This is a list of the 100 best Portuguese wines to drink in 2021.
The Hot 100 wine list focuses on pleasure and what is ready to drink NOW. For that reason it mostly includes vibrant whites, young juicy reds and ready-to-drink cellar release reds. This is not a list based on style or price: some are light, some are oaked, some are expensive others many, good value for money. Most wines listed below are made from Portuguese native varieties, often blended. But, as you’ll soon learn, I can’t deny the pleasure of drinking the occasional Atlantic-influenced Chardonnay or Pinot Noir.
To build this list I’ve checked the notes of all the wines tasted throughout 2020 and ranked them by a combination of score, drinkability, value and wow-factor. This ranking combination is the reason you’ll find high scores also further down the Hot 100 list.
Port is all about pleasure. True for aged tawnies, but now, increasingly, applicable to young Vintage Port. Drinking a small glass of Port after a meal at the end of the day is my not-so-guilty pleasure. Sometimes I’m in the mood for a Tawny, sometimes for a Vintage Port. Both can be left in the fridge topped with a cork – up to 1 month for Tawnies and up to 7 days for young Vintage Port – and enjoyed slowly. Below you’ll find a selection to indulge.
To make it easier for you to spot great value I’ve marked all Hot Under 10€ and Hot Under 20€ wines. The Hot Fortified is for Port, Madeira and Moscatel de Setúbal to drink now. Fine Portugal is for Portuguese Fine Wine.
Hope this is useful. Enjoy!
André Ribeirinho
Wines marked with “a” are available on Adegga.
| RANK | WINE | PRICE | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011 Barca-Velha Red / Douro High-class, seductive, foresty, intense, pure pleasure. No wonder it’s Portugal’s most reputable red. Fine Portugal | 700€ | 100 |
| 2 | Kopke 40 Years Old White White Tawny / Port Luscious, dried fruits, sophisticated, freshness. White Port is finally getting much deserved attention. Hot Fortified | 81€ | 96 |
| 3 | 1963 Graham’s Single Harvest Tawny / Port High-class, thriling, luscious, pure pleasure. Proof that a great Vintage Port year (1963) can make stunning Single Harvests Hot Fortified | 375€ | 96 |
| 4 | Kranemann Tawny 20 Years Tawny / Port High-class, luscious, thrilling, superb acidity. 20 Year Old Tawnies balance age and youthness. This is one the best. Hot Fortified | 69€ | 96 |
| 5 | 1975 Cossart Gordon Terrantez Vintage Madeira / Madeira Thrilling, racy, spicy, ethereal. Terrantez is Madeira’s most stunning variety and this 1975 shows us why. Hot Fortified | 343€ | 96 |
| 6 | 2018 Esporão Private Selection White / Alentejo Electric, rich yet fresh, oak aged. One of Portugal’s and Alentejo’s most impressive whites. Hot Under 20€ | 19.9€ | 95 |
| 7 | 2017 Wine & Soul Pintas Character Red / Douro Vibrant, elegant, tense, fresh. Old field blends can make stunningly balanced reds. Often overshadowed by top blend ‘Pintas’, this is a hidden gem. | 23.4€ | 94 |
