Vinography Unboxed: Highlights from the Week of August 30, 2026

Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of Vinography Unboxed, where I share insights from my recent tastings of various wine samples that have arrived at my doorstep.

This week, I explored wines from Geographic Wines, a unique project initiated by Nuno Morais Vaz and Daniela Matias, focusing on producing wines from different regions in Portugal. Their approach emphasizes utilizing ambient yeasts and early grape picking to maintain freshness. Although their website is currently not functional, these wines are mostly available in Europe and have demonstrated good quality across both red and white varieties.

In addition, I tasted a white blend from Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo in the Douro region. Though the winery’s name is quite lengthy, the wine itself is a delightful blend of indigenous varieties, showcasing the unique slate soils of the area.

Closer to home, the well-known Chateau Montelena sent a Riesling from Potter Valley in Mendocino. While it delivered the classic characteristics expected from a Riesling, I found myself wishing for a touch more acidity compared to the previous vintage.

Another interesting bottle was the “Glou Glou” from Las Jaras Wines. This Carignan and Zinfandel blend is designed to be an easy-drinking, enjoyable wine, and it certainly succeeds in being fun and flavorful.

To round off this week’s tastings, I revisited two old-vine Zinfandels. The Aldo’s Vineyard, planted in 1937 in Napa, is known for its diversity in grape varietals including Zinfandel. Robert Biale Vineyards produces a captivating Zinfandel that highlights the vineyard’s bright juiciness. Meanwhile, the Hayne Vineyard, dating back to 1902 in St. Helena, is owned by the same family for generations and consistently yields top-notch Zinfandel fruit for Turley Wine Cellars.

Below are the tasting notes for the featured wines:

Tasting Notes

• 2021 Geographic Wines “La Volée – Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature” Vinho Espumante Branco, Bairrada, Portugal

  • Pale gold, medium-fine bubbles with aromas of apple sauce and fresh apples. On the palate, bright lemon peel and apple flavors with excellent acidity. Score: 8.5 – 9.

• 2025 Geographic Wines “Landcraft” Alvarinho, Vinho Verde, Portugal

  • Pale straw color, aromas of white flowers and green apple. Vivid flavors of crabapple and lime zest with zippy brightness. Score: 8.5 – 9. Click to buy.

• 2025 Geographic Wines “Landcraft” Loureiro, Vinho Verde, Portugal

  • Pale gold, fragrant with lemon peel and grapefruit. Bright acidity on the palate with lingering flavors. Score: 8.5 – 9.

• 2024 Geographic Wines “Lento” Branco, Douro, Portugal

  • Pale gold with aromas of peach and pear. Crisp flavors of unripe fruits and green herbs. Score: 8.5 – 9.

• 2022 Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo “Grainha Reserva” Branco, Douro, Portugal

  • Pale gold, with nutty notes of peach and pastry cream. Good acidity with a lingering finish. Score: 8.5. Click to buy.

• 2025 Chateau Montelena Riesling, Potter Valley, Mendocino, California

  • Near colorless, offering aromas of Asian pear and white flowers. Bright mandarin flavors with a chalky finish. Score: 8.5. Click to buy.

• 2025 Las Jaras “Glou Glou” Red Blend, Mendocino County, California

  • Light garnet, with juicy cherry and boysenberry flavors balanced with acidity. Score: 8.5. Click to buy.

• 2023 Geographic Wines “Inóspito – Vinhas Velhas Torto” Red Blend, Douro, Portugal

  • Medium to dark garnet, aromas of plums and dried flowers. Bright acidity with fine tannins. Score: 9.

• 2023 Turley Wine Cellars “Hayne Vineyard” Zinfandel, Napa Valley, California

  • Dark garnet with balanced cherry and blueberry flavors, silky mouthfeel. Score: 9. Click to buy.

• 2023 Robert Biale Vineyards “Aldo’s Vineyard” Zinfandel, Napa, California

  • Dark purple, with blackberries and licorice flavors complemented by great acidity. Score: 9 – 9.5. Click to buy.

This selection of wines showcases both the innovative spirit of new projects and the tradition of old-vines in California and Portugal. Cheers!

About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!