The wines below are presented by shipper in the order they were tasted. 

Quarles Harris 1970 ***

Brick red centre with a pink amber rim; either closed or hollow on the nose?, I suspect the latter, vague milk chocolate fruit aroma; light, soft and sweet, still standing up well with good firm spicy tannins rising in the mouth. 15

Quarles Harris 1977 ***

Good mid-deep youthful colour; still quite tight knit on the nose with a character in between milk chocolate and dark chocolate, perhaps with more to give; sweet and peppery, spicy, quite dry but standing up well, attractive, fresh berry fruit character, minerally underneath slightly let down by a rather dry, austere finish. A good ‘77 but lacking length and breadth. 16   

Quarles Harris 1980 ****

Very deep opaque black colour, in common with a number of the Symington ‘80s, thin browning rim; solid, rich plum and berry fruit, quite opulent in style on the nose; rich and fleshy, lovely, sweet voluptuous fruit backed by firm tannins, not big or long on the finish but well balanced. 17

Quarles Harris 1983 ***

Mid deep, youthful colour, pink-purple rim; not much on the nose, rather flat with some underlying minerally fruit; well developed, still firm and spicy with good tannic grip mid-palate (in common with many ‘83s), tight knit towards the finish but rather boney and lacking flesh. Short. 15.5

Quarles Harris 1985 **

Looking more mature than the ’83, mid-deep with a broad browning rim; rather cooked aromas, liquorice both on the nose and palate, full and sweet but now starting to fall apart. Short but correct (given the tendency for this vintage to throw up some volatile, out of condition wines). 14

Quarles Harris 1991 *

Pale to mid deep in colour, pink rim, just on the turn; hot and rather lumpy on the nose, not very well knit together; again rather hot and spirity on the palate, spirit showing right through to the finish, perhaps just a phase (but I doubt it), not a very enjoyable drink. 12

Quarles Harris 1994 *** / ****

Good, deep centre, thin purple rim; still closed with underlying ripeness evident, showing off the heat of the year; soft, sweet and fleshy, just as you would expect from this vintage, rich plummy flavours with good breath and depth, ripe tannins to back it up, looking good now but would benefit from another five years in bottle. 16.5

Gould Campbell 1970 **

Brick red centre, browning on the rim; even more subdued on the nose than the QH 1970, hollow; quite light but sweet and gentle with milk chocolate intensity, some charm but without much depth or power and rather short. 14

Gould Campbell 1977 (bottle) ****

Very good colour, still deep and youthful; dense on the nose, suggests that there may be more to give; still firm with lovely fleshy fruit and ripe, dusty tannic grip rising in the mouth, big, solid foursquare finish, quite dry in style but tight-knit and firm. A good 1977 with more to go at. 17

Gould Campbell 1977 (magnum) **

Deep but surprisingly showing more brown on the rim; oxidised on the nose, loose knit; soft, sweet, ripe but lacking definition, better on the palate than on the nose, liquorice, good grip but not nearly as good as the bottle above. 13.5

Gould Campbell 1980 ***

Very deep, opaque with a thin browning rim; not quite as open or as opulent as the QH, a touch of tar and heat; rich but rather soupy and lacking focus, full, sweet and round, dark chocolate depth and good grip, finishes with a punch. Quite powerful if ill defined. 16

Gould Campbell 1983 ** / ***

Very good colour, still deep with a thin pink/purple rim, deeper than the QH; closed, sullen on the nose but some underlying depth here; firm tight knit, gritty tannins, not big, quite lean and boney, upright but linear. 14.5

Gould Campbell 1985 ***

Mid-deep with a pink-purple hue; attractive, open, clear fruit, a touch floral; soft and sweet, quite light and evolved, creamy fruit with a spike of tannin towards the finish, not very 1985 in style but holding together and drinking well. 15

Gould Campbell 1991 ***

Very good colour, still deep and youthful with a purple rim; tight, sullen and withdrawn, possibly with more to give; firm, linear with gritty tannins rather dominating the fruit, firm, dry finish, rather austere but standing up well. Better than the QH. 16

Gould Campbell 1994 **

Deep centre, just starting to brown on the rim; still closed but rather soupy and stewed underneath; tastes rather coarse too, still young and vibrant, some flesh (in common with the QH) but ill-defined and backed, perhaps just an adolescent phase but flat on the finish. Difficult to mark – revisit in five years. 14+?