| 8 | 2018 Poças Vinho da Roga Red / Douro Gluglu, juicy, elegant, tense. A steal for the price. Hot Under 20€ | 18€ | 94 |
| 9 | Alambre Moscatel 20 Anos Fortificado / Moscatel de Setúbal Luscious, thrilling, intensely aromatic. One of Portugal’s biggest treasures. Hot Fortified | 30€ | 94 |
| 10 | 2019 Wine & Soul Guru White / Douro Complex, seductive, oaked aged field blend. Top-notch Douro white. Maybe the best Guru ever. | 28.9€ | 95 |
| 11 | 1970 Taylor’s Single Harvest Tawny / Port Sumptuous, ethereal, complex, vibrant. Taylor’s 50 Years Old Single Harvest is consistently amongst the best of the year. Hot Fortified | 300€ | 96 |
| 12 | 2016 Quinta Maria Izabel Sublime Red / Douro Gluglu, seductive, tense, ethereal. Douro and elegance rarely go together, but Sublime is elegance at its finest. Fine Portugal | 85€ | 95 |
| 13 | 2009 Casa da Passarella Vindima Red / Dão High-class, seductive, sous-bois. This red puts Dão back on the map of the finest Portuguese wines. Fine Portugal | 195€ | 95 |
| 14 | NV Quinta de Sant’Ana Ramisco Red / Lisboa Atlantic-influenced, earthy, vibrant, salty. Age-worthy Ramisco is a treat . Fine Portugal | 50€ | 94 |
| 15 | 2017 Pormenor Reserva White / Douro Classy, creamy, elegant, finely balanced, oak-aged. One of Portugal’s best whites made by a rising star. | 26.5€ | 94 |
| 16 | 2018 SOU Alvarinho Quinta de Santiago & Mira do Ó White / Vinho Verde / Monção e Melgaço Thriling, electric, finely balanced, tense. Just like the two people who make this wine happen. Fine Portugal | 32€ | 94 |
| 17 | 2019 António Maçanita Chão dos Ermitas Tinta Carvalha Red / Alentejo Juicy, thrilling, elegant, firm, ethereal. Dangerously drinkable Alentejo red. | 25€ | 93 |
| 18 | 2019 Espera Wines Espera Castelão NatCool Red / Lisboa Gluglu, juicy, fresh, intense, Atlantic-influenced. Hot under 20 for 15 euros? How much can I order? Hot Under 20€ | 14.9€ | 92 |
| 19 | 2015 Quinta do Gradil Ganita Red / Lisboa High-class, elegant, Atlantic-influenced. Lisboa needs more top-notch reds like this. Fine Portugal | 130€ | 95 |
| 20 | 2017 Quinta da Gricha Talhão 8 Touriga Nacional Red / Douro Complex, spicy, vibrant, fresh. One of Douro’s best reds. Fine Portugal | 40€ | 94 |
| 21 | 2018 Quinta do Vesúvio Vintage Port Vintage Port / Port Luscious, dried wild herbs, supple, velvety. Hot Fortified | 70€ | 94 |
| 22 | 2018 Quinta do Convento Reserva White White / Douro Sharp, tense, high-high-altitude vineyards, oak-aged. Hot Under 20€ | 18€ | 93 |
| 23 | 2011 Raríssimo Branco White / Dão Complex, creamy, vibrant, oak-aged. Fine Portugal | 55€ | 93 |
| 24 | 2018 Dom Vicente Malvasia Fina White / Dão Aromatic, fresh, mineral, finely balanced. Hot Under 20€ | 12.9€ | 92 |
| 25 | 2019 Kopke Winemaker’s Collection Tinto Cão Rosé / Douro Elegant, fresh, floral, silky, ethereal, 100% Tinto Cão. | 20€ | 92 |
| 26 | 2018 Filipa Pato Post Quer..s Baga Red / Bairrada Juicy, pure fruit, vibrant, amphora. Hot Under 20€ | 16.4€ | 92 |
| 27 | 2019 Márcio Lopes Proibido Clarete Red / Douro Gluglu, elegant, juicy, vibrant, fresh. Hot Under 20€ | 15€ | 91 |
