Portuguese reds have a reputation for being rich, wild, and a little rustic with a strong backbone of acidity and tannic grip. This wine seems like an attempt to tame the wildness and soften the backbone. It succeeds admirably as an affordable, everyday wine but won’t quite give you visions of rugged men pulling grape-laden mules up the steep banks of the Douro. In fact it hails from the cooler regions near the Atlantic ocean around Lisbon.
Dark cherry fruit prevails but hints of wild herbs stand out from the vanilla and smoke in the background. Full flavored on the palate, with a medium plus body, modest acidity and very soft, feathery tannins which support a short, peppery finish. A very pleasant wine with lots of flavor, the hint of sweetness and prominent vanilla notes underscore the market for this wine—the slightly adventurous supermarket consumer. It achieves its goal. A blend of Castelão, Tinta Muida, Camarate and Touriga Nacional
Score: 86
Price $8
Alc: 13%
Middle of the road but with attitude like Pink’s So What
Exploring the Philosophy of Food and Wine 