Doug Powers

9.1

Lighter in color than the much older 1969, but much more expressive aromatically, dusty, sandy red-fruited aromas, flavors tend toward red-fruit as well, more of an elegant style of Ramisco, long finish, this seems at peak, or close to it (but I have more bottles, so will check in again within a year). Both of these are amazing at 11% ABV!! — 2 months ago

with Jim

Naboth van den Broek

9.3

Unbelievably fresh and acidic still for such an old wine. Beautiful fruit still, and secondary notes. Gorgeous wine. — 2 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.1

From my new hot spot. Light red but not Ramisco. Has real snap & freshness. Let it settle into itself, & like a nervous nelly the cranberry puckering acidity becomes more rounded. — 4 years ago

Doug Powers

9.0

This is the third (and last) bottle of 1969 we’ve tried in the past 5 years, and the first starting to show some clear decline, with a green asparagus note that shows on the palate and into the medium-long finish, but still, 55-year-old Ramisco?!?! Wow! — 2 months ago

with Jim

Scott C

Founder / Co-director SR Wine imports

9.9

Absolutely one of the best wines I have ever tasted . No words will do it justice. Complexed , aromas off the charts . Delicate . Amazing — 10 months ago

Peter Sultan

9.2

There must be a story here, as this 100% Ramisco has a Colheita designation on its label, which I thought could only be used for Port. For a 23 yro wine it still flutters with intensity, but has a faded Ribena palate, beautiful red brick color, & crushed currants/oil paint on the nose. It also avoids the metallic flavor my previous bottle had. For under 40$ it’s a treat to taste such a graceful aged wine. — 4 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.4

A unicorn wine presents a unicorn experience. First, all hail the Ramisco varietal, explained to me as singular to this area of Portugal and soon to be extinct given the level of building development there. From the label: “the Colares wine región was defined in 1908. The vineyards are planted in the dunes between the hills of sintra and the Atlantic Ocean “. The nose alone is worth the price of admission: vibrates with intensity, red fruits, cut flowers. And this was after drinking an intensely vibrant Syrah by Herve Souhaut!
Taste is somewhere between a medium bodied Rioja and a deep Mercia from Ribera Sacra, minus any traces of barrel aging. Utterly seductive mouthfeel, not unctuous or cloying, almost chewy. An intense pitch of acidity higher up on the register ( hence the Ribera analogy). 38$ for a 500ml bottle. A reminder why sharing wines like these with your homeboys is the only way to live. — 4 years ago

with Owen

Vin d’Ottawa

9.4

I cannot describe how excited I’ve been for this bottle.

From Portugal’s tiny Colares wine region, this is the famed Ramisco grape, grown in vines in the sands off the coast of Sintra. Back when phylloxera destroyed most of Europe’s grapevines, these survived as the parasite couldn’t make its way in the sands the grapevines grew in. The Portuguese crown then nationalized the wine- unique to Portugal- and used it in diplomacy as a form of soft power.

The wine starts with a roughness that smooths into a beautiful, medium bodied flavour of black cherry and blackberry. Think of a juicy California Pinot Noir that manages the punch of a Rioja.

A wine worthy of its great history.
— 4 months ago

with Gillian

Steven Wood

9.7

Incredible finish. Tastes like a Douro, Touriga, but has a very delicate and lingering finish. Love love! — 2 years ago

Byron Fuller

9.0

Fun and superb QPR. Alas! Colares! — 4 years ago