{"title":"DIRECT PRESS AUG\/SEPT 2026 PORTUGAL","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"baias-e-enseadas-malvasia-reserva-de-colares-2021","title":"Baias e Enseadas Malvasia Vinho Regional 2021","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePress 4 Mix\/White • August\/September 2026 Direct Press Selection\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eColares is one of the smallest appellations in the wine world and one of the most unique. Vines are planted essentially on the beach near Sintra, a quick drive from Lisbon, in crater-like holes in the sand are are surrounded by fences that do their best to protect them from the harsh winds coming from the Atlantic. The appellation, only 50 acres today, is constantly threatened by oceanfront development in the forms of hotels and tony real estate. Baias e Enseadas makes unofficial Colares wines because their vines are on limestone instead of sand. And yet it retains the remarkable signature of this dramatic oceanside region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe Malvasia from Colares used for this bottling is a different biotype of Malvasia than you would see elsewhere in Europe, but it is still powerfully aromatic and opulent, with dried peach, waxy, smoky notes, tangy lemon pith, cream, and ocean salt, finishing with a briny umami that is unmatched in any other wine. As far as 'big' white wines go, this is one of the most haunting, complex, and startling ones you'll come across. \u003cem\u003eJonathan Kemp\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GK SELECTIONS","offers":[{"title":"White","offer_id":44109313638635,"sku":"","price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1270\/3173\/files\/5901A288-EDCE-4182-9D09-1F2AF14D233A.jpg?v=1785542727"},{"product_id":"luis-pato-vinha-pan-baga-bairrada-2013","title":"Luis Pato 'Vinha Pan' Baga Bairrada 2013","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePress 2 • April 2024 Direct Press Selection\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eDoes Baga have the potential for greatness that Nebbiolo is known for? Luís Pato certainly thinks so, and has fought hard for this unique grape that is planted in the rural Bairrada region, located mid-coast between Lisbon and Porto. Baga certainly has the tannin and the astringency needed for extended aging, though in some cases this is so pronounced as to make it as angry as an old man returning soup at a deli. As an admitted contrarian, Baga has always appealed to me with it’s ornery attitude and meaty, iron funk. For the moment it’s still possible to find library releases of old Baga that will blow your mind for a fraction of the price of old Burgundy or Nebbiolo, so that’s another perk of joining the cult of this cantankerous cultivar.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe 2013 Vinha Pan is Baga from the \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-family: Google Sans Mono, Arial;\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePanasqueira vineyard, with chalky soils south-east exposition. It's known for producing the most Nebbiolo-like wines at the Pato estate. It's in great shape now but you can also put this aside for a few more years if you like. You don't have to decant it but we noticed the tannins resolving and the wine developing nicely after 45 minutes, so decanting will help if you can do it. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"font-family: Google Sans Mono, Arial;\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSour cherries, brambly berries, leather, and mesquite. There's a fine balance between primary fruit, savory notes, stony minerals, and a lingering dark chocolate undertone. We even picked up hints of brisket and Cracker Jacks. There's a lot happening in this wine! Fair amount of tannins, firm and grippy, well integrated...and they soften beautifully with some air. For a wine of this age it's still surprisingly fresh. It's more medium bodied than you would think, and as such would pair nicely with fatty spiced meats; charred, crispy mushrooms; roast duck, steaks, or a flame grilled Portuguese chorizo, aka Chouriço à Bombeiro, if you can get your hands on one. \u003cem\u003eJonathan Kemp and Nico Haunold \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GK SELECTIONS","offers":[{"title":"Red","offer_id":44851864338667,"sku":"","price":68.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1270\/3173\/files\/4E0173EA-AD4B-4DA6-915A-908AA121F9C3.jpg?v=1711994748"},{"product_id":"las-vedras-pero-negro-tinto-2019","title":"Las Vedras \"Pero Negro\" Tinto 2019","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePress 2 • August\/September 2026 Direct Press Selection\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eSonia Raposo met Pedro Marques in 2013 as she was getting deeper into wine and backing away from her career in HR for a pharmaceutical company. She had already been interning and working harvest in addition to taking and then teaching WSET classes. Pedro came from a winemaking family in Torres Vedras, less than an hour up the Atlantic coast from Lisbon, about 5 miles from the ocean, but not a region with much of a reputation for fine wine. His family's winery, Val de Capucha, was one of the only organic producers in the area. Sonia and Pedro wanted to take this even further, and they began finding older plots of indigenous varieties that they could piece together. The