Smith Woodhouse 1970 ***

Good, mid-deep youthful colour, the best of the ‘70s here with a pink rim; again quite demure on the nose with none of these wines singing from the glass in the manner of say Graham ’70, just a touch of underlying floral character; soft and mature but a bit simple and one dimensional, firm, quite austere in style towards the finish and, like so many of these wines, lacking a bit of flesh. 15.5

Smith Woodhouse 1977

Very good colour, best of the 77s but this sample was badly corked. Not tasted. No mark. 

Smith Woodhouse 1980 ****

Very good colour, dark, opaque centre, just starting to brown on the rim; lovely pure berry fruit aromas, still tight-knit with plenty more to go at; rich, dark chocolate intensity, firm, solid and tight-knit with a slightly rustic foursquare finish. [Voted best wine of the night]. 17 

Smith Woodhouse 1983 ***

Another very good colour; closed on the nose, austere and / or hollow (?); firm initially, yet with some richness and depth mid-palate, plumy fruit backed by dusty tannins, a little coarse but still standing up well with another 20 years life left at least. 15   

Smith Woodhouse 1985 (Berry Bros & Rudd) ****

Mid-deep youthful colour, pink rim; fragrant, attractive, floral, showing the ripeness of the vintage; soft, sweet and fleshy with a firm tannic backbone, ripe tannins, still a relative youngster and much more ‘85 in style than the GC above. [Voted second best wine of the evening] 17

Smith Woodhouse 1991 *

Quite pale and fully mature in colour, broad browning rim; hollow on the nose and on the palate, soft mid-palate but going nowhere fast, drying out. 12

Smith Woodhouse 1994 ****

Very good colour, thin purple rim, the darkest of the three ‘94s; dense, closed, underlying ripeness; big, rich and fleshy, quite dense and still a youngster, firm, ripe tannic superstructure followed by good length. Good now but better in five years. [Voted third best wine of the evening] 17.5

Graham Quinta dos Malvedos 2006 ****

Very good deep colour; big, ripe heady aromas with rich dusty tannins underlying, still wild and headstrong; very rich, sweet and fleshy in Graham style (3.8 baumé), liquorice, mouthfilling ripe tannins, opulent all the way through to the finish, rich yet well-defined. Very promising – for drinking in another ten years. 17

Dow’s Quinta do Bomfim 2006 ****

Very similar in colour but slightly less crimson on the rim; closed-in on itself with a suggestion of  heat (burnt rubber) on the nose, heat very evident; rich and quite fleshy for Dow (3.3 baumé), firm peppery tannins leading to a big peppery finish. Very impressive. Needs more time to show at its best. Drink in 15 years. 17.5

Warre Quinta da Cavadinha 2006 ****

Very deep, opaque colour; lovely pure berry fruit aromas, mountain fruit character; soft and sweet initially with that lovely purity showing through again on the palate and a touch of bitter chocolate concentration, considerable finesse here (from relatively late-picked fruit) yet quite powerful on the finish with berry fruit all the way through . 17

Graham Quinta do Tua 2006 *** / ****

Bought by the Symingtons in 2006, this ex-Cockburn property has been re-branded ‘Graham’. A thousand cases of this wine were made in robotic lagares at Quinta dos Malvedos: very, very deep and opaque in colour, crimson rim; lovely aroma, restrained and pure, ‘violets’ evident from the 24% of Touriga Nacional that make up the blend; similarly pure peppery blackcurrant fruit on the palate, firm, dense tannins, leaner than some of the others but leading through to a fresh, pure finish. Lovely now but better in a decade. 16.5 +?

Dow Quinta Senhora da Ribeira 2006 ****

Deep, opaque; lovely rich, dark chocolate aromas, open and opulent, floral (Touriga Nacional very evident), with minty ripeness; initially this seems very rich and sweet for Dow (a characteristic of this vintage perhaps), fleshy and opulent with a big tannic backbone and bitter-sweet length. Impressive for the medium to long term. 18

Cockburn Quinta dos Canais 2006 ***

From the flagship Cockburn quinta which was extensively replanted in the early 1990s. Just 350 cases made at Sra. da Ribeira as an experiment, none of which will be put on sale: deep opaque and dense, rich and ripe but still closed on the nose; very full, sweet and rich, fleshy and quite opulent initially with a touch of mint and eucalyptus (esteva), firm tannic finish and overall quite suave. Lacking the weight of its peers but good middle distance wine for drinking within 10 years. 16

