Brazil is renowned for many things; football, beaches, statues of Jesus and a booming economy. Wine rarely makes it to the shortlist. “It’s too hot” they might say… “It’s too humid” they might assume.
But, Miolo, Quinta do Seival, 2004 may just prove the critics wrong.
Quinta Do Seival is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheira and Touriga Roriz. The first two varieties being native Portuguese vines, while the latter is Portuguese for Tempranillo. It is aged for 10 months in new french oak and has a post-fermentation maceration period of 20 days. ABV 13.5%.
Quinta Do Seival is produced in the southern region of Fronteira (formally Campahna) close to the Uruguay border. The region has lower rainfall, better draining soils and longer sunshine hours compared to other regions in Brazil.
In the glass you can see the age from the medium body and slightly clay-like appearance.
On the nose it has an abundance of perfume: oak, leather, tobacco combined with wonderful and complex notes of dried fruit . In the mouth it is clean with a small bite from the tannins. I found there was some bitterness in the aftertaste, but this calmed down a little as the wine opened up.
Overall a good wine and certainly something new for most consumers. After trying the wine, you may be left to ponder the question: Can I buy a Chilean or Argentinian of the same quality- for less? The answer would most likely be yes. However, Quinta Do Seival is a savoury, complex, medium bodied wine, and this offers a change for many drinkers from full-bodied, fruit powered heavy weights. That said, on a continent as vast as South America, perhaps these comparisons should be kept to a minimum.
With plenty of publicity currently flowing in the direction of BRIC Countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and especially China and Brazil in the wine industry, it looks like exports of their wines will start to be more and more commonplace.
Despite wine production not being a new phenomenon in either country, with the current economic state of europe, combined with a booming middle class and increased investment in the industry, has seen an explosion of press as if both countries started to make wine last week.
If you fancy trying Quinta Do Seival it is available at LAVINIA: Retailing at 9.99€ (approx)
Calle de Jose Ortega y Gasset, 16, Madrid (Metro: Serrano/ Valazquez/ Nuñez de Balbao)
In the UK it is available from BIBENDUM
By Wine in Madrid
Wine in Madrid 