wines rarely have any sulfur additions unless they feel it's the only way to save the wine. Sonia and Pedro have now fully left Pedro's family winery to focus on Las Vedras, and now other winemakers are seeing the potential in the area's old vines, Kimmeridgian chalky soils (same as Champagne, Chablis, and Sancerre), and unique heritage of grapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOne of those unique grapes is Tinta Miuda, not a grape of any renown but that may not be its fault. Blended with Castelao and put In the hands of Sonia and Pedro it almost approaches the zero sulfur Burgundies of Vin Noe or Julien Altaber. It's from a single vineyard, and the Castelao is fermented whole cluster while the Tinta Miuda is destemmed, which they feel is necessary to tame its astringency. It's fermented and aged in 500L barrel, with two years of aging to soften the wine. After all that taming of the Tinta Miuda's rough edges, it's a pretty sleek, elegant wine with sumac, cherry, umami, and tannic finesse. There's a little volatility but this only adds a bit of nervy edge that makes it even more compelling. \u003cem\u003eJonathan Kemp\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DRESSNER 2:00 3cs\/$300","offers":[{"title":"Red","offer_id":47087815164139,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1270\/3173\/files\/70DEBAA7-F8EE-4ED3-9110-A0DD808C7F88.jpg?v=1763845123"},{"product_id":"joao-pato-duckman-white-duck-vinho-branco-2024","title":"Joao Pato Duckman \"White Duck\" Vinho Branco 2024","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePress 4 Mix\/White • June\/July 2026 Direct Press Selection\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaria Joao Pato comes from a family that has been raising the bar for quality in Portuguese wines for some time now. In the 1990s her father Luis Pato became a champion of the unique qualities and native grapes of his home region of Bairrada, which is north of Lisbon, south of Porto, and west of the Dao, with the Atlantic Ocean nearby. Maria's older sister Filipa Pato went out on her own in the early 2000s, getting biodynamic certification and becoming an early standout in Bairrada and Portugal's natural wine scene. Maria began making the Duckman wines with her family's vines and now has fully taken over from her father. The Duckman line is typically very low intervention, with just a small sulfur addition if needed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuckman White is 100% Bical, all done in stainless steel. It's very salty but in the way of a refreshing electrolyte tonic. Notes of hay, lemon verbena, and spicy pear, with lower acid and a little bit of texture to give it dimension. It's a riper, more complex version of this wine than previous vintages, and all the more delicious for it. \u003cem\u003eJonathan Kemp\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GK SELECTIONS 3:30","offers":[{"title":"White","offer_id":49126433685739,"sku":null,"price":19.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1270\/3173\/files\/30DC752F-B83F-4AB9-8C70-0533A0C8A3F7.jpg?v=1785542479"},{"product_id":"casal-do-ramilo-nativas-tinto-old-vines-2023","title":"Casal Do Ramilo Nativas Tinto Old Vines 2023","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePress 4 Mix\/Red • August\/September 2026 Direct Press Selection\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCasal Do Ramilo was founded in 1937 and is located in the Lisbon region between Colares and Mafra. They craft unique wines that are just as influenced by the Atlantic Ocean as they are the hillsides that the vines are grown in. With a temperate climate and rocky soils, which they farm with the utmost care, they make some of the most honest and transparent wines from Lisbon I have ever tasted.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eHand harvested and destemmed, the 80 year-old vine Castelão grapes are foot trodden and fermented for one week in a traditional lagar (a shallow trough made from concrete, stone, or steel, similar to a Palmento in Sicily, Italy). The nose had notes of dried red flowers, cola spice, cherry, and a touch of earth. On the palate I tasted a mix of black cherry, plum, a hint of spice, and a touch of garrigue. \u003cem\u003eJeremy Hernandez\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"NLC WINES 4CS 2:30PM","offers":[{"title":"Red","offer_id":49126625607915,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1270\/3173\/files\/B01D4E82-2D36-40E4-8B5F-577216367F5D.jpg?v=1785542678"},{"product_id":"humus-palheto-red-2023","title":"Humus \"Palheto\" Red 2022","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePress 4 Mix\/White • April 2024 Direct Press Selection\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLisbon is having a moment. A region that was overlooked for decades is now providing a space for young, innovative vignerons and winemakers to experiment and explore different stylistic choices in the vines and in their cellars. One winemakers that’s been leading the charge of this new and refreshing movement is Rodrigo Filipe, who took over his fathers estate in 1999. He now farms the family’s estate organically (certified since 2006) and produces wines that reflect the cool microclimate of his lands, with low alcohol and refreshing acidity. