Dom Martinho, Domaines Barons De Rotschild (Lafite), 2005

Tonight's treat was a Portuguese bottle from the southern region of Alentejo, produced by a Rotschild/Boredeaux affiliated Sociedade Agricola Quinta Do Carmo. ($17)

This rather intense wine is a blend of Aragonez (Tempranillo), Cab. Sauvignon and Syrah. Think of it as your nice Bordeaux on steroids. After the first sip I felt like I just smoked a Cuban cigar... while sucking on a salt-lick. Over all a super fun wine, but it completely overwhelmed our dinner of acorn squash soup, prosciutto and sprout salad :(

Full body, deep red shifting toward brick, a nose of sweet plum an cherry.
The mouth begins with an attack of syrupy sour cherry, then cola and salt mid palette, with an over the top finish of tobacco and some other bitter, herbal notes.

You simply have to have a rare buffalo steak with this bottle.

Update: saved a glass for the next day and the salt/cola tuned into a very smooth blueberry... also pretty good. Go figure!