Another wet and windy day in darkest Devon calls for a hearty red. Originally bought to take to a wellness festival my friend and I instead opted for Aperol Spritzes so I eagerly brought this back home. Tonight it seemed like the perfect choice.
The Dão region is not as well known as other regions such as the Douro and Vinho Verde but it has plenty to offer. This 2023 is a blend from Touriga Nacional (a principal component in Port but also fantastic as a single varietal wine), Aragonez (known as Tempranillo in Spain) and Alfrocheiro (grown at its best in the Dão region).
Bramble, black plums, red plums and wild strawberry on the nose and palate – but definitely not one of the big jammy reds that are popular at the moment – more akin to a medium-bodied New World pinot noir. Smooth tannins and relatively low alcohol for a Portuguese blend (13%) with notable acidity. This went reasonably well with the Pasta alla Norma I cooked, but will match better with roast dinners, sausage casserole and charcuterie. It was featured in the monthly Wine Tour at Lidl for £7.99.
It is a 7/10 for me. Perfectly drinkable but I would prefer something with a bit more depth.
