Instagram story viewer> @ruicaroco.wines> Posts

Rui Caroço dos Santos

@ruicaroco.wines

10.4K

followers

3200

following

Winewriter | Portugal 🇵🇹
@wsetglobal L3
✒ @vgrandesescolhas
✒ @sommeliers.escancoesdeportugal
✒ @innoblewine

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Yesterday evening took place Portugal's 🇵🇹 Best of Year 2025 Wine Awards by @vgrandesescolhas Wine Magazine...

More than the awards themselves it was a fantastic evening and a great celebration of Wine and Wine Culture... Government and Official entities, gastronomy, wine turism, wine shops, Chefs and Sommeliers, Press, fotographers and camera crews, wine writers, influencers, wine producers and families, and, very important, winelovers in general...

Of course winning is important, and it certainly must be valued, but for those who didn't win... 2026 you'll have another chance, and 2027 again, and again and so on...

So do your best each day, always focus on quality, recognition will arrive sooner or later... you will make everyone's job harder at the Magazine, but Portugal's 🇵🇹 Wine Scene will thank you the most...

So congratulations to the winners, and a very special mention to all the others...

And, most of all...

A big cheers to everyone who attended this beautiful evening 🙂🥂🍷🍷🍾🍾🍾

See you next year!
.
#ruicarocowines #GrandesEscolhas #melhoresdoano2025 #wineawards #vinhosdeportugal taken in Centro de Congressos do Estoril by @ruicaroco.wines

161

21

7 months ago

The Quintessence of Champagne.. my piece on @Ruinart following my visit of 4 Rue des Crayères, Reims, in last January issue of @vgrandesescolhas wine magazine..
.
🇵🇹 only
.
#ruicarocowines #GrandesEscolhas #Ruinart #4RueDesCrayères #ruinartchampagne taken in Lisboa, Portugal by @ruicaroco.wines

100

13

8 months ago

Anselme Selosse asked if he could take a selfie with me...

How could I refuse?!

🤣😜
.
#ruicarocowines #Selosse #jacquesselosse #champagnelover #champagnelove taken in Lisboa, Portugal by @ruicaroco.wines

260

42

9 months ago

Yesterday took place the ASI Best Sommelier of the World 2026 Contest, in Lisbon, Portugal 🇵🇹

66 candidates, 66 nations.. the United Nations of Wine 🇺🇳

Despite the difficulty level of tasks that were given to the candidates during the week, it was a fantastic show to the world that 'Wine' is very much alive and kicking, nevermind all the recent attacks from other industries and organizations..

World press, volunteers for the giant organization, teams, families, wine lovers, wine buyers, all gatherered in Lisbon during last week, tasting our wines, our food, our restaurants, our culture..

The 66 initial candidates were narrowed until the final three..

The 3 Best Sommeliers of the World

The Grand Final consisted on overcomming various tasks, and traps, that were consecutively given to each candidate one at a time..

Blind tasting and Wine Identification was one of them..

This is the thing.

This is what people really want to see, Top Sommeliers tasting blind and guessing spot on all the wines.. every wine lover dreams of beeing able to get it done at least once in their lifetime..

But that's precisely what was taken away from the three finalists.

None of them guessed the four wines presented.

Why?

Portugal is the second country in the world with the most indigenous grape varieties, behind Italy.. so what's the sense of choosing four different grapes, used for centuries in our vines, but presenting them in wines from Argentina, Chile, South Africa and Australia?!

1. Matias Riccitelli Bastardo 2023, Patagonia, Argentina
2. Château Los Boldos Touriga Nacional Specialty Series 2024, Chile
3. Momento Tinta Barroca 2021, Bot River, South Africa
4. Bremerton Mollie & Merle Verdelho 2023, Langhorne Creek, Australia

Doesn't make any sense. Doesn't test any knowledge or tasting skills.

I'm not saying that if the grapes were presented in portuguese wines the Finalists would guessed it for sure.

But at least they would have had a honest shot at it.

And that was taken away from them, they didn't deserve it.
.
#ruicarocowines #asibestsomm #bestsomm #escancoesdeportugal #bestsommelieroftheworld taken in Lisboa, Portugal by @ruicaroco.wines

200

17

2 days ago

Tasting a glimpse of the future of Champagne..

Ruinart Blanc de Blancs will continue to exist, but Ruinart Blanc Singulier perhaps will be the norm in the near future.. Why? Climate changes..
.
But first, morning visit to Ruinart's vineyard of 'Taissy', classified as a Premier Cru, and which has the distinction of being mentioned in the archives as early as 1733, just 4 years after the creation of the Maison.. this 40-hectare parcel is a rare unit in Champagne, and is planted mainly with Chardonnays aged between 6 and 18 years..
.
2019 was a Year marked by a new temperature record.. following the path of Edition 18, Edition 19 of Ruinart Blanc Singulier revealed these different aromatic variations, bearing witness to climate change in Champagne.. Ruinart Blanc Singulier Edition 19 joins the collection of cuvée editions, each reflecting the variations of a year marked by extreme climatic conditions..

