2017 Nazare North Canyon Tinto
Named for the World's Most Powerful Wave — Portugal's Approachable Red
The 2017 Nazaré North Canyon Tinto takes its name from one of the most dramatic natural phenomena on earth: the Nazaré North Canyon, the vast underwater canyon off Portugal's Silver Coast that channels Atlantic swells into the towering waves that have made Nazaré the world capital of big-wave surfing. It is a name that carries energy, force, and a distinctly Portuguese sense of place — and the wine delivers on that promise with the warmth, depth, and generosity that this Cabernet Sauvignon and Aragonêz blend does so naturally.
My Wine Man on Nazaré North Canyon
Portugal is one of the wine world's most exciting and underappreciated countries — a nation with centuries of winemaking tradition and a growing generation of producers making wines of genuine quality and character at prices that the rest of Europe cannot match. The Nazaré North Canyon Tinto blends Cabernet Sauvignon with Aragonêz — the Portuguese name for Tempranillo, Spain's great red variety, which has found a natural home in Portugal's Atlantic-influenced wine regions. Together, they produce a wine of real character: the structure and dark fruit of Cabernet Sauvignon married to the warmth, spice, and approachability of Aragonêz, with the Atlantic influence of the Silver Coast keeping freshness and acidity in perfect balance. Eight years of bottle age has brought everything into harmony.
Tasting Notes
Deep ruby in the glass, with dark cherry, blackcurrant, and plum on the nose — the Cabernet Sauvignon providing structure and depth, the Aragonêz adding warmth and spice. A touch of dried herb and the earthy, mineral quality of Portugal's Atlantic coast completes the picture. The palate is medium to full-bodied, smooth, and food-friendly — a wine that rewards the table as much as the glass.
Style & Drinking Window
Medium to full-bodied with smooth tannins and a warm, food-friendly finish. Drinking beautifully now with 8 years of bottle age. No decanting required, though 20 minutes open will allow the aromatics to fully develop.
Food Pairing
Iberian reds and lamb are one of the wine world's classic pairings. We love this with Grass Fed White Stripe Premium Lamb Leg Boneless from My Meat Man — slow-roasted with rosemary and garlic, the herb-crusted, iron-rich character of the lamb echoes the Tinto's dark cherry, dried herb and earthy Atlantic-coast minerality, while the Aragonêz warmth and Cabernet structure carry the richness of the meat with effortless ease. A pairing that brings out the best of both.
Why This Is a Smart Buy
At HK$199, the Nazaré North Canyon Tinto delivers a Cabernet Sauvignon and Aragonêz blend with 8 years of bottle age from one of Europe's most exciting and undervalued wine countries. Portugal consistently offers some of the best value in the wine world — and this bottle is a compelling example of why.
Looking for a Different Style?
Explore more approachable Iberian reds from different producers:
- 2018 Douro Valley Vega Tinto DFJ Vinhos — a peer Portuguese red from the Douro Valley, Portugal's most celebrated wine region, from a different producer
- 2014 Viña Alarde Berberana Reserva Rioja — a Spanish Rioja Reserva with 11 years of bottle age — for those who want to explore the Iberian Peninsula's other great red wine tradition
- 2017 Torres Perpetual Priorat DOCa — a premium Spanish Priorat from one of Iberia's most celebrated producers — a natural step up in depth and complexity
