Portuguese food,wine at Tinkabell

RED VARIETALS

Tinta Roriz in Douro (the same grape is also known as Aragonez in the Alentejo region. Touriga Nacional in the Douro and Dao regions Baga in Bairrada region Trincadeira in the Alentejo region When an invitation for food and wine at Tinkabell, in Southerton in harare, with a promise of Portugal, was extended, it was doubtless in my mind, I was going to live an afternoon of “Portugal.” With my previous brief but wonderful interaction with Portuguese wines in Portugal, I was ready to go re-live wine memories.

The pleasant and charming Tinkabell Restaurant had a flight of three wines lined up for the eager wine lovers and enthusiasts present. Portuguese chicken and a beef rib dish choice, was made available for food lovers. This particular Saturday on a warm winters day embraced the thought of a food and wine afternoon. It elegantly began with a Rosé.

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A pink summer wine - Mateus Rosé

even though, I would had a taste of this wine a few months back, I am always one to advocate to tasting “everything” at all times. It is a blended pink wine with a delicate fizz made from an exquisite choice of Portuguese varieties, to mention a few — Baga, Tinta Barocca and Touriga Franca. Its appealing luscious coral colour is captivating, oozinging a radiation of clean and fresh. It’s forthcoming delicate nose, differed from the usual aromas that come with Rosés. The tiny bubbles gently caressed my palate, filling it with elegance and fun. This Rosé is easy drinking, balanced and spells enjoyment, fun and friends. This coral beauty is a winner.

A refreshing blend of white wine

This was a white blend with about 50% Encruzado grapes and a few other grapes in smaller percentages. General rule of thumb applies to all wines, regardless of where they are from. It’s important to have wines chilled at the right temperatures. This enables wine lovers to gain the maximum possible satisfaction out of a tasting. This wine reminded me of a Chardonnay. It had a pale to clear colour, followed by a nose that crossed from citrus fruits to tropical and a palate that was dry and finished off with a lingering zesty taste. Because it wasn’t chilled correctly, it’s definitely a wine I am going to taste again, this time chilled at the right temperature.

An integrated red blend

It was a wine that displayed structure and a fineness that is prevalent in old world wines. This blend of Alfrocheiro, which gives blends a rich colour and high tannins, Tinta Roriz, which reminds me of Cabernet Sauvignon’s firm tannins and Touriga Nacional, a Dao signature when it comes to red grapes in Portugal, providing for the solid aromas and again, a rich colour. This red wine had a balanced and integrated mouthfeel. The firm tannins indicated a promise of this wine tasting better a few to about five years later. It gave me the typical food wine appeal.

This relaxed afternoon of old world wines and Portuguese inspired food was serenaded by a live performance from harare’s musician, Mande Snyman. Quite a “fab” food and wine afternoon, I must admit. Tinkabell’s wine menu pleasantly surprised us, with the availability of a few other Portuguese wines. To enjoy the rest of the afternoon, my wine friends and I, opted for a Casal Garcia Vinho Verde White, a blend of Trajadura, Loureiro, Arinto and Azal. Its delectable freshness and distinct citrus pleasure wrapped this serene wine soiree. Perhaps the reason we had chosen this, was because we could liken it to “new world” wine tastes, who knows.

“new world” palates are at odds with “old world” palates wine lovers. As a wine lover or enthusiast, the taste experience of wines, is what builds your wine palate and wine knowledge. Relish the different tastes wine has to offer and travel the world in a glass of wine. hold-up your glasses and toast to the experience of wine tasting and of course, loving it. Till the next wine tasting, enjoy the alluring variety of grapes Portugal has to offer.

Source: — Jancis Robinson

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