, cooler and wetter in the areas closer to the sea, warmer and drier in the areas protected by Montejunto mountain.

ABOUT CASA DAS GAEIRAS:
Casa das Gaeiras can be considered Parras Wines’ little Chateaux in the Óbidos region, where niche wines are produced in limited production to reflect the tradition of the wines in this region. The excellent terroir allows their winemaker to produce high-quality wines, recognized for their wonderful freshness and minerality – both nationally and internationally. Learn more about Parras Wines and Casa Das Gaeiras here.

Casa-das-gaeiras


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March Sweet Club Iowa

 

Sweet Wine ClubLate Bottled Vintage Singlevineyard-small (1)Quinta Do Noval
LBV Single Vineyard Port 2014
Douro Valley, Portugal

NECTAR WINE STYLE

The Late Bottle Vintage (LBV) Single Vineyard Port is a remarkable example of the Noval style. It is treated exactly like a Vintage Port, with the use of only noble grape varieties sourced exclusively from estate vineyards, trodden by food and unfiltered. Unlike other Vintage Ports, however, this LBV Port goes through extended aging of five years in casks (instead of the typical two years). It has fine structured tannins, great freshness, and purity of fruit. 

Analysis: 19.5% alcohol / volume
Varietal: Blend of six traditional Portuguese grapes – Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Cão.
Fermentation: Grapes were trodden by foot to obtain the must, then during fermentation, they were macerated to obtain the best possible extraction in the “lagares”, the traditional stone vats from the Quinta.
Aging: Matures for 5 years in French Oak
Farming: The vineyard is farmed sustainably
Appellation: Douro Valley, Portugal
Serving Suggestion: Delicious to drink today, or it will age beautifully in its bottle
Critical Acclaim:

  • 90 pts. Wine Enthusiast – “It is nicely aromatic, with a touch of eucalyptus. The structure is downright impressive, and this needed the time in cask. It tightens slowly but inevitably as it airs out. The fruit flattens a bit at the same time, though. This is still a pretty nice achievement in the vintage. Noval doesn’t make traditional LBVs that fall apart—and it will stay on a plateau for a long time.” – Mark Squires, 9/2020

WineStyles Wine and Cheese Pairing: Sweet wines from our ‘Nectar’ section pair well with an aged cheese. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

VINTAGE NOTE:
2014 is characterized by heavy rainfall that was well distributed throughout the year. With reasonable temperatures in winter and a fresh month of August, the vines were able to maintain a healthy appearance, with lots of leaves throughout the cycle, which protected the grapes from the peaks of heat during the summer, safeguarding the health of the bunches. At the end of August, the harvest was looking wonderful, with beautiful healthy grapes and an excellent sugar and acidity balance, ideal for making great Port.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
All grapes come from the Qinta do Noval vineyard in Pinhão – the heart of the Douro Valley. Due to the major re-planting project of the early 1990’s, these higher quality varietal blends are planted throughout the vineyard. At this age, the fruit at the estate is entering its prime quality.

ABOUT THE WINERY:
Open since 1715, Quinta do Noval is one of the oldest Port houses known around the world. Today, Quinta do Noval is part of the international viticultural group of AXA Millésimes. It is unique among Port houses in that most of the Ports are made from estate-grown fruit and all of the vintage Noval wines are from the single Quinta Do Noval vineyard on magnificent old terraces. Their team is devoted to looking after their great vineyard terroir, and strive to make wines worthy of the Quinta do Noval name every year. Learn more
here.


Sweet ClubLove the Sweet life?
“Wine” not try our Sweet Club! 

Click here to learn more >