With the clocks going back this weekend, those long winter nights will soon be upon us – that maybe true but what better than to be tucked up indoors with a hearty stew and a warming bottle of red?
Portugal is a region that deserves more exploration and there is more, much more to the wines of Portugal than the eponymous fortified ‘Port’, with many indigenous (and often unpronounceable!) grapes and little known regions to explore. Sadly many consumers tend to steer clear opting instead for the more recognisable wines of Spain (think Rioja) but I believe it is certainly worth taking a closer looking at Portugal.
This wine is a perfect example. From the Douro region which is more synonymous with fortified Port wines, comes a hearty, dry red made from the Port varieties (Touriga Nacional, Aragonez and Trincadeira – see I told you they were unpronounceable!)
Whilst reds from this hot region can tend to very high alcohols, this full bodied wine whilst coming in at 14% has a lovely balance with fine tannins underpinned by a bright acidity. On the nose there are aromas of ripe black fruits (plum, cherry, prune) some sweet spice (liquorice, clove) and a lovely smokiness, characteristics which follow through on the lingering palate. What struck me most was how easy drinking it was – yes it’s fruity but there is a spicy savouriness that makes it as well suited to food as it is to being drunk on its own.
Made in conjunction with Waitrose and the family estate Quinta da Rosa, this is a terrific wine at a great price – it’s currently on offer at Waitrose for a brilliant £8.99 – snap it up before the offer ends!