Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Quinta de Cidrô – Alvarinho – 2023
Douro DOC – Douro Valley / Portugal 🇵🇹

Overview
100% Alvarinho from the Cima Corgo sub-region of the Douro Valley, grown at higher elevations where altitude and continental influence preserve freshness and aromatic precision. This Portuguese expression leans more textural and mineral-driven than many Rías Baixas examples, with ripeness kept in check by vibrant acidity.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe pineapple, Meyer lemon, citrus peel, white peach, subtle orange blossom, fresh herbs, and a delicate saline–mineral edge that reflects the Douro’s schist soils.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with a lively, crisp attack. Bright acidity carries the wine across the palate, while a gentle phenolic grip adds structure and depth. Clean, focused, and persistent on the finish.

Food Pairings
Grilled shrimp or prawns, ceviche, seared scallops, herb-marinated chicken, Portuguese bacalhau preparations, fresh goat cheese, or simply as an aperitif on a warm day.

Verdict
A balanced, refreshing, and highly expressive Alvarinho that showcases Portuguese terroir beautifully. The ripe pineapple character is distinctive without feeling tropical or overripe, making this wine both appetizing and dangerously drinkable.

Did You Know?
While Alvarinho is most famously associated with northern Portugal and Galicia, Douro-grown examples like this one often show more texture and mineral depth due to altitude and schist soils rather than Atlantic proximity.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This sits comfortably among my top white wines from Portugal. I love how it differentiates itself from classic Rías Baixas Albarinho, more structure, more terroir expression, and just enough richness to stay compelling sip after sip.
— 6 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.2

2020 vintage. Os Canivéis Letra F Douro tinto. From sister and brother winemakers Joana and António Maçanita. Letra F refers to the lowest quality vineyards for the production of Port wines, but the Maçanitas argue that there are hidden treasures among these vineyards with very old vines. This is a field blend of 11 varieties from a vineyard in Carlão, Cima Corgo with vines between 80 and 92 years old at an attitude of 510 m. with extremely low yields (1800 kg/ ha). Aged in neutral oak. Give it some time to open up. Floral nose with raspberries lurking in the background. Medium-bodied with bright red fruit, with a focus more on freshness and elegance than sheer power, even if it features a seriously tannic backbone. Good length with retronasal fruit and minerality. Tiny production of 666 bottles ( the number of the beast, so drink at your own risk!). Abv. 14,5%. — 3 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

This is the white Douro. 2018 vintage. A blend from 70% viosinho, 20% codega do larinho and 10% couveio. Sister and brother oenologists team. 80% of the fruit is sourced in Baixo Corgo (Poiares, 700 m altitude) and 20% in the Douro Superior (Murças, 580 m altitude). Whole cluster pressing and fermentation in stainless steel. White peach and flowers in the nose. In the mouth the juicy white peach fruit is balanced by fresh acidity and a distinctive minty finish with very good length. Amazing value at less than 12 euro. Abv. 12,5%. — 6 years ago

Martinez

9.0

Juicy, lighter style Douro by famed winemaker Luis Seabra, formerly at Niepoort. Village blend of 7 local varieties (30% Touriga Franca, 20% Tinta Amarela, 20% Tinta Roriz, 10% Rufete, 10% Tinta Barroca, 5% Malvasia Preta, 5% Donzelinho Tinto) from various terraced vineyards in Cima Corgo, in the center of the Douro valley, an area known for its schist soils and high elevation (and home of some of the greatest Port producers). Pomegranate, wet stone, iron, iodine.
— 7 years ago

Alexandra Albin

9.0

Wow. Cannot beat this gamey, rustic, bright, fresh red...many things in one! And, it has 8 different varieties of local grapes. A blend of 25.5% Touriga Franca, 22.5% Tinta Roriz, 16.5% Tinta Amarela, 10.5% Tinta Barroca, 8.5% Tinto Cao, 8% Sousao, 6.5% Tinta Francisca and 2% Touriga Nacional from Baixo Corgo and Cima Corgo, Douro, Portugal. For $9 you cannot beat it. Thanks @k&L — 8 years ago

Doug Powers

9.0

[45% Trincadeira, 15% Alfrocheiro, 22% Alicante Bouschet, and 18% Aragonez] Medium-dark color, a tad reduced aromatically, redfruits, moderately oak, very nice acidity to balance, medium-long finish, not a blockbuster but certainly another very good Portuguese red!! — a year ago

with Jim

Jason Keefer

8.9

For the Baixo Corgo version. Tastes like vacation in Portugal! Simple but delicious and affordable! A mix of fresh and stewed fruit with a slightly woodsy finish. — 3 years ago

with Natasha

Severn G

9.1

2020 | White Blend
Quinta Nova; Grainha Reserva
Cima Corgo; Douro Valley, Portugal

Quite pleased here, ~$25; Blind this is a pretty decent Bourgogne Blanc, 91-92 points.

Blend appears to be Viosinho, Gouveio & Rabigato. — 4 years ago

Martinez

9.0

Field blend of Rabigato, Códega do Larinho, Viosinho, Donzelinho and Gouveio from 80 years old vines on schist soils. Vineyard on the right bank of the Douro River, in the prime Cima Corgo zone, at an altitude of 400-600 metres. Fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for 6 months in oak. Clean, precise nose with citrus (tangerine), floral notes and and subtle oak. Fresh, linear, medium bodied, dry. Good minerality and acidity. Very tasty — 4 years ago

Shawn Farmer

8.9

From the Cima Corgo subregion. — 7 years ago

Kei Iwashita

8.9

デザート貴腐ワイン。甘いイチゴの香り — 8 years ago

Kim Gowell

9.2

Wonderful port — 9 years ago

Sam Friedland

8.9

This time it was 👍 — 2 years ago

Austin Hohnke

9.0

Mostly Rabigato. Named “Xisto” after the schist soils of the Cima Corgo. Sun drenched orchard fruits. Honeysuckle. Broad minerality. Think I would guess Chenin in a blind. Maybe Aligote? — 2 years ago

Randy Fillingim

9.1

I am not quite sure of the varietals in this blend. .  However, the fruit and the acidity is in near perfect harmony. A really nice tasting blanco from Portugal.  — 3 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.4

2015 vintage. A joint venture between the Roquette (Quinta do Crasto) and Cazes (Lynch Bages) families. Only produced from the best barrels in exceptional years. Old vines of Touriga Nacional, Tina Roriz and Touriga Franca from the Douro Superior and Cima Corgo sub-regions. Black fruit and violets. Seriously powerful, but it maintains elegance, thanks to the acidity balancing the layers of fruit and ripe tannins. Long lingering finish. Impressive. Abv. 14,5 % . — 4 years ago

Halene Somal

10

Fruity & intense — 6 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.2

Fans of great Syrah will love this — 7 years ago

Jack Russell

Owner/Vineyardist Trolley Line Vineyards

8.9

Welcome December — 8 years ago

Adam Foster

Beverage Director Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese Shop, Blue Coop Restaurant

9.6

Wow- such purity, richness, with impeccable balance of weight and structure. A new benchmark wine from Cima Corgo for me. — 9 years ago