Quinta do Vesúvio 2006 ****

Deep and opaque in colour; very opulent, floral with minty ripeness, overt and heady; similarly sweet, rich and opulent on the palate (3.7 baumé) but backed by dense, gritty textural tannins which rise in the mouth, sweetness and opulence returning on the finish. Lovely texture and length. Drink in ten years and for another twenty years beyond that.   18

Graham Quinta dos Malvedos 1999 ****

Good, mid-deep colour, still nearly opaque; lovely open floral fruit with a touch of esteva (gum cistus), classic; sweet, minty ripeness with a touch of dark chocolate at the core, already quite suave with a peppery finish, not especially big or structured but lovely to drink now and over the next ten years. 17

Dow Quinta do Bomfim 1999 ****

Paler and showing more maturity on the rim, starting to brown; closed, not showing very well on the nose, perhaps still to emerge from its adolescent phase, just a hint of violets; much more expressive on the palate, fine linear fruit, well-knit with lovely purity showing through mid-palate, firm tannins. Not big but charming. Ready now throught to 2020 + 17

Dow Quinta Senhora da Ribeira 1998 *****

Still very deep and youthful, opaque; not very expressive on the nose, closed, sullen (just a phase I suspect); fine, dense and tight-knit, some flesh yet with characteristic Dow austerity (2.95 baumé), dark chocolate core and cast-iron tannins, overall big and solid with a fabulous, explosive finish. Top notch single estate Port.  19

Quinta do Vesuvio 1998 ****

Similarly deep and opaque; slightly more open and opulent on the nose, mint and eucalypt ripeness showing; soft and fleshy with lovely purity and sweetness backed by good grippy tannins mid-palate, tails off on the finish leaving pure berry fruit. 17.5

Warre Quinta da Cavadinha 1996 ***

Mid-deep maturing colour; evolved, truffley and slightly soupy on the nose (lacking definition); rich soft and quite loose-knit in style, especially alongside the 1998s, quite big and round, fully ready to drink and not a long-term keeper. 15.5

Graham Quinta dos Malvedos 1979 ****

Brick red centre, amber rim; fine, mature, open floral character, very beautiful on the palate, soft and fleshy with milk chocolate depth and length. Really lovely now but not one to keep for any length of time.  17

Dow Quinta do Bomfim 1979 ***

More youthful in appearance than the Malvedos; fine and focused yet gentle on the nose, dry and lacking some fruit both the nose and on the palate, now starting to look a bit frail, peppery tannic backbone leading to a rather austere finish. Good now but drying out. Drink in the next 5 years. 16

Warre Quinta da Cavadinha 1979 ****

Brick red centre, broad amber rim; fine, perfumed, nicely evolved floral, esteva (gum cistus) aromas, open but possibly with a bit more to give; soft, sweet and fully mature, beautifully balanced cherry fruit. To be enjoyed now. 17

Graham Quinta dos Malvedos 1965 ***

Mature brick red to amber colour; open but looking dry and fragile with a touch of roasted coffee bean on the palate, characteristic of a very hot, dry year, roasted nuts too with affinity to an old tawny, fine and delicate, still sweet but drying towards the finish. 16

Dow Quinta do Bomfim 1965 ****

Slightly darker and blacker in hue than the Malvedos; scented but seemingly hollow on the nose and a touch roasted; firm and dry in the Dow style, powerful tannins retaining the purity of fruit at its core, big. peppery tannins lingering on to the finish. 17.5

Graham Quinta dos Malvedos 1958 ****

Now very pale pink-to-amber; fine, delicate, more than a touch of tawny character (more so than vintage) with almonds and a soft creamy element to the nose and palate, very elegant and linear, sweet fruit backed by peppery tannins, still fresh and expressive on the finish, long and delightful. 17

Graham Quinta dos Malvedos 1950 **** / *****

Excellent colour for a wine now 61 years old, pink centre with a thin browning rim; seemingly quite dry on the nose, a lovely rose petal scent with an underlying vestige of chocolatey intensity still evident; fine, delicate, still firm and very much alive with a stream of freshness running all the way through, delicate sweetness and supremely elegant on the finish. 18.5

