What Setubal Moscatel should I look for in Lisbon?

[Mike K.]

I've never had any Setubal Moscatel and from reading the occasional notes here I'm itching to try it.

I'll be in Lisbon for a couple days in May - what are a few 'classic' bottlings I should look for to bring home?
Bottles that will 'wow' me and make me a believer?

Thanks!

[Frederick Blais]

Look for the old stuff from Jose Maria de Fonseca. I've tasted a special edition last year, a blend of 3 old vintage, I forget the named, it was really impressive, so was an old Bastardinho and 1900. Price are getting steep, not much stocks on the marget but demand in increasing rapidly!

[Eric Ifune]

JM Fonseca is the classic producer. "Trilogia" is the three vintage blend. I forget the vintages but the overall wine is well over 50 years of age. It was a one off I believe. Any thing from them would be classic. Try the Moscatel Roxo (Purple Moscatel) a genetic variant found in their vineyards. Their 20 year old Roxo is fantastic. They have a wine bar in Lisbon called By The Wine in the Chiado neighborhood where you can try many of their wines by the glass. I also like their 30 year old Bastardinho. Another producer I love is Horacio Simoes. It's a small family run winery. They too make a Moscatel Roxo. Their 1996 was fantastic. They also do a 3 vintage blend called "Excellent." There have been several cuvees of this with different vintages but all have been good. Approximately 20 year old wines in the blend. Their prices are very reasonable as well.

[Mike K.]

Look for the old stuff from Jose Maria de Fonseca.

They have a wine bar in Lisbon called By The Wine in the Chiado neighborhood where you can try many of their wines by the glass.

Thanks guys, great advice! I will look out for both of those producers.

Great tip on "By The Wine". It's a 7min walk from my hotel! Do they sell bottles there as well, or should I buy elsewhere?

[Moses Botbol]

Jose Maria de Fonseca is the most famous brand

[Eric Ifune]

They do sell bottles, I believe at domaine prices.

[Moses Botbol]

They do sell bottles, I believe at domaine prices.

I could've sworn I saw a cellar list from them or the US importer going way back with very attractive prices, but this is several years ago.

[Eric Ifune]

They don't have a lot of old vintage stuff for sale. Was it the 1950 that I bought a bottle of? $800 euros for 500 ml. But Domingo Soares, winemaker and scion of the family said it was, in his opinion, the best ever. And he's a straight shooter with no hyperbole. Given that, had to get one.

[Eric Ifune]

Garrafeira Nacional and places like it are where the really old JM Fonseca exist. The Trilogia blend being the exception. They still have some at the Domaine.