Great Value Wines; 2008 Herdade dos Grous 23 Barricas

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Normally I see no need for the Portuguese to go international, considering their vast selection of indigenous grapes. But at the same time, why not do Syrah if the end result is great? Alentejo seems to handle the grape best in the country and as in the case of Herdade dos Grous 2008 23 Barricas, where the grape is blended with the queen Touriga Nacional, it is all about pure seduction.

Toasted oak, lots of spices, the gentle way, and dark ripe berries. Mint and humus. Strange actually, there’s roughly five grams of residual sugar in the wine and normally that’s not my cup, but this is so finely balanced by the acidity and spiciness in the wine, that it never develops in to an issue. Ripe tannins yet present. Long, mouth-watering finish.

A pretty gorgeous semi-intellectual crowd-pleaser. Drink it the next two or three years. Believe me; you don’t want to miss out on that seductive fruit feel.

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