With 15% alcohol, costing about $22, the Portuguese Tinto 2016 Bridao Do Tejo Reserva scored 16+ Dionysian points. It is young. It has a bit too much alcohol, but it will develop into a great food wine. It is filled with black fruit; black cherry and blackberry as well as earthy notes and smoky spice. The Tejo region makes earthy old world wines to drink with meat.
It was decanted to help air, but still need an hour of air to open. It was served with a roast dinner and lots of grilled veggies.
Touriga Nacional is the major grape and its shows. Alicante Bouschet, Tinta Roriz, and Syrah add the spicy element to this young red. It’s ruby in color, still too young to drink, and filled with fruit jams and tobacco notes. It needs to sleep another five to ten years. I wish they could get it down to 14.5% alcohol. It is not a 20 year wine. I expect you’ll seek out more wines from Portugal. In Vino Veritas
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