DALVA´s cocktails

Posted by C.daSILVA / at Saturday, May 12, 2012 / / 0 comments

The freshness and the fruity flavors of the DALVA Rosé are the key attributes of a Port wine that is very easy to drink and incredibly fruity, it can be enjoyed plain, always very chilled (8º C), or in a rainbow of colors and flavors with several ingredients (cocktail).

Rosé Purple
5 cl of DALVA Rosé;
1 spoon with blackberry syrup;
10 cl of tonic water;
Use the shaker, adding ice and fresh blackberries.

Rosé Bloody
5 cl of DALVA Rosé;
5 cl of orange juice;
1 spoon with brown sugar;
1 spoon with gooseberry;
1 slice of grapefruit or orange;
Use the shaker, a cocktail full of vitamins that should be drunk very chilled.

Rosé Mojito
5 cl of DALVA Rosé;
5 cl of sparkling water;
1 teaspoon with lemon syrup;
5 mint leafs;
1 teaspoon with brown sugar;
1 lemon slice;
Use the shaker and drink it very chilled…refreshing.

Rosé Grape
2 grapes;
1 slice of orange;
6/7 cl of berries juice;
6/7 cl of DALVA Rosé;
a little bit of chili;
Some maceration, then use the shaker... a rainbow of flavors.

Gonçalo Devesas

Vintage Character or Ruby Reserve ?

Posted by C.daSILVA / at Monday, May 07, 2012 / / 0 comments

Vintage Character or Ruby Reserve ?

This blended Port is approved by the “Instituto do Vinho do Porto” tasting panel, the quality is necessarily better than the fine Ruby, produced with medium quality grapes.

Normally, what was left over from the three last Vintage years is used in the Ruby Reserve blend.

Since 2002 the appellation “Vintage Character” has been prohibited by the “Instituto do Vinho do Porto” to avoid the misunderstanding with a Vintage quality.
The Ruby Reserve presents an intense red dark purple colour and a vibrant aroma of wild berries blackberries and redcurrants, it has a really pulpy character.
A young and vivid fruity flavour, smooth and balanced, juicy, very inviting.

Cellaring: Store upright in a cool dark place.
Serving: Serve between 16 and 18ºC.
Served as an aperitif or paired with strong cheeses, or desserts based on wild berries or dark chocolate.

Gonçalo Devesas

The cork

Posted by C.daSILVA / at Friday, May 04, 2012 / / 0 comments

The importance of a cork...

What is the mission of a cork ?

The cork must avoid air entrances, germs and bacterias that may spoiled the Wine.
To be considered a good quality cork it must be solid and compact, both sides should be flat with no pores and fissures.
A good quality cork will last for sure up to twenty five years.

The famous expression: " This Wine is cork tainted !"

First of all the cork by itself do not leaves any unpleasant aroma in the Wine, during the bottling the Wine may acquires some fungus, if the cork gets some cracks during this process, so it is extremely important that the bottling area is in perfect hygienic conditions.

For a good conservation of both cork and Wine, the bottles should be stored horizontaly in a constant temperature not exceding 18º C.

Gonçalo Devesas

The Vintage and the bottle

Posted by C.daSILVA / at Thursday, April 26, 2012 / / 0 comments

Despite the time spent in large stainless steel or oak vats (10.000 ltrs to 70.000 ltrs) the Vintage needs to be laid down in the bottle and rest for some years.

So that the character of that particular Wine/year may mature properly in the bottle.
This part of the ageing process is made without oxygen, so that the molecules and the decomposicion of the grape solids may acquire a refined and complex bouquet.

When a Wine is bottled, it contains small amounts of anhydrous carbonic and oxygen, the air that stays between the cork and the wine (the room space seen in the bottle neck) is absorbed by the wine, avoiding like this the apperance of bacterias.

During this maturation in the bottle it is extremely important to maintain the bottle laid down, so that the cork could be moistered and hermetic.

The bottles should be stored with no changes of temperature, the humidity should be up to 70% .

Gonçalo Devesas

DALVA DOURO GRANDE RESERVA TINTO 2009

Posted by C.daSILVA / at Friday, April 20, 2012 / / 0 comments

DALVA DOURO GRANDE RESERVA TINTO 2009

Vinified with grapes from old vines, selected from traditional winegrowers of C. da Silva, it is the result of a careful vinification.

The DALVA DOURO GRANDE RESERVA TINTO 2009 matured in 600 liter barrels of French oak for twenty-four months.

This GRANDE RESERVA TINTO 2009 matures in our cellars, now aging in bottle before its great appearance.

On taste it is very balanced, toasted, vanilla notes, flowing into a fruity finish, intense, fresh and long.

The

Gonçalo Devesas ageing in bottle will last for one year, being able to increase the complexity and make the tasting even more elegant.

Company´s asset.

Posted by C.daSILVA / at Thursday, March 15, 2012 / / 0 comments

C. da Silva´s Company was established in 1862 under the name Corrêa Ribeiro & Filhos and has carried the seal bearer of long time supplier to the Portuguese Royal House.

In 1933, newly arrived from Brazil, Clemente da Silva (C. da Silva´s founder) inherited the Company by marrying with Corrêa Ribeiro´s daughter.

Clemente da Silva has fulfilled a lifetime dream by creating a winemaking business of excelence.
Because he had some capital coming from business ventures in the former Portuguese colony, he opted for starting the Company from scratch and he did it according to his own expectations.

Here is an outstanding living evidence of that time !

A bottle of "Corrêa Ribeiro & Filhos" with the Royal message at the front label, a rareness of long time ago...

Gonçalo Devesas

DALVA Late Bottled Vintage 2007

Posted by C.daSILVA / at Monday, March 12, 2012 / / 0 comments

Late Bottle Vintage was originally a wine that had been destined for bottling as Vintage Port, but because of a lack of demand, was kept in large wooden cask for longer than had been planned.

Late Bottled Vintage ages in cask for a minimum of four and a maximum of six years after the harvest.
Because of this long ageing in wood, the LBV´s are less astringent and full bodied than Vintage ports.

Considered by many the best relationship quality/price, the LBV has the advantage of being ready to drink without decanting.
Typically ready to drink when released to the market, LBV ports are the result of a single year's harvest and tend to be smoother and lighter bodied than a Vintage Port.

Late Bottled Vintage 2007

Presently the LBV 2007 that we´re selling has been aged for 5 years in oak vats, showing a smoother taste and a garnet color.
Our latest Late Bottled Vintage, harvested in 2007.

On the nose: blackfruits and licorice...

On the palate: Pulpy, blackberry´s jam, some herbal and spicy hints at the end... great relationship quality/price.

Gonçalo Devesas