Caves Dom Teodosio S.A., a big wine bottling and producing company in Portugal, produces Cardeal Dao Reserva. This wine is made from 100% Touriga-Nacional from the Dão region. It is fermented in stainless steel vat. Bottling and subsequent bottle aging takes place in the company's Rio Maior facilities. This wine is released only after aging in the cask and bottle for a couple of years.ABV: 13%, Price paid: $10
Tasting notes:
Color: Medium ruby.
Nose: Dark fruit (plum) initially. With air, faint floral aroma and notes of caramel appears.
Palate: Not very complex. Consistent delivery of luscious dried plum, hints of dried herb and wood. The acidity is lively with a slight touch of vegetation on the mid-palate together with heat at the back of the throat. Tannins is very integrated.
Body: Medium at best but very soft and smooth. Not much structure.
Finish: Medium with persistent fruit. Hints of earthiness.
Comment:
Cardeal Reserva is a versatile every day wine. Given its characteristics of lively acidity, abudence of fruit and integrated tannis, it should compliment a wide variety of dishes.
This wine is consumed over a 3 day's period. The best showing is on day 2 when every element comes together nicely.
Also, it would be interesting to keep a couple of bottles around to see how it develops in the next 2-3 years.
5 comments:
I've been devouring Dão wines lately and posting about them too. I find that 2003 was a particularly good for most of Portugal. Those ones don't seem to require the day wait as much (I also have noticed the next day makes many iffy Portuguese wines worth it... which bothers me because I know the first taste turns many people off).
Keep the Portuguese posts coming!
Marcus,
Thanks for the tips. I do plan to explore Portugese wine more in the future and post tasting notes here. On that note, which one is your favorite Portugese wine?
Andrew - Thanks for leaving the post on my blog. It was cool to see that you blogged about the Cardeal Reserva too and it was also interesting to read Marcus's comments on letting a "iffy" Portuguese wine sit for an extra day which is what I did with this wine, having it the next day with some leftover lamb shanks.
It was much softer, much more balanced, with the fruit more harmonious. I wish I had waited a day before writing my note!
I like your blog and will keep an eye out for more posts.
Fave Portuguese wine... hmmm -- next post I have is on topic. I'll think more about your question before I post.
Wish I could find this bottle for WBW #38! I'm having a hard time locating any Portuguese wine in LA.
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