Reviews & Ratings

2015 Castello d'Alba Portugal Red "Vinhas Velhas"

Winery: Castello d'Alba

Vintage: 2015

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Vinhas Velhas"

Wine Category: Portugal Red

Grape blend: 75% Touriga Nacional, 15% Touriga Franca & 10% Tempranillo

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Douro

State or country: Portugal

Price: $20

Cases produced: unknown

KWG Score: 89.6 (based on 3 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (90)

Review date: December 22, 2018

Wine Review: This slightly opaque and very dark ruby colored Touriga Nacional based wine from Portugal opens with a blackberry jam bouquet with hints of black licorice. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, balanced, chewy and round. The flavor profile is a cedar plank influenced blackberry with notes of blueberry and savory dried beef stick. I also picked up a dash of black pepper towards the end. The finish is dry and its medium tannins drift away nicely. I would pair this winter warmer with Brazilian spit beef tenderloin. Enjoy - Ken

Winemaker Notes: Aroma that harmoniously blends the great concentration of Douro reds in all their complexity. Berries, hints of rock rose, spices, exuberant violets and extremely fresh notes of basil and bergamot. The long maturation in barrels produced a wine with great aromatic elegance, where the scents of the Douro are not masked by excessive notes of oak. Very smooth and ripe tannins, fresh and aromatic, very elegant, with an unusual long finish. Fantastic with Iberian smoked ham, roasts, game, and smoked meats.

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