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2008 Villa Sandi Cuvée di Cabernet Sauvignon e Franc - Italy, Veneto, Marca Trevigiana IGT (12/5/2009)
Classic Cabernet Franc aromas of black currant and peppery herbalness. The palate shows nicely concentrated, medium bodied fruit whose flavors lean in a dark direction. The fruit is bright and fresh and leads into some grippy and chalky tannins before a decently long finish that adds an earthy hint to the fruit. A very satisfying bottle of simple Cab Franc-based wine for under 6€. Drinking well now, and it could probably develop over a year or two, although the cork is not very high quality, so I certainly wouldn’t push it. -
2007 João Portugal Ramos Vinho Regional Alentejano Loios - Portugal, Alentejano, Vinho Regional Alentejano (12/6/2009)
A blend of Aragones, Trincadeira, and Castelao. Quite dark fruited on the nose, with plum and blackberry and a hint of nutmeg. The palate is smooth and velvety, medium-light in weight with some dried fruit flavors appearing. Moderate acidity lets the fruit take center stage, but without becoming at all viscous. The tannins are ever-so-slightly grainy and grippy. The finish is nicely freshened by some acidity showing up, and it’s coupled interestingly with more dried fruit flavors. I liked this bottle a lot for the 7€ it cost and think it would be well received by a variety of palates of different types and levels of experience. Nice wine.
This was my first dry red from Portugal, so I’m flying a little bit blind here. But if this is the kind of quality (and restrained quality, at that) that a bottle retailing for $9-12 in the US can supply, I really wish there were more available. Keeping in mind I know nothing (really) about Portuguese dry wines, what kind of variety of style is there? Where would one look for light to medium bodied wines with snappy acidity and freshness?