Quintas das Amoras 2007 Vinho Regional Portugal

Quintas das Amoras 2007 Vinho Regional from Estremadura in Portugal is a white wine made from various grapes that include Arinto and Chardonnay, but Portugese other varieties as well. It has pronounced aromas of apricot, elderflower and ripe apples and a florality to it that was very attractive. It was a dry wine with warming alcohol (though only 12.5%) which was slightly out of balance requiring more acidity to refresh it enough . The silky texture was in line with the full body of the wine  and flavours of apple, apricot and pithy grapefruit were in line with the aromas, but  there was a chemical metallic streak which did not feel in character. Overall a wine from a hot area that had managed to retain the fruity aromatics but needed more acidity to keep it fresh. This wine won a bronze medal at both the 2007 and 2008 International Wine Challenges.

Tesco's Finest Douro DOC 2010 Portugal

Tesco's Finest Douro DOC 2010 is a wine that we bought after a Tesco wine tasting in London, I had failed to get round to tasting it there, and ordered a case from them because I quite fancied a slurp...... it was only after I ordered that I realised that it had been discounted and then got another discount from the tasting..... so ended up only paying £3.02 a bottle (instead of around £7 per bottle), I will try to stop this clouding my judgement slightly!

Anyway, to get to the wine itself, it is deep ruby and has black glints at the rim which is wide. On the nose it has a jammy black fruit character wrapped in warm spices, not unpleasant but warning that this is a young wine from a hot area I felt. When I tasted it the influence of the jamminess continues on the palate, cherry and blackcurrants in abundance and chunky oak spiciness, the fresh acidity supplys a happy lift to the wine and the alcohol does not feel over warm. The tannins are quite green and chalky, drying on the mouth. Overall I did not find the wine unenjoyable, but it felt a little disjointed, chunky oak, jammy fruit and a slightly hollow mid palate, but at this price - who am I to complain! Maybe it will improve with time - if I let it......
The wine maker is Antonia Barbosa and this is a wine that has won quite a few awards, IWSC and Decanter so go forth and enjoy.