Monte Da Cal, Adega em Fronteira, 2006

This wine is an amazing value. Seriously. This is not a cheapo quaffing Chianti, we are talking respectable business... 40% Aragones (aka Tempranillo), 30% Alfrocheiro, 30% Alicante Bouschet, medium to full body, deep velvety purple color.
The nose opens with pepper, spice and some cedar wood notes, mouth is dry and centered around tart black currant and cherry. Short, but lively; energetic and very, very drinkable. I'll be checking them "vinhos regional Alentejanos"!

Uva Brooklyn, $10, 77 points

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!

Adriano - Douro Valley, Portugal 2005

Greenpoint, Brooklyn 22 USD

Not to be rude, but this wine blows. It may have been the bottle it may have been the food pairing but this wine was very acidic... acidic in a "burns your throat" kind of way. I would be lying if I had anything to say positive about this wine but it may have been this specific bottle...

Broadbent Vinho Verde (Portugal)

Smith & Vine, Brooklyn, New York about 12 USD

A summer staple of mine. Very light; only 9% alcohol content, mineral tasting and mild carbonation. This is what I would call, as much as the term annoys some friends, a very quaffable summer white wine. Best served chilled!