Friday Tasting Preview #1: New Portugese Red

Right, my first New Year's resolution to go booze free in January lasted about 6 days, so here goes Resolution number 2 - to actually use this blog. I thought a great way to get started was to begin bringing you tasting notes on the wines I've been drinking and especially previews of the wines on show at our Friday Evening Mini Tastings. Here goes!

Terra d'Alter, Tinto 2008 £8.50
The wines of Terra d'Alter landed in the shop just before Christmas so I haven't had a chance to get to know them properly until today. The winery was founded in 2004 and is the latest project of Australian winemaker Peter Bright (of Bright Brothers fame), with a focus on applying new world winemaking to traditional portugese varieties to produce top quality, premium wines from the hot, dry Alentejo region in southern Portugal

Ripe and juicy, this is an easy-going (and not exactly premium at £8.50) red with the emphasis on the fruit. There's just a hint of cigar box spice on the finish but otherwise this is all about plum aromatics and bright raspberry/strawberry fruits. With its medium body, soft tannins and well integrated alcohol this is a charming introduction into the wonderful world of Portugese wine.

Tecchie stuff: Aragones (Tempranillo to you and me), Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional and Trincadeira, 6 months maturation in French oak.

Make your own mind up and try two more Terra d'Alter wines at tonight's Friday Mini Tasting (Friday 14th Jan from 5pm).





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