Jim's Loire: Excellent #winelover dinner @Enoteca de Bélem

#winelovers on a roll @Enoteca de Bélem

Wall of the Enoteca's WC

Last night, the day after the Adegga Christmas 2016 Wine Market a group of us had an excellent and very enjoyable dinner at the excellent Enoteca de Bélem – another link here. This small enoteca opened in 2009 adding a kitchen in 2011.

Nelson Guerreiro is the front of house and Ricardo Gonçalves rattles the pots and pans to great effect. We had a delicious 35€ tasting menu. As there are just a few tables booking is strongly advised.

2015 Reserva (Branco) Quinta da Boa Esperança

Early arrivals limbered up with this new discovery – the 2015 Reserva (Vinho Regional Lisboa – white) from Quinta da Boa Esperança. This is a blend of Arinto (60%) and Ferñao Pires (40%). We were very impressed by this well balanced white with sensitively used oak. This estate has recently been discovered by the Enoteca, who are also decidedly impressed.

2015 Sauvignon Blanc, Quinta da Boa Esperança

We also tried Esperança's attractively mineral Sauvignon Blanc, although as always I wonder why Portuguese producers bother with international varieties like Sauvignon Blanc when they have such a treasure trove of indigenous varieties.

Delicate meat pie as a mise en bouche

Goats' cheese and apple pastries with grilled walnuts

2015 Verdelho Original, Azores, Antonio Maçanita

Lovely pure, crisp precise wine from the Azores

The rest of the wines were kindly supplied by Andre Ribeirinho. They were tasted blind.

Brilliant octopus dish
– just perfectly cooked

dominó, Monte Pratas, by Vitor Claro made

in association with Dirk Niepoort

2006 Charme, Douro, Niepoort

One wine I did recognise

or at least it was Niepoort due to its

finesse and delicacy.

Made from a blend of Tinta Roriz,

Touriga Franca and others

from
Vale de Mendiz in the Pinhão Valley

2007 Charme, Niepoort

We should have had the 07, which is a very good Douro vintage

but André decided that it wasn't showing well – rather short

so substituted the 06

We tried the dominó and the 2006 Charme with the octopus dish (above) – my preference was was the Charme – the delicate red matching the dish better.

Veal with sweet potato duchess and chestnuts

– another fine dish

2013 Abandonado, Douro, Alves da Sousa

With the meat course we had two fine wines from Alves da Sousa. Firstly the 2013 Abandonado from a Douro vineyard that had been abandoned followed by the fine 2011 Quinta da Gaivosa. I thought the softer, more opulent Quinta da Gaivosa was a better match for the veal than the Abandonado with its higher acidity.