| The wine reviewed below comes from the Duoro | | | | wine was palate-cleansing and round with round |
| Valley region of Northern Portugal, a region known | | | | tannins. It enveloped the food. While this blend |
| for Port and both red and white wine. It comes | | | | was neither long nor complex it was quite |
| from four local grapes, Touriga Nacional, Touriga | | | | pleasant. Adding spicy green jalapeno sauce |
| Franca, Tinta Roriz (called Tempranillo in Spain), | | | | increased the wine's spiciness. |
| and Tinta Barroca. These are all Port grapes, in | | | | The second meal was a commercial barbecued |
| fact Touriga Nacional is considered to be the best | | | | chicken leg and grilled eggplant. The wine displayed |
| grape for making Port. Well, what about turning | | | | a lot of extract and mild acidity. It was |
| these grapes into red wine? This is actually a | | | | well-balanced and did not overwhelm the chicken. |
| 2002, which was purchased quite recently, and | | | | This red wine did a fine job of cutting the grease. |
| believe me, our wine stores don't carry much of | | | | Now the eggplant managed to cut across the |
| this "old" wine. In spite of the wine tasting I | | | | wine but I did get some black cherry notes. |
| finished the bottle in about the same time as | | | | The final meal consisted of a middle-eastern |
| usual, but for a change left the third meal for last | | | | specialty, called kube or kibbe; ground beef |
| and found that I almost "lost" the wine. Moral of | | | | slow-cooked in jackets of crushed wheat in a |
| the story, don't let your bottle "hang around" too | | | | peppery tomato sauce. The wine was mouth filling |
| long. | | | | with a lot of oak and dark fruit. It had pleasant |
| OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we | | | | acidity and I was pleased with the tannins in the |
| taste and review are purchased at the full retail | | | | background. I actually had this meal after tasting |
| price. | | | | the cheese and I could tell that the wine wasn't |
| Wine Reviewed Sogrape Vila Regia Reserve 2002 | | | | far from turning. |
| 13.0% % alcohol about $10 | | | | As always, I tasted the wine with two local |
| Let's start with the marketing materials. Tasting | | | | cheeses. With a Yellow Cheddar I was still able to |
| Note: Deep crimson with purple tints; aromas and | | | | taste the oak and earth as well. A more forceful |
| flavors of tobacco, earth with hints of raisin; soft, | | | | White Havarti thinned the wine and made its |
| easy-drinking with nice balance. Serving | | | | acidity less pleasant. I actually tasted grapes. |
| Suggestion: Serve with cheese, stews or braised | | | | Final verdict. I would buy this wine again. It does |
| dishes. And now for my review. | | | | qualify as a bargain. It's not that often that we |
| I started by sipping this wine alone. The most | | | | get to buy an "old" 2002 vintage at this price. And |
| prominent feature was the puckering acids. I could | | | | between you and me, I prefer these grapes |
| taste the oak. The first meal included slow-cooked | | | | transformed into wine instead of Port. |
| meatballs accompanied by sliced potatoes. The | | | | |