Quinta Do Portal Colheita Tinto - A Killer Combo

60% Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), 25% Touriga Nacional and 15% Touriga Franca from Douro, Portugal.

SRP of $18 and available for just $12.99 at Costco. 98,000 bottles produced. Imported by M Imports.

From the bottle:

"This wine is produced using traditional Portuguese grape varieties - Tinta Roriz (60%), Touriga Nacional (25%) and Touriga Franca (15%), and aged for 9 months in new and one year French barrels. It is ruby in colour with a ripe red fruit and spicy fragrance. This full bodied wine has smooth tannins and good overall balance, with a long, fruity and fresh finish. An excellent example of a classic Douro wine.

13.5% Alcohol"

We're big fans of the Douro region in Portugal whose table wines don't get nearly the recognition they deserve. Typically consisting of a blend of native Portuguese grapes that you've probably never heard of (unless you're a Port drinker), don't let that scare you away! One of our mantras here atThe Reverse Wine Snob is to experiment with new wine -- see Tenet #3 on our Ten Tenets of Reverse Wine Snobbery -- and if you're not trying wine from Portugal you're missing out. When wines like these sell for well under $15, you've just found the definition of extreme value:

• Esporao Assobio Douro 2011 - More Beautiful Than Ever
• Tuella Douro 2012 - A Trader Joe's $5.99 Hot Pick
• Doural Tinto 2010 - A Table Wine You'll Be Happy To Have At Your Table
• Montaria 2012 - Exceedingly Drinkable
• Muros de Vinha Vinho Tinto 2010 - A Gem

Today we're featuring another such example which also benefits from the Costco pricing model. The2011 Quinta Do Portal Colheita Tinto begins with complex and pleasant aromas of black cherry, blackberry, plum, spice and a little cedar. It doesn't just smell good either -- the wine is quite enjoyable to drink with plenty of spice and good acidity. Hints of dark chocolate are infused into the juicy and sweet blackberry fruit. Fine tannins and a nice graphite minerality lead into the long, dry finish.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.