Portugal

• Alentejo
• Bairrada
• Dao
• Douro
• Madeira
• Pico
• Ribatejo
• Vinho Verde

From Portugal, this is a  blend of 56% Alicante Bouschet, 30% Touriga Nacional, and 14% Syrah.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with plums, black currants, slight baking spice and a bit of chocolate.  Medium to full bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is tasty with plums, currants and slight dark chocolate.  Good finish.  This is an excellent value.  It is drinking well now but should go another 5 years.  Nice on its own, this will work well with many foods.  It would be great with Rotisserie Chicken.  

Nice to be able to try this at this age.  I had my concerns but it is drinking nicely.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has sour cherries, slight cherries, slight black olive and spice.  Medium bodied.  Tannins resolved.  On the palate, this is fully mature.  Nice black cherry fruit.  Moderate finish.  This is nice on its own but will be better with food.  It will work well with Roasted chicken or Root Vegetables.  Drink up.  

This bottle was decanted about six hours prior to drinking.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is deep with black cherries, chocolate, raisins and slight black licorice.  Full bodied.  Nice texture.  On the palate, this is complex and deep.  Flavors of black cherries, dark chocolate and raisins.  Long finish with slight alcohol.  This is delicious and contemplative on its own.  It will work well with chocolate.  Still plenty of life left, well stored bottles should have another ten to fifteen years.  

Purple in color, mostly opaque and slightly flat.  The nose is nice with black cherries, plums, and slight chocolate.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is mature and complex.  Flavors of chocolate covered raisins with some plums.  A bit of heat on the finish.  This was nice with a bite of chocolate cake.  Drink now.