Dow’s Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira 1999 ****

Deep, youthful and demure on the nose, yet rich, fresh and vibrant on the palate, intense, seemingly quite sweet (for Dow), with layers of ripe tannin and a firm finish. Only just ready to drink and will be good for another 15 years at least.  18 

Quinta do Vesúvio 1998 ****

From a small harvest that turned out to be a great year in the Douro Superior: still deep and opaque in colour; open, fragrant with lovely purity of fruit, still young and spicy but fully ready to drink. 17.5 

Fonseca Guimarens 1998 ***

Not nearly as expressive as the Vesúvio, restrained almost minerally, firm and spicy, peppery, leaner but with a lovely long, linear finish. Ready now but may benefit from a bit more time in bottle.  16

Taylor 1980 ****

Mid-deep in colour; open, fragrant, characteristically floral, now gentle with bottle age; sweet and peppery not much flesh but very elegant with  rapier-like focus to the finish. Lovely now and over the next ten years or so.  17.5

The Estate

Quinta do Centro is located at Reguengo on the slopes Serra de São Mamede at 500 – 560 metres above sea level. Within 5km of the property the serra rises to over 1,000 metres above sea level, making this the highest point in southern Portugal. To use a Portuguese phrase, Quinta do Centro is on the meia encosta, (‘half-way up the slope’), where it is considered that the best wines are generally produced. The property lies on the edge of the São Mamede Natural Park. The Portalegre sub-region (a DOC in its own right) is quite different form the rest of the Alentejo with a terroir all of its own. The soils are schist and granite, with granite predominating at Quinta do Centro. The property spans a shallow valley and the soils are poor, full of rock and generally well drained. Annual average rainfall, which is below 400mm in much of the Alentejo, is in excess of 600mm in Portalegre. 

Unlike most of southern Portugal, land holdings in the Portalegre region are extremely fragmented, especially on the serra which has more in common with the north than the south. Quinta do Centro is fairly unusual in that it extends to just over 20 hectares of which 12.5 ha are planted with vines. Just under 10 ha are currently in production, with the oldest vineyard planted approximately 25 years ago. A further 2.7ha were replanted in 2006. The remainder of the property is semi-wild and given over to olive trees and cork oaks. There is also a small dam for irrigation. The principal grape varieties (in descending order of importance) are Trincadeira, Aragonez Alicante Bouschet and Grand Noir with a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2006 we planted Touriga Nacional, Syrah and a small quantity of Viognier. A new winery was built on the property and used for the first time in 2007. There are also five houses in the property, four of which will eventually be restored for wine-related tourism.

The Wines

We are producing three different premium red wines, each from a blend of grape varieties, reflecting the terroir of the region. The emphasis will be on producing wines with balance, finesse and poise as opposed to the tendency to make big, blockbuster wines elsewhere the Alentejo.By 2011 when the vineyard is in full production it is envisaged that the property will be producing the equivalent of 40,000 litres a year apportioned between three red wines as follows:

Pedra Basta  ('Enough Stone’)

This is  a blend of Trincadeira, Arragonez (aka Tempranillo) and Alicante Bouschet in roughly equal proportions (depending on the year) with a small quanity of  Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in new and second year wood for around one year 18 months before bottling. Retailing c. €12 a bottle. (Vinho Regional Alentejano)

Duas Pedras ('Two Stones')

This is a  blend of Touriga Nacional (60%) and Syrah (40%) co-fermented with a small quantity of  Viognier, bottled with mimimal ageing in wood  to capture the fruit character. Retailing around €7 a bottle. (Vinho Reguional Alentejano). The 2009 vintage is currently available exclusively in  Jumbo (Portugal) and at The Wine Society (UK).  2010 vintage follows.  

Pedra e Alma ('Stone and Soul’)

This is our reserve wine produced only in the best years (2009 is our first vintage), from the oldest vines on the property (Trincadeira, Arragonez, Alicante Bouschet and Grand Noir), aged for 2 years in new French oak barriques. Retailing at c. €20. (Vinho Regional Alentejano)

We already export to the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland  and Brazil tand we are currently seeking representation in other markets.  Building and projecting the right image is crucial to the success of our project and, while maintaining its roots in the Alto Alentejo, an international approach is necessary to put our wines and the Portalegre region on the map.

