2004 Altano Douro

[dananne]

This table wine from the Symington estate is a blend of 60% Tinta Roriz and 40% Touriga Franca. It shows plum and cherry aromas and flavors, delivered in a somewhat rustic manner, but not unpleasantly so. It would do well with grilled meats this summer, and its earthiness is a nice change-of-pace from fruit-driven price-point alternatives from Cali or Oz. Velvety tannins hold the package together. Overall, not great, but good. Food-friendly 13% alc. We paid $14 locally.

[TheEngineer]

Wonder if they put any of their best grapes in this or do they still leave those for the ports.

[hotwine]

Took two bottles of the '01 to our small group gathering Sunday evening for pairing with the host's sloppy joes. Worked great! Price paid in Feb '05 was $4.99 per.

[dananne]

Eng -- To my knowledge, they don't put their best grapes into this one, but they have higher-tier table wines that do get some better grapes, particularly the Chryseia, which is produced with the help of the guy from Cos d'Estournel. The Quinta de Roriz vineyard is the source of a single-vineyard table wine for Symington (and I think a Reserva, too).

[hotwine]

Last week had a sample from barrel of a fellow's '05 Tinta Roriz (his wife is from Portugal), and holy smokes! that was good stuff! He's probably bottled it by now. Wish I could have talked him out of that 30-gal barrel!