| 28 | 2016 AdegaMãe Terroir White / Lisboa High-class, vibrant, mouthwatering, oak-aged, Atlantic-influenced. Fine Portugal | 49€ | 94 |
| 29 | 2018 Ferreira Vintage Port Vintage / Port Luscious, ripe, sensual, firm. Hot Fortified | 99€ | 94 |
| 30 | 2019 Azores Wine Company Terrantez White / Azores Thrilling, mineral, salty, volcanic. Fine Portugal | 45€ | 93 |
| 31 | 2018 Vale dos Ares Alvarinho “Borras Finas” White / Vinho Verde / Monção e Melgaço Electric, complex, finely balanced, aged on lees. Hot Under 20€ | 15.99€ | 92 |
| 32 | 2018 Casal das Aires Pinot Noir Red / Tejo Gluglu, elegant, juicy, vibrant, fresh. | 34€ | 92 |
| 33 | 2018 Pirata da Viúva Red / Colares Gluglu, juicy, mouth-watering, Atlantic-influenced, Castelão. Hot Under 20€ | 16.25€ | 91 |
| 34 | 2018 Pico Wines Terrantez do Pico White / Azores Thriling, salty, sharp, volcanic. Fine Portugal | 49.9€ | 93 |
| 35 | 1960 Kopke Colheita Tawny / Port Luscious, dried fruits, silky, complex. Hot Fortified | 399€ | 95 |
| 36 | 2018 Muxagat Os Xistos Altos White / Douro Firm, mouthwatering, oak and egg-aged, high-altitude vineyards. | 21€ | 94 |
| 37 | 1998 António Saramago J.M.S. Moscatel Superior Fortificado / Moscatel de Setúbal Luscious, thrilling, intense. Fine PortugalHot Fortified | 59€ | 94 |
| 38 | 2015 Casa da Passarella O Oenólogo Vinhas Velhas Red / Dão Pure, elegant, classy, red + white 80-yr-old field blend. Hot Under 20€ | 18.3€ | 91 |
| 39 | 2016 Charme Clarete Red / Douro Gluglu, vibrant, fruity, tense. | 31.5€ | 91 |
| 40 | 1989 Dalva Colheita Golden White Porto White Tawny / Port Luscious, thriling, superb acidity. Hot Fortified | 111.9€ | 94 |
| 41 | 2014 Periquita Classico Red / Setúbal Wonderfully austere, complex, earthy, 100% Castelão/Periquita. | 25€ | 94 |
| 42 | 2018 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port Vintage Port / Port Luscious, rich, exuberant, fresh, firm. Hot Fortified | 78.5€ | 94 |
| 43 | 2018 Casa de Vilacetinho Avesso Reserva Branco / Vinho Verde Mineral, creamy, fresh, oak-aged. Hot Under 20€ | 15€ | 93 |
| 44 | 2018 Fonseca Guimaraes Vintage Port Vintage Port / Port Luscious, seductive, fresh, firm. | 50€ | 93 |
| 45 | 2019 Quinta de Chocapalha Chardonnay White / Lisboa Aromatic, fresh, lees-aged, Atlantic-influenced. Hot Under 10€ | 9€ | 92 |
| 46 | 2019 Herdade Do Rocim Amphora Red / Alentejo Gluglu, salty, elegant, amphora. Hot Under 20€ | 14.15€ | 92 |
| 47 | 2019 Ribeiro Santo Bastardo Red / Dão Gluglu, juicy, elegant, tense. A steal for the price. Hot Under 20€ | 15€ | 92 |
| 48 | 2017 Mira do Ó Arinto Reserva White / Lisboa/Bucelas Mineral, fresh, salty, tense. Hot Under 20€ | 16.5€ | 92 |
| 49 | 2018 Taboadella Alfrocheiro Red / Dão Seductive, earthy, firm, altitude vinyeards, 100% Alfrocheiro Hot Under 20€ | 15€ | 93 |
| 50 | 2018 Vinha das Romãs Red / Alentejo Juicy, supple, finely balanced, delicious. Hot Under 20€ | 14€ | 92 |
