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WINES OF PORTUGAL
109
Quinta do Monte d’Oiro
| Keen-Ta Doh Mon-Tey Doi-Roo |
VR Lisboa, Portugal
Quinta do Monte d’Oiro, which translates to “Hill of Gold” in Portuguese, is located in Alenquer, thirty miles
north of Lisbon. The area has been praised in various documents from as far back as the seventeenth
century as a privileged
terroir
for producing great wines. The one hundred and five-acre vineyard is
dedicated to the red grapes Syrah, Cinsaut, Petit Verdot, Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz; Viognier is its
only white grape. The climate is Mediterranean with Atlantic influence, and the soil composition is clay-
limestone. The aim of the estate’s owner and winemaker, José Bento dos Santos, is to develop top-quality
wines in a European style while respecting the
terroir
of the estate’s vineyard.
Lybra Branco
This wine is a unique blend of Viognier, Marsanne and Arinto that come together in a harmonious balance.
Clean and bright, with a beautiful lemon-gold color with green glints. Intensely aromatic with elegant
aromas of orange blossom and apricot. The palate highlights its freshness and minerality, with hints of
lime and citrus with a long, lingering finish.
Lybra Syrah
Lybra symbolizes equilibrium, which is exemplified in the wine’s perfect balance. Named for the zodiac
sign during the time of harvest, the Lybra Syrah is crafted from 100 percent Syrah harvested in late
September. The wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged for twelve months in French
barriques, lending a beautiful ruby-red color with aromas of ripe berry fruit, chocolate, and spices. On the
palate, it has flavors of black fruit, chocolate, cassis, and mineral. It is full bodied, with silky tannins and a
long, persistent finish.
2012:
90 WA
Madrigal Viognier
Made from 100 percent Viognier, this wine bears striking similarities to those of Condrieu. Fermentation
occurs in a mixture of 60 percent stainless steel tanks and 40 percent French oak barrels, and the wine
is then refined in French oak for six months. The nose and palate bear hallmark notes of peach and white
flowers. Though seemingly delicate, this wine has a solid structure and a graceful, lingering finish.
2014:
92 WA |
2013:
92 WA |
2012:
90 WA |
2011:
92 WA |
2010:
90 WA |
2009:
90 WA |
2008:
90 WA