Under the leadership of second generation Director Marc Olivera, Tri-Vin Imports has exploded in its reach over the past six years. Tri-Vin specializes in Portugal and the firm practically has a monopoly on the importation of Portugal’s leading independent wineries. They are similar to us at Grape in a way, as they are a family owned wine company with a national import arm and their own distribution arm operating in three states (NY, NJ, CT). Our first Tri-Vin load arrives this week, and it is composed of a dozen of their best selling wines. We are only scratching the surface so far as what is available, and to say I’m excited about this acquisition would be quite the understatement.
DFJ Vinhos is both a new and old producer for us at Grape – We worked with DFJ directly at the time of the winery’s inception in the late 1990’s, and since then they’ve come a long way. The company is without question the dominant Portuguese player in the British fine wine market, and their USA sales are nothing short of “on fire.”
DFJ is owned and operated by Winemaker José Neiva Coreia, who was born on the Quinta de Porto Franco, a tremendously historic wine estate that predates the founding of Portugal. Most grapes used at DFJ are sourced from this estate to this day. Anyone in the Portuguese wine scene will tell you José is as creative as they come, blending improbable grape varieties with surprising results. DFJ is producing the #1 best selling Portuguese red wine in the US market, ‘Paxis.’
DFJ Paxis 2013 Red Blend. “This dark, structured wine, with its balanced blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz, is firm with tannins and dense berry fruits. Full in the mouth, it is a concentrated wine that brings out a strongly chalky texture. The wine is still moving towards a rich future. Drink from 2017. 90 Points.” — Wine Enthusiast
DFJ 2011 Portada Red Blend. A dark colored, dense wine that is rich and firmly structured. Aged in wood, it holds flavors of plum and berry fruits balanced with a fresh acidity. This is a wine for aging, its structure a powerful statement. 90 points.” — Wine Enthusiast
Casa Santos Lima is one of Portugal’s leading producers in terms of both quality, press, and volume. The company was founded by Joaquim Santos Lima, who was way ahead of his time, exporting fine wine in the early 1900’s. Joaquim’s Grandchildren revitalized Casa Santos Lima in 1990, replanting most vines and bringing winemaking quality to world-class levels. The company accounts for 40% of the wine grown in the Lisboa region, and they are also involved in the regions of Algarve, Alentejo, Vinho Verde, and Douro with approximately 400 hectares of vineyards.
The focus at Casa Santos Lima is clearly on value wine – Their ‘LAB’ line is the fastest growing Portuguese brand in the US market, and while it is very rare for distributors to order semi-trucks filled with just one wine, this is the norm for most who deal with Casa Santos Lima’s new ‘Colossal Reserva.’
Casa Santos Lima 2015 Colossal Reserva. “Plum and boysenberry notes weave together with dried herb and smoky mineral accents in this sleek red. Savory spice details chime in on the finish. Offers moderate, grippy tannins. Drink now through 2020. 90 points, #60 Top 100 Wines of 2017” — Wine Spectator
Casa Santos Lima 2014 Confidencial. “One of the top wines from this producer, this blend of at least 10 grape varieties comes from its estate. The wood aging has added sophistication to this already concentrated wine. With black fruits to the fore and firm tannins, it will age well. 92 points.” – Wine Enthusiast
Enjoy these new arrivals, look forward to many more, and here is to a long and exciting future between Grape and Tri-Vin!
Leave A Comment