Porto from the water, with some interesting wines

On the Sunday of Simplesmente Vinho in Porto, a few of us had lunch on the river on a gorgeous February day. Here’s a short film of what the Porto and Gaia from the water.

The wines:

Barbeito Vinhas do Lanço Vedelho 2020 DOP Madeirense, Portugal
A table wine made from Madeira grapes by the super talented Ricardo Diogo. It’s linear and fine with a mineral, stony quality. So fresh and expressive with taut acidity and a long, linear finish. There aren’t a lot of wines like this from Madeira, because there are only 550 hectares of grapes on the island, and 80% of this is Tinta Negra Mole. But Ricardo is showing the potential of the white grapes for making striking white wines with keen acidity and lovely intense flavours. 94/100

Vitor Claro Dominó São Bento 2021 Portugal
Slightly cloudy, this is such a textural wine with fresh pear and lemon, some white peach, and a fine-grained structure. There’s fruit here but also some prettiness, and a fine, slightly saline finish. 94/100

Quinta do Infantado Vintage Port 2020 Douro, Portugal
Wonderful aromatics of floral black cherries and blackcurrants. So vibrant and fresh with sweet blackcurrant and blackberry fruit on the palate. It’s fresh and not too sweet with fine tannins. A beautifully elegant Vintage Port, but it should go the distance too. ‘My way is to make wines that can age,’ says João Roseira. ‘We try to make Vintage Port less sweet, with lightness and acidity, which can still age.’ 96/100