WTN: Portugal combining the best of both Worlds

Quinta Lagoalva de Cima Alfrocheiro 2005
£11.50 / ~US$23 / ~€14.5
Medium ruby purple.

Dark chocolate coated liqueur cherries and stewed strawberry and plum. It’s a fresh yet dark nose, which I like! With more air, big strawberry jam.

It’s surprisingly “sweet” (not sugar) on the palate, with big softness from the (14.5%) alcohol and silt-in-sand smooth tannins building along the palate, and all the while it remains juicy and vibrant, with the tiniest lick of vanillary oak in the finish.

This is like a combination of New World-big-and-soft-yet-dull style and an Old World-harsh-yet-lively in a way in which the best bits of each unite in harmony: ripe fruit yet with brightness, a palate that’s big and smooth yet savoury. Seems Portugal can be fairly good at that. Very enjoyable.

New World-big-and-soft-yet-dull style and an Old World-harsh-yet-lively.

A lot of stereotypes, anf quite inaccurate ones IMHO, in a few words...

Quinta Lagoalva de Cima Alfrocheiro 2005
£11.50 / ~US$23 / ~€14.5
ripe fruit yet with brightness, a palate that’s big and smooth yet savoury. Seems Portugal can be fairly good at that. Very enjoyable.

Sounds good. Which Portuguese region does it come from? I have two bottles of 1997 Alfrocheiro Preto (the same thing?) from Q. Roques in Dão; I hope I haven't kept them too long. You encourage me to open one.

New World-big-and-soft-yet-dull style and an Old World-harsh-yet-lively.

A lot of stereotypes, anf quite inaccurate ones IMHO, in a few words...

I think you read more into that statement than was actually there. I said the wine was like the combination of the best components from a New World wine made in a "big and soft yet dull" style and an Old World wine made in a "harsh yet lively" style. Style is a key word in that sentance. I didn't say that all New World wines were big, soft and dull or that all Old World wines were harsh yet lively, which is maybe what you thought I was saying.

Quinta Lagoalva de Cima Alfrocheiro 2005
Which Portuguese region does it come from? I have two bottles of 1997 Alfrocheiro Preto (the same thing?)

From the the Vinho Regional Ribatejano. I would assume the Preto is the same but I'm not sure - why not crack one open? I'd be interested to know what you think if you do.