Joao Portugal Ramos Reserva Vila Santa

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The 2009 RESERVA “VILA SANTA” white is a blend of Arinto, Antao Vaz and Verdelho fermented in French oak. The oak is obvious here, but more as a nuance than a vanilla-drenched wine. Elegant and charming, this has a lot to offer, including good balance, a nicely crafted mid-palate and good focus. Drink now-2012. This lineup is often a good source for values in Portugal. This year’s releases are no different, and perhaps better than most in that regard. There are a lot of beautifully constructed wines here that are charming and inexpensive (ignoring the Reserva “MARQUES DE BORBA,” which has spiked up dramatically in recent years to levels many might find unrealistic). The Vila Santa Reserva Tinto and the Marques de Borba regular Tinto are certainly best buys, but there are good cases to make for the monovarietals and the Loios wines as well.Importers: for Loios, Vila Santa and Quinta da Vicosa brands: Winebow, Inc., Montvale, N.J.; tel: (201) 445-0620; for Marques de Borba brand: Signature Imports, Mansfield, MA; tel: (800) 669-0750 (in New England, New Jersey, N.Y.) and HGC Imports, San Jose, CA; tel: (408) 947-8511 (for Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington State and Colorado).

The 2008 RESERVA “VILA SANTA” red is a blend of Aragones, Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for 9 months in a mixture of French and American oak. Once past the vanilla, this shows extremely well, elegant in the mid-palate, yet intense and gripping on the finish, with a complex medley of flavors. Crisp and penetrating, this is a very nicely constructed Tinto that comes in at a very nice price point. It should age quite nicely for its status. Drink now-2018. This lineup is often a good source for values in Portugal. This year’s releases are no different, and perhaps better than most in that regard. There are a lot of beautifully constructed wines here that are charming and inexpensive (ignoring the Reserva “MARQUES DE BORBA,” which has spiked up dramatically in recent years to levels many might find unrealistic). The Vila Santa Reserva Tinto and the Marques de Borba regular Tinto are certainly best buys, but there are good cases to make for the monovarietals and the Loios wines as well.Importers: for Loios, Vila Santa and Quinta da Vicosa brands: Winebow, Inc., Montvale, N.J.; tel: (201) 445-0620; for Marques de Borba brand: Signature Imports, Mansfield, MA; tel: (800) 669-0750 (in New England, New Jersey, N.Y.) and HGC Imports, San Jose, CA; tel: (408) 947-8511 (for Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington State and Colorado).