October 9th, 2007
This month’s Wine Blogging Wednesday theme, put on by Ryan and Gabriella Opaz of Catavino is Portuguese Table Wines. Who better to host this theme than the king and queen of blogging all things Iberian wine? Personally, I have little experience with Portuguese wine aside from Vinho Verde so this was a wonderful opportunity for me to experience what these guys have been raving about.
The wine I’ve chosen is a Eugenio Fundacao de Almeida Cartuxa Evora Alentejo 1999. Alentejo is a Southern region of Portugal. Reading this label was certainly tricky! I’m ashamed to realize how much I’ve forgotten as of late. Someone needs to hit the books again! I picked it up at Landmark Wine and Spirits which unfortunately has nary a Portuguese wine section. I asked the clerk if they had anything from Portugal and he used a step stool to point out six bottles of Portuguese wine on a high shelf above the many shelves of Spanish wine. I suppose it’s true that Portuguese wines do not get much love in the states 
And as my taste buds will attest, they deserve it.
After aging for nearly a decade, this wine is wildly aromatic with notes of black cherry, plum and violets yet it has a beautiful softness as well. The tannins are soft and it has a seductive, silky texture on the palate. I found it to be well rounded and balanced with a pleasant, lingering finish. This is a lovely wine for Fall and would be delicious with a rich veal dish with sautéed mushrooms. It isn’t the cheapeast wine on the shelf at $25, given its DOC status, but it is truly rewarding. This is my first Alentejo experience and it certainly will not be my last.
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Sounds similar in terms of flavor and aromas to the Só Touriga Nacional I had!
I can’t wait to read this roundup! I am surfing the net looking for reviews from this WBW, and they’re all so positive. Why aren’t the distributors making Portuguese wine more available over here. I love wines with silky texture, so this is going on the list!
[...] Alentejo Bobb Gregg: Quinta da Pinheira Tinto 2003 Cheap Wine Ratings: Vinha Do Monte 2001 Purple Liquid: Periquita Classico 2001 by José Maria da Fonseca Recently Consumed: Quinto do Carmo Vinho Regional 2000 Rouge and Blanc: Monte das Ânforas Tinto 2006 Vinomadic: Don Martinho 1992, Don Martinho 1991, Quinta do Carmo 1996 Corkheads: Herdade Outeiro de Esquila, Dignitas Reserva 2003 Celebrate-Wine: Cortes de Cima 2001 Delong Wine: JP Ramos Trincadeira 2005 Strumerika: Eugenio Fundacao de Almeida Cartuxa Evora Alentejo 1999 [...]