Old MacDonald had a farm...

Nesta casa que tanto ama animais (dois cães, cinco ovelhas, duas burras...um gato de vez em quando...galinhas para breve...) ontem tivemos a bela e inesperada notícia da chegada de um terceiro burrinho! Deixamos aqui as fotografias do pequeno (sugestões para nomes?), com menos de um dia de idade, já em pé e a amamentar.

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On this farm that so loves animals (two dogs, five sheep, two donkeys…an occasional guest cat…chickens soon…) we yesterday had the good and unexpected news of the arrival of a new foal! We’re posting here the first pictures of the little one (any suggestions for names?), who, less than a day old, is already up on its feet and suckling.

On the spur of the moment

My mother has wanted a donkey for…years.

She lived in Malawi a while ago, and when she would travel by car and meet donkeys on the road, she would look longingly at them, as they baked stoically in the East African sun.

On her bookshelves, amongst her many volumes, one can find The Wisdom of Donkeys, by Andy Merrifield, and on a coffee table a book of pictures of donkeys, a photography project by Oliviero Toscani. To top all this off, on her bedside table she has a stuffed toy donkey, a reminder of a live one I adopted for her as a Christmas present one year.

So, last weekend we went to the animal fair in Lamego, and she just bought one. Well, in fact, she bought two: a mother and a two-month old female foal. The mother has been named Cinza, the daughter Nubia, perhaps.

A dream come true if ever there was one.

Beached and Breezeblocked

Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition

It’s been a while since we wrote something on this blog, but recent events warrant writing about, and have reminded us that we need to get back on track with this blog.

In the Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition, Terrus won four medals, three Gold (for 2006, 2007 and 2009) and one Great Gold (for 2008).

We are, of course, delighted with the results, and congratulate and thank all those who are involved with the process of producing Terrus.

More information on this competition can be found here.

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É a algum tempo que não escrevemos nada neste blogue, mas acontecimentos recentes lembraram-nos que temos que retomar a escrita.

Na competição Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition, o Terrus ganhou quatro medalhas, três Gold (para 2006, 2007 e 2009) e uma Great Gold (para 2008).

Estão de parabéns todos os que participam na produção do Terrus!

Mais informação sobre esta competição pode ser vista aqui.

Alguns pingos de amor / Some drops of love

A última crítica sobre o Terrus 2007 no blogue Pingamor, do Miguel Pereira:

“Projecto recente no Douro (2005 foi o primeiro ano) sob a batuta de Francisco Montenegro. O Terrus 2006 foi uma das surpresas que tive no ano passado. Um Douro muito elegante, com um belíssimo conjunto, muito equilibrado, coisa que não tenho encontrado facilmente nos vinhos que tenho provado. O 2007, provado recentemente, está na mesma linha, embora o ache uma pouco mais "quente", que decerto deriva do ano. De resto, a elegância e finura está lá.

É a segunda colheita que provo, mas parece-me, tendo em conta o que já conheço, que é um dos vinhos do Douro cujo perfil mais me identifico. O preço situa-se mais ou menos nos 15 euros."

       

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The latest review of Terrus 2007 in the blog Pingamor, written by Miguel Pereira:

“Recent Douro project (2005 was the first year) under the guidance of Francisco Montenegro. Terrus 2006 was one of the surprises I encountered last year. A very elegant Douro, overall very beautiful, very balanced, something that I have not found easily in the wines I have tried. I tried the 2007 recently, and its profile is the same, although I found it slightly “hotter”, which is certainly because of its harvest year. Apart from that, the elegance and the fineness are there.

This is the second harvest I try, but, considering what I already know, it seems this is one of the Douro wines with which I most identify myself. The price is about 15 Euros."

Um vinho perfeito para o inverno / A perfect winter wine

A mais recente nota de prova sobre o Terrus 2007, desta vez no site da Maria João de Almeida.

Terrus tinto 2007 (Douro) - (Provado em Novembro de 2011)

Um excelente tinto do Douro, com a fruta de qualidade a sobressair no conjunto, bem casada com a madeira onde estagiou. Sente-se aqui o poder do Douro, mas com elegância, num corpo complexo e sofisticado.

Nota: 85 Pontos

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The most recent review of Terrus 2007, this time on the website of Maria João de Almeida.

Terrus tinto 2007 (Douro) - (Tasted in November 2011)

An excellent red from the Douro, with fruit that stands out in the ensemble, and is well combined with the wood in which it aged. In this wine one can feel the power of the Douro, but with elegance, in a complex and sophisticated body.

Grade: 85 Points

Encher os sentidos / Filling the senses

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a pública recomenda: Encher os sentidos, Manuel Carvalho, Pública 25.09.11, p.6

Terrus 2007

Pela intensidade aromática e opulência na boca, este vinho parece mais um Douro do Cima Corgo do que da freguesia que situa o limite ocidental da região. Proveniente de solos graníticos e de vinhas velhas, é um tinto com carácter, com sugestões de framboesa bem combinada com notas da barrica e da garrafa, boca marcada por uma boa estrutura de taninos já numa razoável fase de maciez e um final de prova com classe. Um vinho que enche os sentidos, bom para acompanhar pratos de sabor intenso, excelente para deixar mais alguns na cave, onde vai sem duvida aprimorar as suas qualidades.

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pública recommends: Filling the Senses, Manuel Carvalho, Pública magazine 25.09.11, p.6

Terrus 2007

For its aromatic intensity and its opulent taste, this seems more like a Douro wine from the northern bank of the river, than one from the parish that delineates the region’s western boundary. Coming from granitic soils and old vines, this is a red wine with character, with hints of raspberry that blend well with the notes of the barrel and the bottle. The taste is marked by a good tannic structure at a good stage of softness and a finish with class. This is a wine that fills the senses, good for accompanying dishes of intense flavour, and excellent to leave a few bottles in the cellar, where it will undoubtedly enhance its qualities.