For day-to-day information on the running of the estate see Richard Mayson's wine blog 'Living the Dream' on www.richardmayson.com

UNITED KINGDOM

Sonho Lusitano Vinhos Lda. is represented in the UK by Richard’s Walford, Hales Lodge, Pickworth, Near Stamford, Lincs PE9 4DJ Tel. 01780 460451 Contact: Karen Jenkins Karen.Jenkins@r-w.co.uk

 Our wines are currently available in the UK from the following sources:  
 

SOUTH

• The Wine Society, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 2BG  01438 740222 www.thewinesociety.com
• Vinoteca, 7, St John Street, London EC1 www.vinoteca.co.uk 
• Butler’s Wine Cellar, 247 Queens Park Road, Brighton BN2 9XJ www.butlers-winecellar.co.uk 
• Raffles Wine Company, The Old Fire Station, Old Market, Nalisworth, Glos. 
• Sommelier Wine Company,  23 St Georges Esplanade, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 2BG  
• Summertown Wine Café, 38, South Parade, Oxford, OX2 7JN 
• The Dorset Wine Company, 37 Peverell Av. West, Poundbury, Dorchester DT1 3SU www.dorsetwine.co.uk
• Philip Eyres Wine Merchant, Barracks Hill, Amersham, Bucks HP7 OLW

   

MIDLANDS

• Delilah Fine Foods, 15, Middle Pavement, Nottingham NG1 7DX www.delilahfoods.co.uk
• H Smith's 16-18 Compton Street, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 1DA
•  Worth Bros Wine Merchants, The Cellars, Cathedral House, 5, Beacon Street, Lichfield, Staffs. www.worthbrothers.co.uk

   

NORTH

• The Cheshire Smokehouse, Vost Farm, Morely Green, Wilmslow, Cheshire www.cheshiresmokehouse.co.uk 
• Ibbotsons of Ashford, Ashford –in-the-Water, nr Bakewell, Derbyshire 01629 812528
• deFINE Food and Wine, Chester Road, Sandiway, Cheshire CW8 1NH www.definefoodandwine.com
• John Hattersley Wines, Milford, Bakewell DE45 1DX www.johnwines.com
• Chatsworth Farm Shop, Pilsley, Nr Bakewell, Derbyshire www.chatsworth.org/shop-eat/the-farm-shop
• Hanging Ditch Wines, Britannic Buildings, 42-44 Victoria Street, Manchester M3 1ST www.hangingditch.com
• Field and Fawcett, Bingley House Farm, Grimston Bar, Hull Road, York YO19 5LA www.fieldandfawcett.co.uk

   

RESTAURANTS

• The Fat Duck, High Street, Bray, Berks. SL6 2AQ  www.thefatduck.co.uk
• Rowleys, Baslow, Derbyshire  www.rowleysrestaurant.co.uk/ 
• Vinoteca Ltd, 7, St John Street, London EC1  www.vinoteca.co.uk 
• Summertown Wine Café, 38 South Parade, Oxford  www.summertownwinecafe.co.uk
• David Mellor Café, The Round Building, Hathersage, S32 1BA davidmellordesign.co.uk
• El Toro, 129 Newbould Lane, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2PL www.el-toro-sheffield.co.uk

PORTUGAL

In Portugal our wines are distributed distributed by Portfolio Vinhos Lda. www.portfoliovinhos.pt 

Rua D. Leonor de Freitas, 225
Apartado 14
4431-901 V.N.GAIA

Tel. +351 22 093 9586
Fax. +351 22 093 9585
geral@portfoliovinhos.pt

Pedra Basta is available in Portugal from the following:

SOUTH (Algarve and Alentejo)

• Drinksgave, Albufeira
• Garrafeira Rui, Almancil
• Apolinia Supermercados, Almancil
• Boa Boca Gourmet, Évora
• Supermercados / Garrefeira Rui, Faro
• Garrafeira Grandola, Grandola
• Supermercado Baptista, Praia da Luz
• SuperNisa - Sepermadcados, Nisa
• Garrafeira Veneza, Paderne
• DrinkPor, Portalegre
• Caldeirão de Sabores, Portalegre
• Ma-jo, Portalegre
• Garrafeira Vital, Tavira
• Garrafeira Cobeal, Vila Real de Santo António 

   

CENTRE / LISBON

• Garrafeira Adivinho, Lisboa
• Garrafeira de Almada, Almada
• Casinha do António, Setúbal
• Coisas do Arco de Vinho, Belém (Lisboa)
• Delidelux, Lisboa
• Garrafeira Napoleão, Lisboa
• Garrafeira Venha a Vinha, Lisboa
• Vino Divino, Lisboa
• Wine and Flavours, Lisboa

