Portugal

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

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.  

Decanted for three hours prior to serving.  Deep garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, black licorice, slight milk chocolate, raisins and a bit of alcohol.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has some sweetness.  Flavors of black cherries with milk chocolate, char and some alcohol especially on the finish.  Tasty.  This is nice on its own and worked well with blue cheese.  Seems to be at peak now but should go another decade. 

This is another great value from this winery (See our note on the Silk Route Smooth Red Blend).  It is a blend of Alicante Bouschet (50%); Shiraz (30%); and Touriga Nacional (20%).  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is big and intense with aromas of black cherries, black currants, cherries, and dark chocolate.  Medium  bodied.  Good balance.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this drinks well right now.  It may still improve as it comes together more.  Flavors of black cherries, black currents, black pepper and some dark chocolate.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next five to eight y

This is a very interesting red blend from Portugal.  The attractive days harken to the 15th century when Portugal was one of the leading countries exploring the just forming silk route from Europe to the Orient.  This wine is a blend of Tinta Roriz (40%); Baga (40%); and Merlot(20%).  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is very nice with aromas of cherries, slight cranberries, white pepper, chocolate and just a hint of sea air.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  Good balance.  Enough acidity to put it all together.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Flavors of cherr

From one of the top producers of vintage Port, this was an extremely hot vintage across Europe.  Taylor handled it beautifully creating a VP that really needed twenty plus years to be ready to start drinking.  Purple in color, ruby rim, opaque and bright.  This still looks youthful.  The nose is great with chocolate covered raspberries, char, and a slight espresso bean note.  Full bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is sweet, not cloying.  Delicious.  Flavors of chocolate, raspberries, slight dark chocolate, and char.  Long finish.  This is complex if still

This is a blend of 50% Alicante Bouschet, 30% Touriga Nacional, 10% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from Portugal.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is lighter with cherries, some spice, and a slight chocolate note.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Fresher on the palate with cherries and black cherries.  Moderate finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work nicely with meat or fowl dishes.  A nice choice with Chili.  Drink over the next three to five years.

This is 100% Alicante Bouschet.  Purple in color with ruby and some blue swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with boysenberries, black cherries, spice, and slight vanilla notes.  Medium to firm tannins.  Full bodied.  Well balanced.  On the palate, black raspberries, black cherries and char.  Long finish.  This is a robust wine that drinks well on its own and can hold up to big (and spicy) foods.  Drink over the next five to seven years.