TN: Good or Bad CARMa?

[Otto Nieminen]

CARM (Casa Agrícola Roboredo Madeira) Douro 2007
13,5% abv. A third each of Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca & Touriga Nacional. Aged four months in oak of which 30% was new and a further 10 months in steel. Organic. The scent has dark, brambly fruit and a bit of meatiness. There is also a strange, but ultimately appealing (once I adjusted my thinking), high toned note slightly reminiscent of mint or eucalyptus. Quite full bodied and full of sweet fruit but I did find adequate structure: the acidity might not be very high but it does have a nice bit of tannic bite that counters the fruit making the finish refreshing rather than cloying. The oak is quite tame and enough in the background that I could enjoy the wine. An enjoyable, little wine, but a bit too polished and New World-like to be one I enjoy unreservedly. For those who don't mind a slight "modern" twist to their table wines, this is probably fantastic value (in Finland c.11€ and we are one of the more expensive countries when it comes to alcohol).