NORTH / OPORTO

• Copo d'Uva, São João de Madeira
• Garrafeira Tio Pepe, Porto
• Garrafeira D.Vinho, Coimbra

   

RESTAURANTS

• Restuarante Cascata, Alferrarde (Abrantes) 
• Café - Restaurante Regata, Alpalhão
• Restaurante Pompilo, São Vicente (Elvas)
• Tasquinha do Oliveira, Évora
• Delidelux, Lisboa
• Bica do Sapato, Lisboa
• Solar de Presuntos, Lisboa
• Wine Bar do Castelo, Lisboa
• Restaurante Sever, Marvão
• Restaurante Jardim, Ponte de Sôr
• Solar do Forcado, Portalegre
• Tomba Lobos, Pedra Basta (Portalegre)
• Restaurante Deolina, Santiago de Cacém
• Bar do Binho, Sintra
• Restaurante Quinta de Beloura, Quinta de Beloura (Sintra)
• Restaurante O Prego de Prego e Rato, Vendas Novas
• Restaurante Xuinhashop, Oeiras

BELGIUM

We are represented in Belgium by Wijnhuis Jeuris  www.wijnhuisjeuris.be

Wijnhuis Jeuris, Schaapsweg 2,3550 Heusden-Zolder, Tel. +32 (0)11 42 89 07
 

and

Wijnhuis Jeuris, Kaaistraat 62a, 8800 Roeselare  Tel. +32 (0)51 222 850

BRAZIL 

In Brazil we are represented by Hannover Vinhos Lda  www.hannovervinhos.com.br

Hannover Vinhos
Rua Cerro Azul, 710 ao 730 - Sta. Maria Goretti
CEP 91030-250 - Porto Alegre - RS - BRASIL
(+55 51) 3337-3890 / (+55 51) 3343-1195

 

SWITZERLAND 

Sonho Lusitano Vinhos is represented in Switzerland by Vinoversum (www.vinoversum.ch) 

 

Vinoversum A. Gatti AG, Tösswiesenstrasse 8, CH-8413 Neftenbach
	Tel.: +41 (0)52 213 00 20, Fax: +41 (0)52 213 00 40
	eMail: info@vinoversum.ch
	skype: vinoversum

Our Wines in the UK Press…

Pedra Basta

‘…red, dark, rich and intense with dense, stony tannins, real mountain wine.’

Charles Metcalfe in The Wine and Food Lover’s Guide to Portugal

Duas Pedras 2009

It’s hard to believe that this blend of Touriga Nacional and Syrah fermented on Viognier skins is unoaked, given its density, dark chocolate and smoky bacon notes. There’s a touch of reduction which lends a peppery grunt to its succulent core of black cherry fruit. Very satisfying – a ringer for a modern (oaked!) Crozes-Hermitage. 13.5% £8.95 bottle

 Sara Ahmed, The Wine Detective

'Good value here in this unusual blend of 60% Touriga Nacional with 40% Syrah with a touch of Viognier. British writer turned vigneron Richard Mayson and winemaker Rui Reguingo are behind this wine. Lovely meaty nose, with a touch of smoked bacon and flecks of florality to lift it. The palate has a little hint of peachy Viognier sweetness, but that big, earthy, rich bramble and blackcurrant density of fruit takes over. A dense character, with a long, beautifully balanced finish of creamy tannins and plum-skin bite. £8.95 at The Wine Society'

The Wine Gang

The Wine Society / Jancis Robinson  

Pedra Basta 2008

Winner of a Silver Medal in the 2011 Decanter World Wine Awards:

'Generous dark fruit, coffee and liquorice character. Ripe, juicy and fresh palate with good contrast of flavours and textures'   

Pedra Basta 2007

'Best Old World Red: schist and granite soils planted with local grapes and some Cabernet give a dark, ripe plummy wine with a firmly elegant personality' 

Spurrier's World, Decanter magazine. '   

Dark, dense, full-bodied, with ripe, spicy, red-berry and blackcurrant fruit and touches of licorice, chocolate and vanilla; fine chewy tannins. A red with southern Portuguese flavours, but Douro polish, from an estate – Quinta do Centro – belonging to UK wine writer Richard Mayson. You can drink it now, but it should be good for another four years. 13.5% abv. 

