This week’s Wine Wednesday pick was more or less instructed to me. I had to buy a dry red wine from the Douro region of Portugal to taste along during a wine seminar that I was attending which conveniently fell on Wednesday night and bada-bing-bada-boom, I had my Wine Wednesday pick :)

I’ll confess that I don’t drink a lot of Portuguese wines, not because they are not incredible, but rather because I lack familiarity with them and in the vast world of wine where there is always so much to choose from, familiarity breeds comfort and often plays a keep role in what consumers (even those that are fairly well versed such as myself) end up picking.

I’ll tell you one thing though - Portuguese wines are generally incredible value plays! Precisely because they are not most people’s top pick, they can be had for a really great price even relative to some of the less-expensive wine options out there. It’s a bit of a somm-secret that wines from Portugal represent great value, if you choose well.

So with that, let’s get to the wine of the week! I love to share what I find on Wednesdays…….If you want to know more, be sure to read this blog post where I outline my approach to my weekly Wine Wednesday picks.

Now I’d be remiss not to point out that because I’m located in Ontario, Canada and I buy my wines for the Wine of the Week feature from the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario). For the convenience of readers who are located in Ontario, I always provide the LCBO Product Number, and a direct link to the LCBO website, in my reviews.  

However, the wines I pick are generally widely available in most major markets and online too. So if you like what you read, you should be able to find the wine wherever you like to shop.  

And with that, let’s get into this week’s pick!

2015 Real Companhia Velha Porca de Murca Reserva Tinto Douro

This week’s wine comes from the Douro region of Portugal. When you read this, if you have some degree of sophisticated wine knowledge, you might immediately think that I’ll be reviewing a Port wine since the Douro region is in fact the home of this style of fortified wine.

However, what some people forget (or don’t know), is that the Douro appellation is also a maker of fabulous dry (mostly red) wines. People who are in the know are well aware of the fact that these wines are tremendous.

This week’s wine is a solid example of what dry wine from the Douro DOC can be like. Read on to learn all that you need to know about this wine.

What does this wine cost?

$17.95/bottle.

Where does this wine come from?

Douro is a defined DOC, or high quality appellation located in the north east corner of Portugal that is bordered by Spain. This area takes its name from the Douro river, which flows from Spain (where it is called the Duero river) in the east to the city of Oporto in the west, and ultimately into the Atlantic Ocean.

The climate here is generally hot and dry (though it is cooler and wetter closer to the ocean) and is notable for its rugged, mountainous terrain. Above all, the Douro DOC is known for its beauty, with vineyards that cling to either side of the river and all of its tributaries, on sloped and terraced lands. To see an image of this region is truly breathtaking. It is so gorgeous that Douro has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Approximately 80 indigenous grape varieties are authorized to be used in the production of wines from the Douro DOC. Of these, the most commonly found are Touriga Nacional , Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz (a.k.a. Tempranillo). The same grape varieties are used in the production of both dry and fortified (port) wines.

Why is this wine unique?

Aside from the fact that this wine comes from a lesser known wine region of the world, this wine is unique because it is made up of a blend of indigenous grape varieties that are fairly typical of this region. Half of the blend is made from the Touriga Nacional, a black grape that is able to produce complex wines with robust structure and black fruit aromas, similar to Cabernet Sauvignon.

The remainder of the wine is composed of a “field blend”, which is simply a blend of other indigenous grapes that have been planted in the vineyard. They could be any number of grapes, in any proportion. Pretty interesting, right?

Who makes this wine?

This wine is made by Real Companhia Velha, the oldest wine company in Portugal. Founded by royal charter in 1756, this producer has had a long, lively and colourful history during which it has seen several owners, ruinous periods followed by victorious expansions, record-breaking export volumes and numerous accolades and awards.

Real Companhia Velha is owned today by a family that has held ownership for over 50 years. The company now consists of 557 hectares of land, including some of the most prized real estate in the Douro, across 5 different estates.

Click here to learn more about Real Companhia Velha.

A few Wine Geek “essential facts” about the wine (feel free to skip this if you don’t care about detailed wine-making information!):

Variety - 50% Touriga Nacional, 50% “field blend”

ABV - 14%

Residual Sugar - 5 g/L

My tasting notes:

A deep and opaque ruby red in the glass, this wine is medium bodied and well integrated, with aromas of bright red cherries, red plums, rooibos tea and cloves on the nose and notes of strawberries, cherries, cinnamon, vanilla and clove on the palate. With a very round quality and a long, satisfying finish, this wine is incredibly easy to drink and enjoy with or without food.

Aging potential:

This wine can be aged for 2-3 years, but is drinking very well now. It mellows out even more after an hour of decanting.

Recommendations to Wineitupanotch:

Pair this wine with meat, firm aged cheese or tomato based pasta dishes (with or without meat).

Wineitupanotch Wine Score: 90 points

This wine is bright and satisfying, yet rich and nuanced. It can go either way. It is a well made red, that is well worth the price you pay for it.

If you’re located in Ontario, and wish to purchase this wine, you can find it at the LCBO under Product #684753.

FINAL VERDICT:

A really great wine, especially for the price! Try it as a good alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon!

If you’ve tried this wine already, or decide to pick it up and try it after reading this post, I’d love to hear from you and hear what you think of it! Please do drop me a line.

Until next time, wishing you love, light and of course - good wine! :)

Cheers!

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