Aníbal Coutinho, founder and owner, is an internationally recognized Portuguese oenologist and wine critic and now virtual winemaker, collaborating with top wineries around the world to produce his own line of wines: Astronaut Wines.  He also organizes highly respected wine competitions in Portugal. Already widely available in Quebec, we are now fortunate to have a fine selection of his wines at the LCBO at the Portugal Destination Store.

In addition to the 3 products available at Keele and St Clair (Stockyards), we are delighted to give you a heads up on this fine introduction to the Classics Catalog of July 8:

Astronaut Vinho de Talha 2016, DOC Alentejo  l   VINTAGES# 20946   l  $93

95 points – Mark Squires/Robert Parker

‘The 2016 Astronauta Vinho de Talha is a field blend, mostly old-vines (80 years) Moreto aged in clay amphorae. The winery describes the process this way: ‘Total skin and stems fermented and clay aged. Sealed inside with resin and honey wax, protected on top with olive oil, Roman style. [It spent] six months on the amphora, 18 months on steel.’ It comes in at 14.5% alcohol. This is beautiful on all fronts. It has velvet for texture, serious tannins and dried strawberry/cherry flavors on the finish. There’s a touch of garrigue, too, and a nod to restrained Grenache. Focused, precise and long on the finish, this is also brilliantly structured. It’s not impossibly hard, but it is nowhere near ready. The tannins stop short of truly astringent, but they are too much right now. It’s penetrating on the finish too. Drink date: 2021-2036. Score – 95. ‘(Mark Squires, robertparker.com, Aug. 30, 2019)

There are only 10 cases of this exceptional, highly-rated wine available for ordering on July 8 from 8.30 am onwards.  It can be previewed as of July 7 on the LCBO Classics page online: https://www.lcbo.com/content/lcbo/en/vintages/classics-collection.html (here)

Vinho de Talha is a collector’s item, a wine for the connoisseur of Portuguese wines, a wine to savour with the best roasts, grilled meats and aged cheeses, and of course, good friends.

Also still available at LCBO Stockyards (Keele and St. Clair):

Astronaut Baga Bruto DOC Bairrada 2016  l  LCBO#  134097  l  $21.30
Astronaut Touriga Nacional IG Lisboa 2017  l  LCBO# 134105  l  $21.30
Astronaut Moscatel do Douro DOC Douro  |   LCBO#  134113  l  $22.70

Astronaut wines are represented in Ontario by Le Savoir-Boire.

Le Savoir-Boire are a Good Food Fighter.

Please support the businesses and organisations that support Good Food Revolution.