WBW: Portuguese Table Wines

recently consumed

wine: portuguese table wines

tasting notes

In order to maximize efficiency… I am two thumbing this entry from sunny LA while I am on a work trip.

I searched high and low for decently odd Portuguese wines in Michigan and there just isn’t an exquisite selection. I did find, however, some unique treasures hidden in a dusty bargain bin at the cleverly disguised wine store, The Village Corner in Ann Arbor. I call it cleverly disguise because it looks like a small scummy college liquor shop from the outside, and well… from the inside too. But turn the right corner and you are in floor to ceiling wine heaven.

My overall impression of Portuguese wines is that they are very dry and very dense. And that even the ones without too much fruity flavor are balanced enough to be highly drinkable.

Quinto do Carmo Vinho Regional Alentejano 2000 $27
Blend of Aragonez, Alicante, Periquita, and Trincadeira. Tried this baby with a recipe for Portuguese Chicken. Not so great with the food but excellent with chocolate. Rich dense dark fruit, very dry with a cutting bite. A smooth long finish. It is like a more subtle Zin with a dryer finish. Actually I take back what I said about the chicken. It was the dish that was not so good, the wine actually filled in some of the flavor gaps missing in the food.

Dows Vale Do Bomfim Duoro Reserva 2004 $12
Recommended by my Canton wine guy, but this was our least favorite of the four. Equal parts of Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz. It was dense and hard to open… in fact it never really did. It was ungiving, very dry and did not play nice with food. Hot acidic and even after opening, it felt empty. No fruit payoff.

Quinta de Catralvos Lisa Vinho Regional Terras Do Sado 2005 $9
First bargain bin find. Castelão (Periquita) - 90% and Alicante Bouschet - 10%. Lovely round fruit feel that mellows spicy food well. Not huge flavor but very drinkable. Similar to previously mentioned Duoro wine but more rich and thick with earthy payoff. Not fruit forward or distinct but good value and interesting find.

Escanção Vinho Tinto Reserva 2001 $8
Another bargain bin cheapy. Dry bitter apple skin taste. Mild sour melds into round fruit then dry finish. Smooth sweet pleasant aftertaste. The salmon was too fishy for it but the meatiness of the fish complimented the chewiness in the wine. It was simple but so very drinkable.

Overall… Portugual is a great country for value and drinkability. I will be buying some of these again.

Update: In my hunt for strange wines while I was here in California, I actually found an official table wine of Portugal, a “Vinho de Mesa”.

Cavipor Caseiro Vinho de Mesa Tinto $5
A chemically aroma of fruit, like an artificial fragrance. The taste is very simple, very dry, and reminds me of apple skin in its bitter fruit flavor. Upon opening, there really is no complexity or flavor that appears, but it is smooth and thus highly drinkable. Reminds me of a low sugar cranberry juice. Not entirely weird to imagine drinking it with breakfast. Highly food friendly.

suggested pairings

• Porco de Vinha de Alhos
• bitter dark chocolate
• breakfast burrito

technorati tags: wine blog wednesdays, portuguese wines