WTN: 2003 Dom Martinho Vinho Regional Alentejano

<table align="right" valign="top"><tr><td><img src="http://www.wineloverspage.com/forum/village/userpix/70_dommartinho_1.jpg" border="1" align="left"></td></tr></table>Wow - this is without doubt one of the best inexpensive table wines I have tasted in ages. What a surprise, too, as it apparently sells for something like $8 in the US (the importer is Pasternak). I believe the varietal makeup is something like Aragonez, Cab Sauvignon and Merlot - though you'd never guess it off-hand.

13.5% alc./vol. Dark garnet colour with a ruby hue. Amazingly complex nose of Old World garrigue, dark berry fruit and a sinewy quality all holding it together; very pleasantly similar on the palate with a dry texture and excellent structure. Superbly food-friendly and a natural match for filet mignon.

Despite the presence of Cab and Merlot, this is no internationalized wine whatsoever - there is lots of spice and appetizing aromatic interplay going on here, and no vanilla makeup. A fantastic deal, and highly recommended.

I don't think this has ever made it to Ontario as far as I know; I certainly never recall seeing the quaint label at Vintages. All I know is that I am going to start looking again into Portuguese table wines, as there is hope based on this example that there might be more like it. So much of what we get from Spain here in Ontario is totally New World in style. Maybe Portugal is more of a holdout? Let's hope.

Paul - I posted on this wine back in June after our monthly wine club meetup:

2003 Dom Martinho Vinho Regional Alentejano: We barely had time to remark on the pretty deep, clear red coloring before noticing the bold fruit jumping out of the glass. Blueberries and chocolate on the nose, with cranberries and hazelnut appearing later. Really nice, soft tannins and spice to taste. We all agreed that this was the wine of the night.

Super wine, super value, I've picked this up whenever I see it in the store now.

Tried another Portugeuse red the other night, a 2002 Vinha da Tapada Coelheiros, which is also from Alentejano, and it was just as well received. I think I paid $11.99 US. I'm definitely becoming a fan of this region...

Thanks K.

Personally I haven't drunk very much Portuguese table wine traditionally, but in seeking an affordable refuge from the mindless wave of internationalization (or, to be less ponderous: looking for good, cheap funk), I can't ignore such gems. I really hope that Portugal is in fact a holdout and that most of the wines from there are still like this.