The year 2019, characterised by three intense summer heatwaves (23 days with temperatures above 30°C) and a record temperature (42.9°C vs 42°C in 2003), is emblematic of climatic upheavals.. thanks to a warm and sunny season, the vine's vegetative cycle was very rapid, and the ripe and early harvest began as early as September..

The oenological team believed that these specific climatic conditions led to different balances, intense textures and atypical aromatic profiles on the base wines.. and so Ruinart Blanc Singulier Edition 19 was created..

100% Chardonnay from various parcels.. 77% wines from the 2019 harvest and 23% wines from a perpetual reserve, half in oak casks and half in stainless steel.. 3 years ageing, dosage 0g/L Brut Nature.. juicy nectarines, sweet pears and fresh yellow citrus.. white flowers, honeyed nuances, spices and smoky tones.. vibrant and lively on entry, but quickly gave way to a powerful and enveloping texture.. refined, with length and dimension, and a delicate bitterness, highlighting the wine's freshness and structure in the finish..

Ruinart Blanc de Blancs and Dom Ruinart 2013 Blanc de Blancs were tasted alongside showing different expressions of Chardonnay and climate impact..
.
#ruicarocowines #Ruinart #blancsingulier taken in Reims, Champagne by @ruicaroco.wines

75

2

20 days ago

La Caserne Chanzy Hôtel, Reims, Champagne..

Champagne Marie-Nöelle Ledru Extra-Brut at La Grande Georgette..

85% Pinot Noir with 15% Chardonnay, all Grand Cru fruit.. pure, complex and powerful, all enclosed in an elegant framework.. lively mousse.. elegant red fruit, but not fruity, minerals, reinette apple and citrus sherbet.. full bodied but vibrant, creamy and with some subtleness..

Having a bottle of champagne from an iconic producer, in my favourite wine region of the world, right in front of Cathedral de Reims, and I just can't help to get a bit emotional about it..

Santé.. and merci! 🥂🥂
.
#ruicarocowines #MarieNoelleLedru #Ledru #lacasernechanzy #champagnelove taken in La Grande Georgette by @ruicaroco.wines

81

6

21 days ago

Dinner at 4 rue des Crayères, Reims..

After visiting the magnifique Crayères (chalk cellars) some champagne felt necessary..

Blanc de Blancs for aperitif.. followed by an exquisite dinner paired with some beautiful Ruinart vintages.. all enhanced by the immersive Petit R projection.. from which, all through the dinner, the history of the Maison, its iconic locations, and key figures were unveiled in front of us..

Simply beautiful!

Ruinart Brut Blanc de Blancs is a blend of 25–30 crus including 20–30% reserve wine kept from a range of vintages, dosage 7 g/L.. ripe lemon, juicy pear, jasmine and green apples.. smoke, toastiness and minerals.. fresh almonds, hazelnuts and vanilla.. fruity and crisp, with balancing tension and roundness.. first-class textural finesse and length, with the lingering Ruinart sweetness on the finish.. as classic as it gets..

Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2013.. dégorgement 10/2023, dosage 5,5 g/L.. reductive and intense.. citrus, toasted bread, orange zest, sea shells, chamomile, honey and yeasty tones.. soft mousse.. silky and seamless, with a sharp backbone of acidity.. savoury.. mature and finely balanced..

Dom Ruinart Rosé 2009 was spicy and floral.. 85% GC Chardonnay, and 15% Aÿ GC Pinot Noir.. dosage 4g/L.. cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.. refreshing citrus, blood orange and clementine.. oyster shells.. fleshy and crisp, enveloping and silky, with fine effervescence.. fresh.. red fruits and pomegranate.. great balance between fruit and toasty maturity.. smooth and saline, firm and intense, with a delicate bitterness.. delicious and long..

1996 Ruinart 'R' Brut in Magnum bottle was just beautiful.. lots of roasted hazelnut, autolysis, apricot and grapefruit notes.. wonderful energy, tension and vibrancy, and lots of acidity too.. this is real wake-up champagne.. pleasant saltiness, spicy notes and a medium-long finish.. still extremely youthful..

Ruinart Rosé came in last, in a beautiful combination of freshness and exotic notes..
.
#ruicarocowines #Ruinart #DomRuinart #4RueDesCrayères #ruinartchampagne taken in Reims, Champagne by @ruicaroco.wines

140

10

22 days ago

4 rue des Crayères, Reims, an immersion on the Ruinart Universe..

Founded in 1729 by Nicolas Ruinart, Ruinart is the oldest Champagne Maison, rooted since the end of the XIX century at its Les Crayères site..

Created during the Age of Enlightenment, it takes Chardonnay to new heights by combining savoir-faire, art, innovation and the environment..

At 4 rue des Crayères, in Reims, stands a cultural destination that celebrates conversations with Nature and encompasses the full range of the Maison’s savoir-faire..

And bellow ground, the natural chalk cellars.. a UNESCO World Heritage Site, maintained and preserved to be contemplated and celebrated..

Truly overwhelming!
.
#ruicarocowines #Ruinart #DomRuinart #4RueDesCrayères #ruinartchampagne taken in Reims, Champagne by @ruicaroco.wines

100

7

23 days ago

Lovely dinner @ja_te_disse_wines
.
JÁ TE DISSE' is a one hectare Vineyard micro producer, from Alentejo region.. 'Estremoz' Terroir..

