This Portuguese red from Alentejano hits the spot!

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

TN: `04 Encostas de Estremoz Vinho Regional Alentejano Grande Escolho.

Recently spotted downtown, $26 Cdn, 14.5% alc, lot 5107, opened one hour, not decanted. Jose Castro Duarte and Miquel Catarino i/c here. Up and coming estate it would appear.
Blend of Alicante Bouschet, T Nacional, T Franca, Cab Sauv.

Color. Medium cherry/plum, watery rim with no sign of age.

Nose. Touch of oak, earthy, spice, plum. All very tempting in my book.

Palate. Initial thoughts were dry, complex, integrated tannins, great mouthfeel, great cedar box/spice on long finish. Not a big ripe fruit bomb here forumites, smooth with good blackfruit balance. Some blueberry on day 2, softened up somewhat overnight. This red is very representative of Portugal I think, going back for more!

Food was pork scallopini with a mushroom basil sauce.

[Andy Velebil]

Sounds like my cup of tea...I just wish my area had the selection of Portuguese wines that you've got up there.

[Roy Hersh]

I just had two bottles of Alentejo wines from Herdade do Mouchão. Very good juice. The Alentejo deserves more credit than it gets here. No surprise though.

[Brian C.]

Who would have thought that Edomonton would be a hotbed of Portuguese wine offerings?

I just checked out the website for Herdade do Mouchao: http://www.mouchaowine.pt/#/wine/

Which bottle(s) did you have, Roy? Just curious.

Alentejo seems to be using the Alicante Bouschet grape a lot. I have yet to try a wine featuring that grape. Prior to learning this, I had read about this grape and had found that it never really had any big promoters, and that it was a hybrid grape created by Henri Bouschet. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alicante_Bouschet
So I guess I'm surprised that it is gaining a reputation after what I read initially. I certainly look forward to trying an Alentejo wine with this grape. I keep hearing good things.

[Roy Hersh]

Brian,

I am flying through the Forum tonight just checking. You will see my full TNs on both wines by the end of the week in the upcoming newsletter. Thx!