| 51 | 2019 Quinta do Regueiro Primitivo Alvarinho Branco / Vinho Verde / Monção e Melgaço Vibrant, mouthwatering, sharp, precise, firm. Hot Under 20€ | 15€ | 93 |
| 52 | 2015 Herdade do Moinho Antão Vaz Red / Alentejo Intense, foresty, complex, firm, finely balanced. | 39.9€ | 92 |
| 53 | 2016 Kopke Winemaker’s Collection Folgazão & Rabigato White / Douro Electric, mineral, fresh, oak-aged. | 30€ | 93 |
| 54 | 2018 Quinta da Pedra Escrita White / Douro Vibrant, mineral, altitude vinyeards, oak-aged. Hot Under 20€ | 12.9€ | 92 |
| 55 | 2018 Pombal do Vesúvio Red / Douro Spicy, foresty, round yet firm. Hot Under 20€ | 15€ | 92 |
| 56 | 2019 Anselmo Mendes Alvarinho Contacto White / Vinho Verde / Monção e Melgaço Vibrant, supple, fresh, finely balanced. Hot Under 10€ | 9.99€ | 92 |
| 57 | 2019 Alvarinho Soalheiro Granit White / Vinho Verde / Monção e Melgaço Thrilling, mineral, Alvarinho. Hot Under 20€ | 10.5€ | 92 |
| 58 | 2018 Mainova Red / Alentejo Gluglu, juicy, firm, tense. Hot Under 10€ | 9.95€ | 91 |
| 59 | 2019 Herdade do Rocim Fresh from Amphora Red / Alentejo Gluglu, light, vibrant, fresh, amphora. Hot Under 20€ | 12€ | 91 |
| 60 | 2019 Uivo Renegado Vinhas Velhas Red / Douro Gluglu, white and red grapes, old and altitude vines. Hot Under 10€ | 9.9€ | 91 |
| 61 | 2019 Pequenos Rebentos Atlântico 2019 Tinto Red / Vinho Verde Gluglu, vibrant, fruity, firm. Hot Under 20€ | 15€ | 91 |
| 62 | 2016 Niepoort Tinta Amarela Red / Douro Bright, juicy, elegant, vibrant, firm. | 30€ | 92 |
| 63 | 2014 Casa de Sabicos Reserva Red / Alentejo Ripe, complex, spicy, finely balanced, firm. Hot Under 20€ | 14.5€ | 92 |
| 64 | 2019 Poças Fora de Série Orange Orange / Douro Amber coloured, austere, vibrant, mouthwatering, oak-fermented. Hot Under 20€ | 19.5€ | 91 |
| 65 | 2017 Monte Bluna Bluníssima Red / Lisboa Austere, foresty, leathery, elegant, 100% Aragonez. Fine Portugal | 60€ | 94 |
| 66 | 2015 Quinta Foz de Arouce Vinhas Velhas Red / Beira Atlântica High-class, complex, Baga, spicy, Atlantic-influenced, 100% Baga. Fine Portugal | 45€ | 94 |
| 67 | 2018 Grande Rocim Reserva Branco White / Alentejo Complex, mouthwatering, oak-aged, 100% Arinto. Fine Portugal | 64.5€ | 93 |
| 68 | 2018 Herdade da Aldeia de Cima Reserva Red / Alentejo Complex, spicy, fresh, oak and amphora aged. Hot Under 20€ | 15.2€ | 92 |
| 69 | 2017 Roquette & Cazes Red / Douro Sexy, juicy, finely balanced. Hot Under 20€ | 19.9€ | 92 |
| 70 | 2019 XXVI Talhas Mestre Daniel Red / Alentejo Juicy, elegant, made in amphora/talha. Hot Under 20€ | 19.9€ | 92 |
| 71 | 2019 Quinta de Santa Teresa Avesso White / Vinho Verde Vibrant, creamy, organic and unfiltered. | 10€ | 91 |
| 72 | 2019 Quinta de Ventozelo Viosinho White / Douro Mineral, vibrant, elegant. Hot Under 20€ | 13€ | 91 |
| 73 | 2019 Rui Roboredo Madeira Natural Biológico Red / Beira Interior Gluglu, fruity, elegant, vibrant, natural. | 10€ | 91 |
| 74 | 2018 Aveleda Solos de Granito Alvarinho White / Vinho Verde Crispy, fruity, mineral, firm. Hot Under 10€ | 9.99€ | 91 |
