11/6/25 - 

I couldn't be more excited about today's email. We always love doing producer-focused emails that get into all things nerdy, be it geology or deep-cut moments in the history of winemaking. However, every now and then, we get a little zealous, a little thirsty, and a little eager to put out a wide-ranging offer more in the bacchanalian spirit of things. The wines of Iberia are largely responsible for this newfound craving of ours. This fall, between many fun in-store tastings and plenty of jaw-dropping sample bottles, the peninsula has demanded our attention to the point we just had to put together a smorgasbord of favorites. The wines on offer today will range from bottles we've loved for years to up-and-comers that have stimulated our palates in recent weeks. Rare wines from Colares, brilliant Priorat from Terroir al Limit, sherries with extreme age, and everything in between can be found here. 
 
-Nicolas Douglas

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A corner of the epic cellar at Viuva Gomes in Colares (Photo: E. Lillie)

Colares

I wish there were a cooler way to say it, but if you know, you just know. Though the wines of Colares are indeed of great historical value, I can’t blame those who haven’t taken the deep dive; there are roughly 50 remaining acres of Malvasia de Colares, and those of us who are privy tend to develop a habit of collecting bottles the second we manage to find them. From the first Malvasia de Colares I ever tasted -which was of the newest vintage at the time- on to the lightly aged 2017 that our good friends at NLC Wines were kind enough to recently share, and rounding up with these insane experiences of 1930’s Colares that I have heard more than a few legends of, I have more than enough evidence to say you can drink these wines now or age them indefinitely. Much of this age-ability stems from the region’s sandy soils which have always been essentially uninhabitable for phylloxera, meaning the vines here are predominantly very old, yielding very concentrated wines. For these reasons, we are incredibly grateful to be highlighting the wines of our two favorite producers in the area: Casal do Ramilo and Viuva Gomes. Both estates have histories that date back over a century. The lees project from Ramilo is more experimental in theory, and should age tremendously, whereas the Viuva Gomes Malvasia de Colares is more traditional in style. Did we mention the Ramisco from 1967 ?

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William Wouters (l), Filipa Pato (2nd from right) and a few happy folks from the CSW staff

Filipa Pato and William Wouters 

The wines of this wife-and-husband duo have a sort of “meta” aspect to them. Filipa is the daughter of many folks’ favorite Portuguese winemaker, Luis Pato, and William is a very accomplished chef, sommelier and restauranteur hailing from Antwerp. The two farm exclusively native grapes in Bairrada, employing biodynamic methods. Having recently met with them in our store, I can attest to the joy they take in caring for their land. They got very giddy when we inquired about what lengths they go to keep their vines and soils healthy, proceeding to dig through their phones for videos of the pigs they've introduced to the vineyards in order to keep the soils fertile. Between Filipa and William is a seemingly endless wealth of knowledge on their local climate, the grapes they work with, and the rabbit-hole niche subjects that go into winemaking. Perhaps not too unlike the way people can sometimes look like their dogs, these two really resemble the wines they make. Earthiness and depth make me think of the beautiful relationship Filipa has with her native Bairrada, while the balance between gorgeous fruit and (this is specific to the Baga) subtle bitterness is a reminder of William’s culinary background. This is all of course fanatical thinking, but I’m just smitten with these two and their truly admirable project.

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Eben and João at Chambers Restaurant, Nov. 2025

Quinta do Infantado

The wines of João Roseira at Quinta do Infantado have been staples on the shelf at Chambers Street since the early days. João is a close friend, a gentle and humorous individual, and also a catalyst for the vibrant and very promising new Portuguese wine scene. Here are some notes about the Quinta that João composed for a recent dinner at Chambers Restaurant:
 
Quinta do Infantado has a long, rich history since it was created in 1816. In 2016, it proudly celebrated its bicentennial anniversary. The estate was originally created for Infante D. Pedro (hence its name). Since 1907, it has been owned by the Roseira family, who have passionately managed the estate for over a century. Just 4 km from Pinhão, in the unique terroir of Gontelho - renowned for its exceptional wines - Quinta do Infantado spans 46 ha of vineyards, all classified as "Letter A," the highest quality designation in the Douro Valley, akin to a Grand Cru: 12 are cultivated organically and 34 in sustainable farming. Selection massale of over 20 Douro grape varieties, both white and red, planted across diverse exposures and altitudes. This diversity allows to produce an array of distinctive wines without artificial manipulation. Using the principles of terroir and vigneron, in 1979, Infantado revolutionized the Douro by becoming the first estate bottled Porto. This bold move broke the long-standing monopoly held by the négociants of Vila Nova de Gaia. Today, Quinta do Infantado continues to innovate while honoring its deep-rooted traditions, producing wines that reflect the unique character of its fantastic terroir.
 
At Quinta do Infantado, Portos undergo a longer fermentation compared to other producers, resulting in lower residual sugar, higher natural alcohol content, and, consequently, less brandy added during fortification. This approach allows the true character of the wine to shine through. Infantado's unique philosophy produces Portos that are more vinous and lighter, making them an excellent choice for pairing with meals.
 
In 2001, Quinta do Infantado ventured into producing DOC Douro dry wines, marking the release of its first vintage. Today, the estate offers distinct cuvées of Douro wines that balance sun-kissed richness with refreshing qualities.

