Paula scored this wine: 92/100

A great white wine from the Douro wine region, Pomares 2023 from Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo. Very excited to discover and taste this beautiful blend of indigenous grape varieties typical of the Douro region: Rabigato 40%, Gouveio 30% & Viosinho 30%. I got aromas and flavours of white peach and green apples. Perfect on its own at 'Happy Hour' moment or with grilled fish and seafood salads. Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo is an iconic Douro estate, combining a rich family history (Portuguese royalty, cellar dating back to 1764) with a modern vision led by the Amorim family. Located on unique terraces, it produces highly expressive wines from a variety of micro-terroirs. The 2023 is available at the SAQ (SAQ code: 13571064) at $19.75 (UPC code: 05604805004048)

Paula scored this wine: 91/100

This was my weekend wine pick - the absolute delicious blend Portada Reserva 2021 from DFJ Vinhos produced with Shiraz, Alicante Bouschet, Caladoc, Tannat and Touriga Nacional. Nice aromas and flavours of dark cherries and blackberry jam, with a spice note at the end. Great pairing with grilled chicken. 12.5% alcohol. 9 g/L sugar content. Available at the LCBO (LCBO code: #43064) at $14.95. Winemaker José Neiva Correia is known as a great creator of blended wines and his ability to work several grape varieties in the same wine. José Neiva' philosophy on seeking out the best in each grape: “When we combine different elements we can make more perfect wines, and give people more pleasure.”

Paula scored this wine: 90/100

This was my weekend wine pick - an absolute delicious blend from Quinta de la Rosa produced with 50% Touriga Nacional, 40% Touriga Franca and 10% Tinta Roriz. Nice aromas and flavours of cherries. Paired well with roasted veal and potatoes. 13.5% alcohol. 3.3 g/L sugar content. Available at the SAQ (SAQ code: 12640232) at $20.10 (UPC code: 05604846103397). And another great wine from the Douro wine region.

Paula scored this wine: 90/100

This was my weekend wine pick for Thanksgiving – a red wine blend from the Alentejo wine region in Portugal produced with 60% Trincadeira, 20 % Aragonez and 20 % Syrah 20. A good full-bodied red with aromas and flavours of wild fruits and notes of vanilla and oak. Paired well with duck risotto. 13.5% alcohol. 8.5 g/L sugar content. Available at the SAQ (SAQ code: 13895552) at $15.25 (UPC code: 05600390410158). We can read on the site the story behind the name of this wine (Pêra Doce in Portuguese = sweet pear). "In the Alentejo house of Parras, Herdade da Candeeira, there were once a large number of fruit trees, including pear trees, which justified the property's old name, Herdade das Pereiras. They were juicy, sweet pears, ripened by the Alentejo sun. Today, the same sun ripens the grapes that produce the Pêra Doce whites and reds, as soft and tasty as the fruit that gave them their name."

Paula scored this wine: 91/100

This was my weekend wine pick – a red wine blend from the Bairrada wine region in Portugal produced with 75% Castelão, 20% Tinta Barroca and 5% Alfrocheiro. An elegant red wine with delicate dry finish with aromas and flavours of red berries and plum with floral notes. Paired well with olive oil pasta with veal. 12.5% alcohol. 2.1 g/L sugar content. Available at the SAQ (SAQ code: 13629001) at $25.40 (UPC code: 03581120199555). Produced by Tiago Teles Lda and represented by Sélection Rezin.