Wow, check out this old world red!!!!

Yup, time to get those tasting thoughts a-going forumites!! Heres a nice approachable blend from the old world that has received good press of late. Think it would qualify as an excellent QPR!!

Opened 2 hours, no need to decant but needs some time to air.

Colour. Guess more purple than ruby, medium intense centre.

Nose. Plum, cherry, earthy, chocolate. After 24 hrs, heres some cedar and tobacco.

Palate. Initial entry mouthfeel is soft, ripe blueberry and hint of licorice. Medium bodied, light tannins, fair acidity. Plum, cherry, and hint of savoury spice. Good density here and like the structure of these type of wines from this area. Some oak on the finish and some chalkyness. Fellow taster thought "verging on a new world style".
Many think this is a good QPR wineand I found lamb kebabs a fair match.

Need the usual......area, grapes, producer etc. I will be around most of the day so will check in from time to time.

Ha! Finally I'm on the forum at the right time that I won't miss this one for a change!

It sounds from your description rather modern styled and oaky and frankly a bit spoofy. Plum, earth, chocolate, cedar and tobacco all lead me to a more modern styled St-Emilion (merlot based + cabs), but the cherries would lead me to Italy instead.

I'd like to get more hints of course, but I think that maybe Fonbel 2003 from St-Emilion would do as a first guess.

Hi champ!!
Nope, nope, nope.

Hi champ!!
Nope, nope, nope.

Boy do I feel like a champ now!

Well, at least you are guessing Europe.

I've got two ideas, one from Spain and one from Portugal. I'll go with the Spanish one:

2003 Martúe Especial, a blend of Syrah, Tempranillo, Cabernet, and Merlot from Tierra de Castilla.

Something from Bodegas Fariña in Toro?

Spain? Nope.
Portugal? Yup.

Spain? Nope.
Portugal? Yup.

Well, in that case I'll go with my other guess, which is even better for the QPR clue:

2003 Quinta do Alqueve "Tradicional" Vinho Regional Ribatejano, a blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Trincadeira, and Periquita.

Spain? Nope.
Portugal? Yup.

Well, in that case I'll go with my other guess, which is even better for the QPR clue:

2003 Quinta do Alqueve "Tradicional" Vinho Regional Ribatejano, a blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Trincadeira, and Periquita.

Pretty good but wrong region!!

2003 Quinta do Alqueve "Tradicional" Vinho Regional Ribatejano, a blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Trincadeira, and Periquita.

Pretty good but wrong region!!

Well then, one more thought before I throw up my hands and see what everyone else comes up with. I'm basing this one on the "good press" although it didn't come to mind immediately from the tasting note:

2003 Lavradores de Feitoria "Três Bagos" Douro, a blend of various Port varieties.

It seems to be on everyone's list of QPR reds from Portugal, but I'm not sure you'd pick something this common (and from Robin's 30 Second Wine Advisor) for people to guess. At least I can confirm or eliminate Douro for everyone else.

I wasn't going to guess as my knowledge is weak on Portugal, but I'll throw a gamble in on a useful blending grape, often offering good value... Trincadeira and JP Ramos for the producer as he makes a couple of blends with it in

regards

Ian

Ok, one Portuguese I've recently had that was a bit like this was Esporão 2003, DOC Reguengos.

Otto, you knw I am a fan of Esparao!!!! But wrong again and you are about to be dethroned!!!!!!

2003 Quinta do Alqueve "Tradicional" Vinho Regional Ribatejano, a blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Trincadeira, and Periquita.

Pretty good but wrong region!!

Well then, one more thought before I throw up my hands and see what everyone else comes up with. I'm basing this one on the "good press" although it didn't come to mind immediately from the tasting note:

2003 Lavradores de Feitoria "Três Bagos" Douro, a blend of various Port varieties.

It seems to be on everyone's list of QPR reds from Portugal, but I'm not sure you'd pick something this common (and from Robin's 30 Second Wine Advisor) for people to guess. At least I can confirm or eliminate Douro for everyone else.

Douro is right!!! I am not at the Doris Ranch but pronounce a winner!! Well done Andrew.

`04 Prazo de Roriz, Douro.

Douro is right!!! I am not at the Doris Ranch but pronounce a winner!! Well done Andrew.

`04 Prazo de Roriz, Douro.

Well, I can take credit for zeroing in on the Iberian Peninsula right away, but after that it was mostly trial and error. I never did get the vintage or producer, so I'd only call it a partial win. But a partial win in the crowd is still pretty nice.

Excellent Andrew!! This wine garnered a lot of press here and in the UK, and I tasted a huge reserve last year. This wine flies out of my local store!! A google shows lots of info here.