Asda Portuguese Tinto

Name: ASDA Portuguese Tinto

Colour: Red

Country: Portugal

Region: n/a

Year: NV

Producer: Enoport-DT, Producao de Bebidas, SA.

Grape Varieties: ?

Alcohol: 13%

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Purchase Price: £3.38 (ASDA)

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Notes:

Maker's tasting notes – (ASDA) A full bodied red wine with brambley red fruits and a nice smooth finish.

“A lovely, smooth and fruity red, ripened in the Portuguese sunshine. It's great with spicy food like chilli con carne” Phillippa Carr, Asda's Master of Wine.

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Somnambulist's verdict: OK, let’s be honest, at £3.38 expectations are low. This is basic table wine, the like of which you’d pick up in a Portuguese supermarket for less than a bottle of water. Still, I gave it a full chance, decanting and allowing it to breathe for 30 mins before trying… and it wasn’t dreadful. There’s dark chocolate, a whiff of vanilla and some red fruits in there. These are flavours that can be crafted into intoxicating blends in the hands of a skilled wine-maker. Alas, I think in this case it’s more akin to shovelling everything into a large vat with all the finesse of a greedy schoolkid stuffing random confectionery into a rather acidic paper bag.

There are a lot worse things you can do with £3.38, but I’d suggest making it up to a fiver and going for one of the other superb budget wines available. If you’re going to try it, take Phillippa Carr’s advice and drink it with chilli, or in fact any very strongly spiced food that stands a good chance of masking the flavour…

Quinta do Ameal Escolha 2004

Name: Quinta do Ameal - Escolha
Colour: White
Country: Portugal
Region: Minho - Ponte do Lima
Year: 2004
Producer: Pedro Araujo
Grape Varieties: Loureiro
Alcohol: 11.5%

Purchase Price: EUR 51.00 (Intercontinental Hotel)

Notes:

Maker's tasting notes - Clear and citrus coloured. Floral aromas, orange-tree blossom. Its full fruitiness blends harmoniously with the vanilla and smoky tones, which are the result of ageing in new Nevers French oak. Its exceptional body and intensity is due to the selection of grapes whilst at an excellent stage of maturation, as well as its subsequent fermentation and ageing, with "bâtonnage", for 6 months in French oak barrels that have been especially selected for the Loureiro grape variety. Extremely delicate wooden notes, without interfere on the fruit and floral explosion characteristic. It has a very good length, with a complexity befitting a great wine. We suggest that it is decanted one hour before serving.

Somnambulist's verdict: The notes above nail it, although perhaps not as floral as the description suggests. The light alcohol content doesn't detract at all, in fact think it stacks up against some very good, heavier Burgundies. Absolutely gorgeous, highly recommended.

Fabelhaft 2006

Name: Fablehaft
Colour: Red
Country: Portugal
Region: Douro
Year: 2006
Producer: Niepoort Vinhos SA
Grape Varieties: Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca, Tinto Cao
Alcohol: 13%

Purchase Price: EUR 12.00

Notes: Produced for the German speaking markets, "Fabelhaft" translates as fabulous, phenomenal or scrumptious.

Maker's tasting notes - It is a dark ruby wine with an intense dark and red fruit aroma with spicy character. On palate it is young, appealing and fresh, with fruity tannins, good acidity and appealing structure.

Somnambulist's verdict: Fabulous is about right. Fruity, complex but very quaffable. Tremendous value for money.