2008 Cabriz 'Colheita Seleccionada' (Dao)

Source: Sterling

Consumption Date: 7/30/2012

Notes: Mild aromas of dried cherries and raisins with a hint of dry leaves.  Solid ripe cherry and black raspberry flavors with hints of spice and dry leaves.  Finishes long with more rich fruit, additional spice, a dry cedar note, and a subtle minerality.  Moderate plus tannins.

This has been my first wine from Portugal’s Dao region and frankly it has blown me away.  It has tons of fruit and enough other flavor components to give it a pleasant, if not dramatic, complexity while offering a surprising smoothness and elegance.  Not as deep and complex as other Portuguese wines I have had, but extremely good for its price point.  If I were to buy wine by the case for a party or everyday consumption, this is definitely the wine I would choose.  Well deserving of its recognition as a Wine Spectator Top 100 wine.

Value: Unbelievable