The name can translate as 'I told you already', and it was brothers/owners Pedro and Rui Patrício Grandfather's favourite dog's name, that used to accompany him on his hunting sessions..

2024 Já Te Disse Rosé is made of Aragonez, Touriga Nacional e Syrah grapes.. red fruit driven, pomegranate, hibiscus and aromatic herbs.. light and dry, firm and with good grip.. floral freshness, slightly herbaceous and not very fruity.. full of personality..

2020 Já Te Disse 'Viognier', Alentejo 🇵🇹, was round and flavourful, with peach skin, white fruit, lychee and fresh herbs, all balanced by well judged acidity and lots of freshness..

2021 and 2019 (first edition) Grande Reserva Reds followed.. blends of 🍇 'Alicante Bouschet, Syrah and Petit Verdot'.. deep and complex, dark fruit, liquorice, spice, underbrush and slight menthol.. powerful and refined, with lots of personality..

2022 Já Te Disse Grande Reserva 'Syrah'.. deep and luscious.. blackberry fruit, cassis and plum fruit.. black pepper, violet and lavender.. full-bodied, with brisk acidity and fine-grained tannins.. slight meaty note, red and dark fruit flavours, dark chocolate and some wet stone minerality.. only 854 bottles made..

Last, but definetely not least.. an experimental 'Vin de Paille'.. 'Vin de Paille', generally speaking, is a sweet, rich dessert wine made by drying harvested grapes on beds of straw or wooden racks to concentrate their sugars.. this one delivered intense aromas of candied fruit and honey, nuts and spices.. unctuous but lifted by a sharp, refreshing streak of acidity that kept the wine from feeling heavy..

Well.. go for it.. bottle it up! 😉
.
#ruicarocowines #jatedisse #jatedissewines #vinhosdoalentejo #jncquoiclub taken in JNcQUOI by @ruicaroco.wines

91

0

a month ago

The Piggy Bank dinner...
.
#ruicarocowines #winelovers #champagnelovers #wineafficionado #winetasting taken in Zunzum Gastrobar by @ruicaroco.wines

46

4

a month ago

Wine Judging day @vgrandesescolhas

Wine critics, wine writers, journalists, wine experts, wine social media content creators..

570 wines to be tasted and valued..

Winners and results will be disclosed on next month Portugal’s annual top wine event..

GRANDES ESCOLHAS Vinhos & Sabores 2026

17th, 18th and 19th October at FIL Lisboa

Just be there! 😉
.
#ruicarocowines #grandesescolhas #winesofportugal #vinhosdeportugal #vinhosesabores taken in Lisboa, Portugal by @ruicaroco.wines

52

0

a month ago

Beautiful Crasto, from Douro..
.
Quinta do Crasto Selection Extra Virgin Olive Oil.. made from traditional Portuguese olive varieties 'Cobrançosa' and 'Madural'.. fresh olives aromas, fesh grass and apples.. slightly spicy with leafy herbal notes, very balanced and smooth..

Impossible not to soak some fresh bread in it, repeatedly 😋😋 I love when wine producers also bring their own olive oil.. it definetely should happen more often..

2024 Crasto Superior.. Viosinho and Verdelho White blend.. yellow orchard fruits, slight citrus, minerals and a nice smoky creaminess on top.. full and rich, with lemon flavours, mineral texture and slightly spicy.. limpid and fresh.. very elegant..

2022 Crasto Altitude 430.. a blend of 🍇 Tinta Francisca and Touriga-Nacional at 430m altitude in a lighter styled of Douro Red.. fresh cherries and wild strawberries, dried flowers, herbs and underbrush.. medium-bodied, well balanced and precise.. bright finish..

2022 Crasto Reserva Vinhas Velhas.. one of Portugal’s most rewarding wines in its price range.. a mix field blend of +30 diferent varieties from old vines, up to 70 years.. intense dark fruit, mint, herbal notes and elegant vanilla.. slightly creamy, very polished, with fleshy, layered dark fruit and fine-grained tannins that add focus and balance.. excellent length..

2018 Quinta do Crasto Tinta Roriz.. varietal of 'Tempranillo', only bottled in exceptional years.. packed with black fruits, sweet spices and Mediterranean herbs.. rich and voluptuous, full and velvety with juicy acidity coming through.. textural and firm with a lingering finish..

2019 Quinta do Crasto Vinha da Ponte.. world-class stuff, made with ultimate attention to detail.. from +100-year-old vines.. both dense and beautifully structured.. black fruit, plums, chocolate, lavender, creamy oak and spice.. opulent and rich, smooth and polished, with layered acidity.. the wine's power is tamed by fragrant freshness at the end..

Crasto 30-year-old Tawny Port.. very fine Port, with rich dried fruits, spice and old wood aromas and flavours.. complex, unctuous and intense, but with nice acidity and freshness..
.
#ruicarocowines #Crasto #quintadocrasto taken in Casa Da Dízima by @ruicaroco.wines

101

4

a month ago