Quinta do Anjo, Palmela

“If the weather allows, we will visit the vineyards”, those were the words I remembered by Teresa Barrigas, and on the day before our visit, it rained intensely, I had the exact notion that it would not be possible, which was confirmed.

On the day of the visit, the weather decided to give us a radiant sun, alternating with a few drizzles, but already with some springy air, which animated our soul for what was to come. After some hesitation on the way to the cellar, we arrived a little late, but the warmth and friendliness of Teresa Barrigas, who received us, made us feeling welcomed.

Casa Agrícola Horácio Simões was founded by José Horácio Simões in 1910 and is already in the third generation.

The winery is located in Quinta do Anjo, in Palmela, where its vineyards are located, giving birth to regional wines, red and white and D.O.C classification, Setúbal muscatel, moscatel roxo and Palmela. Here the wines are made, either in press, the newest wines, or in stone wineries in the Serra da Arrábida, the old vineyards, both by traditional and traditional methods, such as walking on foot, keeping the family tradition of this house secular. They proudly display their identity and the soul of the house and since they are located right in the center of the village and with a open space to the public, it is an integral part of the lives of people, who gather there for a simple coffee or business that taking advantage of the facilities of the cellar rich in history, identity and ancient architecture, there are dinners, wine tastings and other events accordingly, evidently with the availability of the house.

The Casa Agrícola Horácio Simões, promote selected events in the winery’s premises, also has a open space to the public, the space “Affinities” which comprises a store, where in addition to the products of the house, you can find a range of other products, always having in mind, to promote and dignify the Península de Setúbal and concretely Quinta do Anjo.
The wines, cheeses, curd, sheep butter, jams, bread, regional sweets and handicrafts exposed there, can be bought or tasted in this space that includes an outdoor area and two rooms for that purpose.

The vineyards comprise about 30 hectares in total, five hectares of moscatel roxo, although other vineyards around, who can’t produce by themselves, sell grapes to the winery.

We visited the winery, very traditional and using handmade methods, the winery allows tourists also at the time of harvest to tread their own grapes, manual bottling, barrels used for the aging of house wines, barrels aging wines labeled with the names of the small descendants of the house and samples of the house are exposed, identifying the many years of history. We saw a traditional winery, but with all the conditions to produce wines of excellence.

And after a visit to the facilities of the cellar and space Affinities, here comes the tasting of some wines from Casa Agricola Horácio Simões, carefully chosen by our hostess.

The Wines:

// FAMILIA HORÁCIO SIMÕES TRADIÇÃO BOAL 2016

A grape still in danger of extinction, less than 3 hectares, which reveals itself of a remarkable quality. Intense yellow color. In the nose, good intensity aromatic, fruity, a little saline very pleasant, in the mouth bulky, greedy, unctuous, with fresh and balanced finish. A wine to drink with large glasses and good food.

• Year: 2016
• Type: White
• Region: Setúbal
• Grapes: Boal
• Alcohol Content: 12.5% vol.
• Price: 8 euros
• Points: 17

// FAMILIA HORÁCIO SIMÕES SEGREDOS 2016

The surprise of the day. Orange something color. Very rich nose, marmalade notes, very nice saline, in the mouth a lot of complexity, elegant and persistent. A wine with a lot of identity.

• Year: 2016
• Type: Red
• Region: Setúbal
• Grapes: Bastardo
• Alcohol Content: 13.5% vol.
• Price: 14 euros
• Points: 17.5

// FAMILIA HORÁCIO SIMÕES TRADIÇÃO 2015 – (PRENSA)

Shallow color. Best in aroma, with red fruit notes, nice. In the mouth, little bulky, little taste but balanced. A light wine, simple but balanced.

• Year: 2015
• Type: Red
• Region: Setúbal
• Grapes: Castelão
• Alcohol Content: 14% vol.
• Price: 5 euros
• Points: 14.5

// FAMILIA HORÁCIO SIMÕES COLHEITA 2015 – (LAGAR)

Light deep color. Aromatic light red fruit and some wood, half body finishing balanced.

• Year: 2015
• Type: Red
• Region: Setúbal
• Grapes: Castelão
• Alcohol Content: 14% vol.
• Price: 8 euros
• Points: 15

// FAMILIA HORÁCIO SIMÕES GRANDE RESERVA

Deep color. Intense and complex aroma of red fruits, full-bodied and fresh, tasty, lacking just a little more persistence.

• Year: 2013
• Type: Red
• Region: Setúbal
• Grapes: Castelão
• Alcohol Content: 15% vol.
• Price: 20 euros
• Points: 17

// BASTARDO FAMILIA HORÁCIO SIMÓES 2013

Intense aroma, some dried fruit, spicy, in the mouth some sweetness that lingers at the end of the mouth.

• Year: 2013
• Type: Fortified
• Region: Setúbal
• Grapes: Bastardo
• Alcohol Content: 16.85% vol.
• Price: 20 euros
• Points: 15

// FAMILIA HORÁCIO SIMÕES MOSCATEL ROXO 2010

With something floral, spicy scent, freshness and soft mouth finishes balanced.

• Year: 2010
• Type: Fortified
• Region: Setúbal
• Grapes: Moscatel Roxo
• Alcohol Content: 17.5% vol.
• Price: 15 euros
• Points: 16

// FAMILIA HORÁIO SIMÕES MOSCATEL ROXO 2010 (Barco Évora)

Sample of hull, wine resting in the Évora Boat for 5 years on the Sado river, reveals fine, citrinic, spicy aroma, freshness in the mouth, great elegance and finesse that lingers at the end of the mouth.

• Year: 2010
• Type: Fortified
• Region: Setúbal
• Grapes: Moscatel Roxo
• Alcohol Content: 17.5% vol.
• Price: N/A
• Points: 17.5

// FAMILIA HORÁCIO SIMÕES MOSCATEL ROXO SUPERIOR 2005 – ARMAGNAC

Honey aroma, bulky, fresh, fermentation with armagnac used, giving it an extraordinary finesse in the mouth and great persistence.

• Year: 2005
• Type: Fortified
• Region: Setúbal
• Grapes: Armagnac
• Alcohol Content: 17.1% vol.
• Price: 30 euros
• Points: 18

Finail Notes:

• It was a good morning in good company.
• Excellent wines tasted, some of which impressed a lot, clearly exceeding expectations.
• Being a family house the Casa Agricola Horácio Simões made us feel at home and we thank our hostess, Teresa Barrigas, who, as a part of the company, live and deliver with soul and knowledge the history of this secular house filled us of joy and good mood.

CASA AGRÍCOLA HORÁCIO SIMÕES
Rua João de Deus, 10, 2950-731, Quinta do Anjo, Palmela
+351 212 870 500
+351 212 870 137

w4p (MAR 2018)