Decanter World Wine Awards 2013: Portuguese trophy & gold medal winners

Quinta da Leda, Douro Superior

The results of Decanter World Wine Awards have just been officially announced at London International Wine Fair (LIWF). Below you’ll find a list of the Portuguese wines my panel awarded Gold medals and trophies.

For the second year in a row, a white wine picked up a Gold & Trophy – only the second white wine to do so in this the 10th anniversary of the competition. I was delighted to see it’s a Siria from Beira Interior – a region/variety which I tipped for success in 2009. Beyra is a new project from Rui Madeira whose company, VDS, also scooped the under £15 Red Douro Trophy.

VDS is the abbreviation for Vinhos do Douro Superior and, this year, both Douro trophy winners come from the Douro’s eastermost sub-region, the Douro Superior, home to the region’s pioneering iconic red wine Casa Ferreirinha Barca Velha. It’s younger sister, Casa Ferreirinha Quinta Da Leda 2010, bagged the Douro over £15 Trophy. Following in the footsteps of Casa Ferreirinha, Quinta do Vale Meao and Ramos Pinto, a number of leading Douro producers have planted new vineyards in the Douro Superior or are doing interesting things with old ones – see my reports here, here, here, here and here – another dynamic region to watch!

Although Moscatel De Setúbal and, for the third year running, Bacalhoa Vinhos, ran off with Trophy, the Douro – a veritable winemakers’ playground – was also among the fortified Moscatel Gold medal winners, with Rui Cunha’s 40 plus year old Secret Spot Moscatel do Douro.

Heading south, Bacalhoa Vinhos are not the only ones to enjoy repeat success. The under £15 Southern Red Portuguese Trophy went to Tagus Creek Shiraz/Trincadeira for the second time. Not bad for a wine which is just coming to end of a promotional period on deal at Asda for £4.50! See here for details (please note the vintage at Asda may be different).

Fancy tasting some trophy and medal winners yourself? Highlights from the 2013 Decanter World Wine Awards will be shown at a public tasting in London on 27 June. Tickets cost £20. Click here for details.

Beira Interior

Beyra Vermiosa Altitude 700 Mt 2012 – Gold & White Northern Portugal under £15 Trophy

Douro

Casa Ferreirinha Quinta Da Leda 2010 – Gold & Red Douro over £15 Trophy

Castello D’Alba Grande Reserva Vinhas Velhas 2011 – Gold & Red Douro under £15 Trophy

Tesco Finest Douro Red 2011 – Gold

Secret Spot Casco VII 40 Years Old Moscatel do Douro NV – Gold

Moscatel De Setúbal

Bacalhôa Moscatel De Setúbal 2000 – Gold & Portuguese Fortified over £15 Trophy

Casa Ermelinda Freitas Superior Moscatel De Setúbal 2003 – Gold

Bacalhôa Moscatel Roxo 2001 – Gold

Alentejo

Tagus Creek Shiraz-Trincadeira 2012 – Gold & Portuguese Southern Red Trophy under £15

Casa Agrícola Alexandre Relvas  Montinho São Miguel 2012 – Gold