Prazo de Roriz 2005 Douro

A blend of Portuguese grapes often used to make Port: 35% Touriga Nacional, 35% Touriga Franca, 10% Tinta Barroca, 10% Tinta Roriz (aka Tempranillo in Spain and Aragonez elsewhere in Portugal), 10% Tinta Cao.

Prazo de Roriz is the second label of the highly-regarded Quinta de Roriz, all grapes used in this wine are grown at the Quinta.

Opaque deep purple-red color.

Black cherry smell, plum, oak, tobacco, dark chocolate.

Tart full-bodied fruity flavor, prune and cherry, restrained oak, bitter chocolate. Dusty-seeming tannins.

An excellent bottle for $16.99. My appreciation for dry table reds from Portugal continues to grow. Port was first made by adding brandy to the wines of the Douro in the 17th Century to help the wine survive the journey to England. Today, while Port is still in fashion, it's also quite feasible to ship the wine without brandy. I approve.