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WINES OF PORTUGAL
97
Duorum
| Dwar-Room |
DOC Douro, Portugal
The name Duorum, Latin for “from two,” captures the spirit of this famed Portuguese winery. The winery
is owned by two of Portugal’s most renowned oenologists, João Portugal Ramos and José Maria Soares
Franco. Ramos, widely considered the “King of the Alentejo,” began his career as a groundbreaking wine
consultant in the 1980s, and today runs successful projects in the Alentejo, Vinho Verde, Beira Atlantico,
and Douro. Franco spent twenty-seven years as wine director for one of Portugal’s most renowned wines:
the Douro’s Barca Velha. With more than three generations of winemaking history between their families,
Ramos and Franco chose to combine their superior skills and passion for winemaking and founded
Duorum in 2007.
Duorum is notable for its estate vineyards in two distinct regions with two diverse altitudes: Douro’s
mountainous, schistose Cima Corga and its arid Douro Superior. Their use of native flora and the character
it adds to their wine has placed them in high regard. Duorum is recognized internationally for having
received the European Union’s Business & Biodiversity award for its outstanding achievements in halting
biodiversity loss and supporting natural ecosystems. In 2015, Duorum received the prestigious Anders
Wall Award, given each year to encourage and promote efforts made by creative entrepreneurs who have
contributed to creating a positive rural environment: landscape preservation, biodiversity enhancement,
cultural heritage conservation and contribution to the rural economy within the European Union. Duorum
is proving to be the most ambitious winery venture in Portugal.
Tons de Duorum Branco
The word “Tons” translates as “shades of flavor” in Portuguese and implies strength in English. Both
translations readily apply to this wine. Made from Viosinho, Rabigato, Verdelho, Arinto, and Moscatel, Tons
de Duorum has a sunny lemon yellow color and an intense aroma dominated by tropical and citrus fruits.
Good structure and well-integrated acidity yield to a fresh, long finish.
2015:
WE Best Buy |
2014:
WE Best Buy |
2013:
WE Best Buy |
2011:
WE “Top 100 Best Buys of 2012”
Tons de Duorum Tinto
This wine is a delightful blend of 50 percent Touriga Franca, 30 percent Touriga Nacional, and 20 percent
Tinta Roriz. The grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks, and the resulting wine is aged in French
and American oak for six months. The aroma is dominated by ripe black fruits, such as blackberries and
prunes, which are well integrated as a result of the oak-barrel aging. Balanced acidity and soft tannins
show on this elegant wine, which is appropriate for grilled steaks, roasts, and special occasions.
2014:
WE Best Buy
|
2013:
WS Top 100 Value