Esporao Wines celebrated another successful year at citizenM’s exclusive rooftop. Bella was fortunate to score an invite and taste wines of Portugal: and as a half Portuguese Bella… I was excited to sip the best! I was on the hunt for the (2011) Assobio from the Quinta dos Murcas Estate. This ruby red great was awarded 94 points by Wine Enthusiast. It’s acidity balanced well with the shaved roasted duck and scallion wraps served.
The weather was questionable with the high winds and clouds, but the wines from the three estates of Esporao where without a doubt sophisticated and economical for a Bella girl. At the moment you can grab a bottle of (2011) Assobio for about $15, but Wine Enthusiast suggest to let it mature until 2017. Either way, paired with the hors d’oeuvres: I was drinking it like “duck, duck, Assobio!”. This was definitely the “It” label of the evening, as guests passed the bottle around different circles. A blend of the three premium cherries (Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca), gave Assobio its vibrant aromatics and clean finish.
Esporao’s original vineyard, Herdade Dos Esporao: offered lighter notes with the (2011) Defesa Rose and (2012) Alandra White. The Defesa has underlying chocolate notes, and what Bella doesn’t like that? The Alandra White is a must for the wine cooler and for hot summer nights. No matter the Esporao wine chosen, it was a perfect evening with a live acoustic guitar player and the views from citizenM Hotel.
What we also found great about Esporao, is that they are committed to sustainability. When Esporao discovered an archaeological site while planting the vineyard, Herdade Dos Esporao: they ceased planting. Instead they reserved so many hectares to recover ancient artifacts: this is known as the Perdigoes Archaelogical Project. Inside the restored Esporao Tower are many of these artifacts and the inspiration for the Esporao wine labels. Now, that is something to cheer about. Here’s to Esporao not only making history, but saving it. Salute Bellas!
Make sure to tweet me @BostonScarlette and let me know what is your favorite Esporao wine. For more on Esporao vineyards, wine tours and the Esporao art gallery, please visit Esporao.com. If you want to check out the rooftop at citizenM Hotel, you will need to book a room: It is only open to hotel guests! For more exclusive events keep reading at Bella Blog.