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Rubén Parera at Chambers Street Wines

Catalunya

Catalunya shouldn't be compared with other ‘great’ wine regions, and that is perhaps what makes a great wine region after all. While it has earned a reputation for being a burgeoning hotspot for non-interventionist winemaking, I think of it as a place where quality of ingredient has become the connecting point for an array of producers with an overwhelming amount of individuality and personal style between them. At a recent tasting in our store, Ruben of Finca Parera (pictured above) spoke proudly of the disregard he's received from older generations of Catalan wine drinkers. “They say it's like vegetable juice," he told us with a laugh, "that's the whole point!" He is right to be proud of his wines. Without the help of any commercial fertilizers, chemicals, or yeasts, wines like Kronos and Clar have captured the hearts and minds of many, myself included.

Simultaneously, the wines of Terroir al Limit have scored 100 Parker points, a curious feat for a winery that looks to avoid overextraction, overripening, and is increasingly avoiding the use of any wood. While these two wineries may be quite different from one another in terms of what their wines express, I'd argue organic farming is fundamental to both of their success in harnessing their picture-esque Mediterranean terroirs. We're incredibly excited to be offering a range of wines from these great producers, along with some other personal favorites from Pepe Raventos and Vinyes Tortuga.

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Eben with Curro Barreño from Fedellos

Fedellos

I’ve now lost track of how many great reactions I’ve seen elicited by the Fedellos wines. A recent in-store tasting with Curro himself pouring the wines was scored by a long series of customers exclaiming in excitement for the Conasbrancas blanco; at a recent portfolio tasting at the David Bowler office, it was sommeliers and buyers alike ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the ethereal quality of the Bastarda; the kicker for me has been the reaction of other Spanish winemakers, who have consistently lit up upon mention of my excitement for the wines. This is all to say that while these wines are delicious to the blind-taster, there’s something added to the experience when you put them in the context of broader trends in winemaking around the world. Founded in 2011, the winery’s focus lies in vinifying old plots of native grape varieties which have been oft overlooked in favor of vineyards which were historically warmer. These are wines that are inspired by what the winemakers see in the landscape, as opposed to searching for a pre-conceived style; co-fermentations like the Lomba dos Ares and the Conasbrancas are fresh with lively fruit character but tremendous depth to match. For the monovarietal wines As Xaras (100% Mencia) and Bastarda (100%Trousseau/ Bastarda), the signature varietal characteristics provide a framework that supports incredible freshness and depth. If it's your first time trying these wines, I highly recommend getting one of everything and picking out a favorite; they are all just too good to pass up.

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Last, but not least, and just in time for the tail end of Sherry Week, we have some extremely limited Osborne Rare and VORS Sherries—direct from their bodega in El Puerto de Santa María. As importer Ole & Obrigado explains, "these solera-aged treasures, with century-old blends dating back to the 1700s and 1800s, are among the oldest commercially available fortified wines in the world."
 
Each bottle comes in a wooden box and can be enjoyed over the years once opened. We won't have any to offer later this year, so don't delay if you have someone you'd like to gift a very special bottle to this winter! Brief info on the bottles is below, with extensive notes on each bottling on its respective product page. Thanks to Ole & Obrigado for the informative text!

Bodegas Osborne’s Rare Collection is among the most sought-after botas in the entire Sherry Triangle. These wines were, for decades, only consumed by the Osborne family on the rarest of occasions – these are from their own soleras, dating back hundreds of years, and were never intended for commercial consumption. The soleras were topped up even more infrequently than the VORS soleras in the winery, and over the years, these have become some of the rarest finds in the Sherry Triangle. Rather than analogizing these sherries to other VORS sherries, stylistically they are closer to a well-aged Boal Madeira. 

Osborne Rare Amontillado Solera AOS 1903 NV
The Amontillado AOS refers to “Antonio Osborne Solera,” the son of Tomás Osborne Guezala, and was set up on the day he was born. It was not run until his 21st birthday.
 
Osborne Rare Oloroso Solera BC 200 1864 NV
The BC 200 Oloroso originally came from three soleras labeled A, B and C. The solera labeled A was sold to Russia in the late nineteenth century, leaving the B and C soleras to make this wine.
 
Osborne Rare Oloroso Solera India 1922 NV
This Oloroso has an average age of 25 years at bottling from two criaderas set in 1922. There was also a one-time addition of Pedro Ximénez made decades ago though no one knows exactly when
 
Osborne Rare Palo Cortado PAP 1911 NV
This particular solera was from six forgotten sherry butts destined for England which never made the trip.

Osborne’s VORS Collection showcases some of the oldest and most exceptional soleras in Jerez, each with a certified minimum age of 30 years. Originally kept for family use, these wines offer unmatched depth, complexity, and historical significance within the Sherry Triangle.
 
Osborne Venerable PX 1902 VORS
The Venerable solera is the most recent of the four VORS wines from Osborne, dating from 1902.
 
Osborne Amontillado 51-1A 1830 VORS
The Amontillado 51-1A (called “Amontillado 51 Primero”) is one of the oldest existing soleras in the Jerez district dating back to 1830. While sold as a VORS (guaranteed minimum age of 30 years), it is at least twice that age and probably older.
 
Osborne Sibarita Oloroso 1792 VORS
The Sibarita Oloroso solera was founded in 1792 and is among the oldest soleras of Jerez if not the world.
 
Osborne Capuchino Palo Cortado 1790 VORS
The Capuchino Palo Cortado is a rare wine coming from the oldest solera in Jerez. The name Capuchino refers to the Capuchin monks who live in Jerez.

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