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePalhete or Palheto wines are similar in style to Spain’s Clarete's, field blends of red and white grapes that result in wines that sit somewhere between a dark rose and super light red. Composed of Touriga Nacional and Arinto, Fernão Pires the Palheto is decidedly darker than it’s rosé counterpart we’ve had in the shop recently. With rooibos tea, bright cranberry and pomegranate aromatics and marked by tart strawberry and salty, ripe citrus tones, this is perhaps the most “funky” wine in the line up this month. There is a touch of Brett and VA, without being overpowering or too wild. Drink this cold and pair with anything from shrimp to stir fried vegetables to fried chicken. \u003cem\u003eKirk Sutherland\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DRESSNER 2:00 3cs\/$300","offers":[{"title":"Red","offer_id":49126771818731,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1270\/3173\/files\/7530E1E1-18C8-496C-A4C1-05F118D20268.jpg?v=1711994464"},{"product_id":"luis-seabra-xisto-illimitado-tinto-2021","title":"Luis Seabra \"Xisto Illimitado\" Tinto 2021","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePress 4 Red • August\/September 2026 Direct Press Selection\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eLuis Seabra is another one of the small cadre of winemakers directly responsible for moving Portuguese wines into it's current era. He showed early interest in shaking things up when he worked for Port producer Niepoort, leading their project to make dry, unfortified wines. This was the first time in 300 years a Port house had done this, so it was no small feat to pull off. In 2013 he went out on his own and today lives in the Douro, where he and his wife Natalia make wine from eight hectares of vines pieced together from micro parcels in the Douro and Vinho Verde. Seabra looks for the really treacherous vineyards that bigger commercial operations won't touch. From these rugged vineyards he is sparking a renewed interest in wines of terroir from Douro and Vinho Verde. Seabra is possibly one of the most well-known winemakers on the international scene, and you'll frequently see his wines at top restaurants. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eXisto Illimitado is from two steep vineyards reaching 2000 ft. elevation on opposing sides of the Douro River, planted on schist (\u003cem\u003existo\u003c\/em\u003e in Portuguese). It comes from the Douro sub region of Cima Corgo, where Mateus Nicolau de Almeida also makes a red highlighting the area. It's picked as a field blend of \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e30% Touriga Franca, 20% Tinta Amarela, 20% Tinta Roriz, 10% Rufete, 10% Tinta Barroca, 5% Malvasia Petra, 5% Donzelinho Tinto. Grapes are fermented whole cluster in stone lagar and concrete vat and aged in neutral oak for a year. Deep blueberry and rustic animalistic notes, with grippy, layered tannins. A chewy, tangy finish with snappy cranberry and mineral depth brings it all home. A great wine for anything that's been on the BBQ, whether lamb or grilled vegetables. \u003cem\u003eJonathan Kemp\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BOWLER 4PM $150","offers":[{"title":"Red","offer_id":49129018556651,"sku":null,"price":31.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1270\/3173\/files\/F90E8DD0-A9BA-4BE8-BFD5-5A09268556EA.jpg?v=1785543148"},{"product_id":"mateus-nicolau-de-almeida-trans-douro-express-cima-corgo-tinto-2021-copy","title":"Mateus Nicolau de Almeida \"Trans Douro Express - Cima Corgo\" Tinto 2022","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePress 4 Red • August\/September 2026 Direct Press Selection\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMateus Nicolau de Almeida is a fifth generation winemaker in Portugal's Douro region. Hailing from a family with a deep history in Port production, \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMateus has branched out to explore the different subzones of the Douro through the lens of dry red and white wines. He and his partner Teresa Ameztoy work everything organically and biodynamically and make their cellar named Shad's Winery, after the fish that used to swim from the Atlantic up the Douro River before the river was dammed. Their label also sports this fish. They are always in motion, not only making wine but vinegar, olive oil, and spirits. They raise livestock, speak four languages fluently, and throw epic parties. All this while making very earnest, finessed wines that are natural but not funky or 'natty.' \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Trans Douro Express line of wines is meant to express the different terroirs of the Douro River Valley, something that has been unexplored because of the dominance of Port houses there. But there is a clear distinction between the bottlings. This one, Cima Corgo, is in the middle of the region, halfway between Porto and the Spanish border. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe grapes come from the incredibly steep vines planted on schist in the which has a mix of Continental and Atlantic climates, but is pretty hot and dry. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eGrapes are destemmed and fermented in stone lagar and concrete, and aged in concrete for eight months. Deep, dark, and brambly, with some blueberry notes and a chewy, satiating finish. \u003cem\u003eJonathan Kemp\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e[Note: Luis Seabra makes a similar blend from Cima Corgo called \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/vwm.wine\/products\/luis-seabra-xisto-illimitado-tinto-2021\"\u003eXisto Illimitado\u003c\/a\u003e, also featured in this month's Direct Press. Seabra's is from 2021 and made from whole cluster grapes and fermented in neutral oak, and so drinking them side by side could be a fun exercise.]