Joanna Simon, www.joannasimon.com

Fellow wine scribe Richard Mayson has bought Quinta do Centro, a vineyard in the cooler hills of the Alentejo. There he produuces elegant ripe fruit without high sugar levels, enabling to control the alcohol. 2007 Pedra Basta is his best vintage yet. .... It's soaked in fruits of the forest, with fine-grained tannins and earthiness - decant it to appreciate it fully.

Amelia Pinsent, Country Life

 Less “loud” than the 2006 and I prefer it.  There’s a little less Cabernet and the 07 shows more red fruits supported by firm but ripe tannins.  More elegance and persistence than its predecessor  – it seems better to capture Portalegre’s potential for this mid-weight style and no doubt also reflects a cooler growing season.

Sarah Ahmed, The Wine Detective

 Delicious, ripe, full-flavoured red from the Alentejo, from the excellent 2007 vintage, from UK wine wruter and specialist Richard Mayson. Drink now - 2012.

The Wine Society

This mid-weight, elegant, persitent wine is a fine companion for food wth its well-defined red fruits supported by firm but ripe tannins.

Sarah Ahmed writing in Decanter

 Pedra Basta 2006

 'Trade up to this confident, individual red from Portugal, currently one of the best places to find interesting wines. This is a ripe, full-flavoured, grown-up red; the wine's complexity comes from a blend of four mostly local grape varieties. It has a convincing pedigree, made by top winemaker Rui Reguinga and Richard Mayson, the UK's leading wine writer on Portugal's wines.'BBC Good Food Magazine - Nov 08
 Sarah Jane Evans MW, among her best buys for Christmas.

'…fragrant, floral with aromas of wild strawberry, raspberry leaf and a touch of leather. Very fine tannins…more poise and tension [than the 2005]. I would give this another year in bottle. Drink 2010 – 2015'

Neal Martin’s Wine Journal on Erobertparker.com

‘Dark blackberry fruit on the nose, plus a bit of plummy spiciness. The palate is dense with some firm, savoury, spicy structure underneath the sweet blackberry and plum fruit’.

Jamie Goode’s Wine Blog

‘A gorgeous rich, supple red from the hills of the eastern Alentejo…’

The Wine Society

This has calmed down since I last tasted it when it was all exuberant, glossy fruit.  It’s now less bouncy, more “winey”, with juicy damsons and the Cabernet Sauvignon really coming through with blackcurrant to nose and palate.  Slightly chewy tannins have mellowed and become better integrated with the fruit too.  Good.

Sarah Ahmed, The Wine Detective   

Pedra Basta 2005

‘Broad, full, sunny flavours that speak eloquently of the warmth of the Alentejo are followed by the grip imposed by the local land’.

Jancis Robinson MW

…an impressive Alentejo from English wine writer, Richard Mayson along with winemaker Rui Reguinga. It has a warm, open-knit nose of summer fruits, raisin and dates with good definition. The palate is full-bodied, plump and quite ravishing in texture…

Neal Martin’s Wine Journal on Erobertparker.com

‘…full of deep, rich savoury flavours, rounded and long – a real food wine with character and style’

Christine Austin, Yorkshire Post

‘Fresh herbal, even a little cedary on the nose. Both elegant and juicy. A light had in the winemaking. Charming, discreet tannins. Drink 2008 – 10’ 16.5 / 20

Julia Harding MW at jancisrobinson.com

‘Peppery, damsony, chewy port-like intense palate – intriguing four grape Portuguese blend by Englishman Richard Mayson’

Rose Murray Brown MW, The Scotsman

‘Spot on…plush, smokey, seductive red, with cherry and raisin fruit backed up by fine grained tannins.’

Simon Woods, Wine & Spirit

 ‘From the hills of the eastern Alentejo, this is ripe and satisfying, full the of natural, rich, savoury flavours of Portugal’s indigenous grapes.’

The Wine Society
 

This afternoon, forgetting all about São Martinho, I went to the chemist in Castelo de Vide where I was offered roasted chestnuts and a glass of their homemade liqueur.  I politely refused the liqueur but the lady  pharmacist was most insistent and handed me a glass nonetheless. So I quickly downed this sweet, green liqueur made from under-ripe walnuts and I left the chemist feeling a bit wobbly but much better than when I went in!