| 75 | 2017 Quinta do Cotto Red / Douro Juicy, finely balanced, elegant, firm. Hot Under 10€ | 7.4€ | 91 |
| 76 | 2015 Quinta da Costa do Pinhão Gradual Red / Douro Fruity, finely balanced, high-altitude vineyards. Hot Under 20€ | 11.9€ | 91 |
| 77 | 2016 Lés-a-Lés Medieval de Ourém Red / Lisboa Gluglu, juicy, vibrant, firm. | 22.5€ | 91 |
| 78 | 2017 Luis Seabra Granito Cru White / Vinho Verde / Monção e Melgaço Vibrant, ripe, rich yet elegant, firm, Alvarinho. Hot Under 10€ | 9.5€ | 91 |
| 79 | 2018 Planet Mouraz Nina Bio Rosé / Dão Gluglu, elegant, fresh, white and red grapes, old vines. Hot Under 20€ | 14€ | 90 |
| 80 | NV Dalva Pure Tawny Reserve Tawny / Port Fresh, sexy, delicious. Hot Under 20€ | 15€ | 90 |
| 81 | 2019 Cedro do Noval White / Douro Floral, great volume, fresh. Hot Under 20€ | 13.3€ | 91 |
| 82 | 2017 Quinta do Pessegueiro Cão Danado Red / Douro Wonderfully austere, foresty, unique, firm. Hot Under 20€ | 19€ | 92 |
| 83 | 2017 Quinta do Pinto Syrah Red / Lisboa Finely balanced, spicy, earthy, 5% white grapes. Fine Portugal | 44.85€ | 93 |
| 84 | 2016 Luis Seabra Castelão MONO-C Red / Douro Juicy, round, fresh, oak-aged. | 23€ | 91 |
| 85 | 2019 Gerações da Talha Farrapo Red / Alentejo Vibrant, juicy, amphora/talha. Hot Under 20€ | 18€ | 91 |
| 86 | 2019 Abanico Reserva White / Dão Rich texture, finely balanced, oak-aged. Hot Under 10€ | 8.49€ | 90 |
| 87 | 2018 Esporão Moreto Red / Alentejo Juicy, elegant, fresh, amphora. | 25€ | 90 |
| 88 | NV Infinitude Pinot Noir e Merlot Red / Sintra Vibrant, fresh, foresty, earthy, elegant. Hot Under 20€ | 13.5€ | 91 |
| 89 | 2017 COZs vn-C2 bg Tinto / Bairrada Gluglu, juicy, vibrant, foresty, Atlantic-influenced. | 28.5€ | 91 |
| 90 | 2018 Niepoort Voyeur Red / Douro Gluglu, juicy, elegant, amphora. Hot Under 20€ | 16.25€ | 91 |
| 91 | 2019 Quinta do Ameal Solo Unico White / Vinho Verde Vibrant, crispy, fresh, 100% Loureiro. Hot Under 20€ | 14.99€ | 91 |
| 92 | 2018 Quinta do Popa Black Edition Red / Douro Juicy, fresh, finely balanced. Hot Under 20€ | 14.2€ | 91 |
| 93 | 2018 Post Scriptum Red / Douro Expressive, concentrated, fresh. Hot Under 20€ | 14.99€ | 90 |
| 94 | 2019 Ciste Menina d’Uva Red / Trás-os-Montes Gluglu, juicy, elegant, fresh. Hot Under 20€ | 18€ | 90 |
| 95 | 2016 Dinamite Blanc de Blancs Grand Reserve Brut Sparkling Sparkling / Bairrada Creamy, silky, fresh. Hot Under 20€ | 16€ | 90 |
| 96 | 2019 Pequenos Rebentos Ancestral Pet Nat Pet Nat / Vinho Verde Bubbly, fresh, mouthwatering, firm. Hot Under 20€ | 15.9€ | 90 |
| 97 | 2018 Adega Mayor Sangiovese Red / Alentejo Bright, juicy, elegant. Hot Under 20€ | 15.79€ | 90 |
| 98 | 2017 Frey Palheto Red / Douro Gluglu, white and red grapes, high-altitude vineyards. Hot Under 20€ | 19.9€ | 90 |
| 99 | 2017 Jardim de Granito Touriga Nacional Red / Dão Bright, juicy, foresty, vibrant. Hot Under 20€ | 14.75€ | 90 |
| 100 | 2018 Hugo Mendes Vital Lisboa Branco / Lisboa Vibrant, sharp, salty, tense, 100% Vital. | 20€ | 90 |
Andre Ribeirinho 
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