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SELECTION MASSALE 2:30 4cs\/$400","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49131785027819,"sku":null,"price":33.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1270\/3173\/files\/948544F1-3F52-4A61-954D-7A581F64825A.jpg?v=1785543332"},{"product_id":"serradinha-encruzado-arinto-vinho-branco-2023","title":"Serradinha Encruzado Arinto Vinho Branco 2023","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePress 4 White • August\/September 2026 Direct Press Selection\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eAntónio Marques da Cruz is the winemaker and owner of the small seven hectare Serradinha estate in the town of Leiria about halfway between Lisbon and Porto, not far from the Atlantic coast. The Cruz family have maintained the estate since 1890 and in 1994 Serradinha became the first winery in Portugal to be certified organic, though his father started working organically in the late 1970s. His father also helped introduce the modern farmer's market movement into Portugal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eAntónio told me seven hectares is perfect for him because he can work the vineyards himself. He is the only full-time employee, and gets part-time help throughout the year as needed. Any more land than that and he says he is “no longer working with vines but with spreadsheets,” which is why he left his previous career in plastics back in 2003 to start making wine with his father.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe tends to make lower alcohol wines which run contrary to the wines most associate with Portugal, and yet his wines are some of the most profound and age-worthy we've encountered. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThere are few who embody the ethos of the small, independent winemaker as well as António, with wines that so clearly express a passion and identity that can never be duplicated or scaled up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Encruzado \u0026amp; Arinto blend is destemmed and sees a two to five day maceration in an open wood vat, then pressed and racked into large barrels and aged for a year with no racking and a very small sulfur addition. The wine smells of white flowers, tangerines, and fresh herbs while the palate has bit of pleasant tannin structure with uplifting and crystalline tangerine acidity, ginger spice, and a touch of citrus oil. The wine is both refreshing and slightly complex and can be an aperitif or the main pairing for a light summer meal. \u003cem\u003eJonathan Kemp \u0026amp; Jeremy Hernandez\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DRESSNER 2:00 3cs\/$300","offers":[{"title":"White","offer_id":49131901812971,"sku":null,"price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1270\/3173\/files\/160F9CE3-5B41-4640-8B10-0A567B535E5F.jpg?v=1785542254"},{"product_id":"quinta-da-boavista-torre-de-tavares-encruzado-2022","title":"Quinta da Boavista \/ Torre de Tavares \"Atinado\" Encruzado Dao 2022","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePress 4 White • August\/September 2026 Direct Press Selection\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Dao, in north-central Portugal, has a more temperate climate compared to the coastal regions, and it has the potential to make some of Portugal's most elegant, finessed wines, earning it comparisons to Burgundy as far back as the 1800s. \u003cspan\u003eJoão Tavares de Pina's wines are based around pre-modern winemaking philosophies, only using \"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003egrapes, water to clean his equipment and a touch of sulfur at bottling,\" according to his importer. This was the way his father made wine, too. His vineyards are beautifully overgrown with grass, wildflowers, chamomile, lavender, clover, and serradella. Oak and eucalyptus surround the vines. João's farming is as minimal as it gets, with organic applications only as needed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\"Atinado\" is 100% Encruzado from a one hectare vineyard, south-facing on granite. \u003c\/span\u003eJoão leaves the grapes on the skins for two days to add some texture, not to make it an orange wine. After that it's aged in chestnut barrels for eight months. There's a sulfur addition at bottling. The results are a textural, salty white that resembles Chenin Blanc and flat Champagne with its dried apple ring, ginger, and brioche notes. It's a complex wine with gravitas but has the finesse to pair with anything from pre dinner snacks to sushi to roast pork. \u003cem\u003eJonathan Kemp\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"FIELD BLEND 3:30 3cs\/$300","offers":[{"title":"White","offer_id":49132091048171,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1270\/3173\/files\/B102378E-54B0-4228-8328-5E5F82CA6961.jpg?v=1785543839"}],"url":"https:\/\/vwm.wine\/collections\/direct-press-aug-sept-2026-portugal.oembed","provider":"Vanderbilt Ave Wine Merchants | 573 Vanderbilt Ave | Brooklyn NY","version":"1.0","type":"link"}