Tag Archives: Monte Velho

Wine of the week: Herdade do Esporão Vinho Monte Velho 2021

Herdade do Esporão Vinho Monte Velho bottle
Herdade do Esporão Vinho Monte Velho 2021/$7-$14

Once again, Portuguese wine shows off its value and quality

My tasting note for this wine is simple: “Very Portuguese — fruity (dark berries) and heavy-ish, but not heavy.”

Which, as brief as it is, says everything anyone who wants quality at a fair price needs to know. The Herdade do Esporão Vinho Monte Velho 2021 ($10, purchased, 13.5%) once again demonstrates that Portugal may offer the best value in the world for red wine (and the whites aren’t bad, either).

More specifically, this vintage of the Monte Velho is a blend of four grapes. This includes touriga nacional, Portugal’s national grape, and a smattering of syrah (that doesn’t get in the way). The combination offers something that isn’t particularly simple or as straightforward as a $15 California red. There’s some spice, and it tastes surprisingly fresh for its weight. Meanwhile, the tannins are there for anyone paying attention.

This is a winter dinner red wine, and especially for the middle of the week when there’s leftover pot roast in the refrigerator or you want to roast some mushrooms with assorted vegetables.

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Wine of the week: Herdade do Esporao Monte Velho Branco 2019

Monte Velho BrancoThe Monte Velho Branco is another Portuguese white blend that does $10 wine proud

Portuguese wine has been one of the great cheap wine surprises of the past several years. Quality – and availability – has continued to improve, but prices have remained around $10. Maybe the Portuguese know something the rest of the world doesn’t?

Consider the Herdade do Esporao Monte Velho Branco 2019 ($10, purchased, 14%). Like the Alandra Branco, a white from the same producer and a long-time blog favorite, the Monte Velho is modern in style but Portuguese in temperament. That means traditional grapes (no chardonnay!) that most of us have never heard of, including antao vaz, perrum, and roupeiro. The first is common in the Alentejo region, and gives the wine its distinctive stone fruit flavors.

Look for almost floral aromas and a little spice and brightness to offset the stone fruits. This is not a complicated wine, but it’s hardly simple, either. Pair it with it grilled vegetables or chickpea and sausage stew. Highly recommended, and a candidate for the 2022 $10 Hall of Fame.

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