|
|
|
GOOD NEWS TO FINISH THE YEAR The results of the IWC 2018 Tranche 1 are now live and the latest Wines and Winemakers reviews by Roger Voss were also published.
We are very proud of the reviews and rates received. Please take a look below! 
And some funny news from the wine industry. A recent study found that wine may improve foreign language skills. Learn more about it below! 
|
WINE ENTHUSIAST BEST OF YEAR 2017 ISSUE
In the last issue of 2017, our wines have been rated and reviewed by Roger Voss and received the following scores:
 92 Points - Lua Cheia em Vinhas Velhas Reserva Especial DOC Douro 2015“Produced from a field blend of old vines (Vinhas Velhas), this rich wine is powerfully structured. It has dark tannins and great concentration, balancing rich plum flavors and acidity with firm structure. This is a wine for serious aging, don't drink before 2020.” CELLAR SELECTION
 91 Points - Insurgente DOC Dão 2015“Rich, ripe and full of fruit, this blend of Touriga Nacional and Alfrocheiro is generous and structured. It has dark tannins and concentrated black fruits (rich with wood aging), spice and fine acidity. Drink this full-bodied wine from 2018.” EDITORS' CHOICE
 90 Points - Andreza Grande Reserva White DOC Douro 2014“This wood-aged wine is now mature. Along with spice and toast, it also has an oxidative character that gives softness and warmth. Its rich flavors are full bodied, bringing out citrus and intense acidity. The wine is ready to drink.”
 89 Points - Águia Moura em Vinhas Velhas Reserva White DOC Douro 2016“This crisp, clean and ripe wine is finely balanced. The toastiness from wood aging in new barrels is balanced with the rich citrus and sliced apple and a tight, mineral character. This is a full-bodied wine needing a few more months to age. Drink from 2018.”
 89 Points - Nostalgia Alvarinho Vinho Verde DOC 2016“From the northern part of Vinho Verde, this wine is produced from old vines that have been trained on traditional high trellises. It is full of citrus, ripe lemon and lime along with a crisp mineral texture. Its acidity is both tense and refreshing, allowing the wine a chance to age. Drink from 2018.”
 88 Points - Capitão Rayeo Reserva Regional Alentejano 2015“Aged for six months in wood, this juicy wine with its red-berry fruits is stylish and full bodied. It has tannins that act as a support to the bold fruits and firm structure. That suggests the wine, although ready to drink now, will also age. Drink now or keep until 2018.”
 88 Points - Capitão Rayeo Regional Alentejano 2016“The wine has blackberry fruits that give attractive acidity and add to the light structure. It is fruity, juicy and ready to drink.” BEST BUY
Cheers! ![]()
|
ALCOHOL HELPS YOU SPEAK A FOREIGN LANGUAGE BETTER
 A new study shows that bilingual speakers' ability to speak a second language is improved after they have consumed a low dose of alcohol.
Published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, the study was conducted by researchers from the University of Liverpool (England), Maastricht University (Netherlands) and King's College London (England) and it shows that bilingual speakers' ability to speak a second language is improved after they have consumed a low dose of alcohol.
The study included 50 native German speakers who were studying at Maastricht University. All of the people in the study said they drank alcohol at least sometimes, and, because their classes were taught in Dutch, had recently passed an exam demonstrating proficiency in the language.
Each person was asked to have a casual, two-minute conversation with an interviewer in Dutch. Before that chat, half were given water to drink, while the other half were given an alcoholic beverage. The exact dose of alcohol varied based on the person’s weight, but it was equivalent to just under 460ml of 5% beer, for a 70kg male.
The researchers found that participants who had consumed alcohol had significantly better observer-ratings for their Dutch language, specifically better pronunciation, compared to those who had not consumed alcohol. However, alcohol had no effect on self-ratings of Dutch language skills.
Accoding to Dr. Inge Kersbergen, from the University of Liverpool's Institute of Psychology, Health and Society: "Our study shows that acute alcohol consumption may have beneficial effects on the pronunciation of a foreign language in people who recently learned that language. This provides some support for the lay belief (among bilingual speakers) that a low dose of alcohol can improve their ability to speak a second language".
While the study did not measure people’s mental states or emotions, the authors say it’s possible that a low-to-moderate dose of alcohol “reduces language anxiety” and therefore increases proficiency. “This might enable foreign language speakers to speak more fluently in the foreign language after drinking a small amount of alcohol,” they conclude.
It is important to point out that the dose of alcohol tested in the study was low, and that higher levels of consumption might not have these beneficial effects. As authors also pointed out, drinking too much alchool can have the exact opposite effect on fluency and can even lead to slurred speech.
In any case, this sounds like a great excuse to break out that bottle of wine (or several bottles) on your next experience in a foreign country (or at home)!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
