This Saturday we feature some new wines from Portugal that recently caught our attention. While Portugal has long been famous for its sweet fortified ports, its table wines were mostly simple and unimpressive and often god awful. Several years ago this started to change. Portuguese wineries started producing high quality wines from traditional varieties that are in fact both unique and delicious. Better yet, Portuguese wines offer a lot of value. Stop by on Saturday and check them out, a glass of Touriga Nacional might become your new favorite. Anton Fedechkin will be on hand to tell you more.

2007 Quinta de Cabriz Dao Branco   $9

A blend of Malvasia Fina, Cerceal, Bical, and Encruzado, this white wine has exuberant aromas of tropical fruit, good acidity, and a very crisp and pleasant structure.

2005 Berco do Infante, Estremadura   $8

A 50/50 blend of Aragonês (a local version of Tempranillo) and Castelão, a dark skinned grape variety planted all over southern Portugal. The Berco is fermented in Stainless steel tanks then aged 6 months in French oak barrels, and another 6 months in bottle before release. The wine is soft, approachable and very tasty.

2004 Alves de Sousa , Caldas Tinta, Douro $12

Made from 40 year old vines of Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, and Touriga Nacional, the Caldas is medium bodied with intense flavors of plum and ripe cherries with slight nuances of spices and dark chocolate. It’s well-structured with good tannins and a long smooth finish.

2005 Quinta de Cabriz, Dao $10

Blended from Alfrocheiro (60%), Tinta Roriz (20%), and Touriga Nacional (20%) the Cabriz is fermented in stainless tanks, then aged in French oak for 4 months, then aged for 6 months in bottle. The wine has lots of rich layers of ripe dark fruit mixed with supple tannins and peppery spice.

2005 Quinta de Cabriz, Reserva Dao $22

Made from Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Alfrocheiro, the Cabriz Reserva sees a longer maceration than its little brother. It then ages for 9 months in French oak barrels. The wine has a big mouthful of dark red fruit with some spices smothered in lots of full velvety tannins.