Howard’s Folly or not? A Yorkshire/Australia/Portugal partnership

It strikes me that Howard Bilton is no fool. The Yorkshire born businessman is a fan of Portuguese wines. His winemaker is Australian born David Baverstock. And where else to grow Alvarinho but in the Vinho Verde sub-regions of Melgaco e Moncao or Alicante Bouschet but in Alentejo?

Following on from Howard’s Folly Alvarinho 2010, here is my note on Howard’s Folly Sonhador Alvarinho 2011 (same wine but Sonhador, meaning dreamer, ‘Portugueses up’ the name), followed by a note on my pick of the bunch of his Alentejo reds, the 2007 Reserve.

Howard’s Folly Sonhador Alvarinho 2011 (Vinho Verde, Moncao e Melgaco)

A mouthwatering nose and palate runs the gamut of tropical (pineapple & passionfruit), stone (apricot and peach) and green fruits (tomato). A fleshy, juicy, persistent aromatic wine with great appeal for lovers of ripe New Sauvignon Blanc. 13%  A fleshy, juicy, persistent aromatic wine with great appeal for lovers of ripe New Sauvignon Blanc. 13% £12.50 at The Halifax Wine Company

Howard’s Folly Reserva 2007 (VR Alentejano)

This blend of Syrah, Alicante Bouschet & Touriga Nacional from Estremoz fruit is aged for 12 months in new and used French oak. Compared with the ‘basic’ 2007 and Sonhador Red 2008, the Alicante Bouschet component seems much more pronounced and to good effect. At any rate, I like the savouriness wed to freshness and structure here. This is a persistent, animated red with liquorice-edged black fruits and a mineral undertow to its long finish. In 2010, fruit was sourced from Alentejo’s cooler Portalegre region – a sub-region which is on the up (see the penultimate heading here). 14%