The 2011 BRANCO RESERVA “QUINTA DA GARRIDA” is quite a lovely bargain this year. It is mostly Encruzado, with 10% Malvasia added in. Clean and fresh, it has fine solidity for a wine in its price range, plus some nice aromatics and a persistent finish. It is a nice follow-up to the ’10. Drink it young and fresh for best results. Drink now-2014. This big winery has an array of inexpensive products from various grapes in the region (as well as from various regions) that can be a bit bewildering. It is often difficult to tell what the significance is of the various brands on wines that look quite similar and create some confusion, which is a marketing issue largely, the legacy of the company deciding to keep its existing brands (Reserva Dao and Particular) when it acquired Quinta da Garrida in 1999. Although not all are reviewed this issue, a quick overview of the line from Dao (or the regional wines, Beiras) is worthwhile. Note that all of the wines are all produced at the Estate. The “Vista” brand, not reviewed this issue, is marketed largely on the grape—Touriga Nacional or Tinta Roriz. The Quinta da Garrida branded wines are all marketed as single quinta wines, although I am told by International Director Mario Neves that the Reserva Dao and Particular “could be now considered single estate wines because all grapes are produced in the Quinta da Garrida Estate.” At the time Garrida was acquired (1999), the Reserva Dao (reviewed this issue) and Particular were made “using selected wines from high quality producers in the region,” says International Director Mario Neves. Today, those brands have “small differences in terms of the final blends and bottle aging (Quinta da Garrida and Quinta da Garrida Reserva are older).” The grapes for Particular and Reserva have a common base of 80-90% of the wine with Garrida, according to Neves. The Reserva Dao and regular Garrida Tinto see only a small portion of oak aging and have broader blends (particularly including Jaen). The Garrida Reserva and Particular have somewhat longer aging in oak and use only Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz. Ultimately, at least some of that seems a bit strained and unnecessarily confusing.NOTE TO TRANSCRIBERS: ALIANCA IS NOT CALLED CAVES ALIANCA ANY MORE EVERYTHING PUBLISHED IN 2009 AND GOING FORWARD SHOULD BE LIKE THIS: ALIANCAImporter: Tri-Vin Imports, Mount Vernon, N.Y.; tel?(914) 664-3155; for the Garrida wines: Winebow, Inc., Montvale, N.J.; tel: (201) 445-0620

The 2010 BRANCO RESERVA “QUINTA DA GARRIDA” is all Encruzado. There is a slight vanilla tinge, but this otherwise graceful, yet solidly built wine shows quite nicely, bursting with flavor and maintaining its elegance. A bit short on complexity, this charming white is just fun to drink. Drink now-2014. Importer: Winebow, Inc., Montvale, N.J.; tel: (201) 445-0620