A purer, richer Portuguese offering

By Lucia Blash on December 8, 2008 2:05 PM |

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Wine of the week, with Bernard Wilkes

The quality of Portuguese red wine has improved enormously in recent years, as demonstrated by this example from the south of the country.

Portugal has always had the potential for quality table wine production, in particular a treasure trove of indigenous grape varieties, Trincadeira being one of them.

Often, however, the grapes were picked before fully ripe or the juice was exposed to excessive aging in old, un-hygienic oak.

With healthy grapes, harvested at optimum maturity, followed by brief ageing of the young wine in new oak barrels, the result is a purer, richer fruit quality with less astringent tannins. This full-bodied red made by Joao Portugal Ramos is such a wine.

The nose is reminiscent of spicy blueberries. The palate is rich and velvety with a tangy finish – a characteristic of Portuguese reds. Enjoy with roast meats, perhaps even the festive turkey.

Villa Santa Trincadeira, 2007, Portugal, £7.99