Frei Joaõ, Bairrada, Tinto, 1985
100% baga. Alcohol a quaint 11.8%. What can you expect from a 32-year old wine? Mushroomy scents and feel, perhaps a bit of old cherry & plum, tannins way past "integrating." Sure, it's there, but this is about mellow texture and graceful aging. Not a blockbuster, but a whispering memory. Glad to try. For those of you trying to open, you may want to use the Durand: my cork fell into smithereens into the bottle.
Quinta de Foz de Arouce, Beira Atlantico, tinto, 2012
Darkish maroonish red. Plummy, floral aromas with a savory bent (marjoram or thyme?). Meaty plum and beef loin, floral, saline, and savory. At 14%, touches the edge of ripeness but then backtracks. Cool before serving. Classy, if not very complex, it is a decent bottle of wine for the price (around $20+) and would serve as a good bridge wine for New World palettes going to Europe. [80% baga/20% touriga nacional]
Sandlands, Carignan, California, 2014
12.8% Pretty and immediately accessible. Floral and red-fruited, with a slightly tart finish. Delightfully fresh and lively. A couple days in becomes a little simpler in feel, so might want to drink this on the first night.
Guido Porro, Barolo, 'Vigna Lazzairasco', 2004
If Burlotto is "bottom feeding", then this must be dregs. There's sweet prune but with a firm, middle-aged body, with spicewood bark and a bit of fragrant orange-bergamot. With air, a bit more cherry-pit and licorice. Not bad for dregs.
Domaine Charvin, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2006
Hmmm, not enticing: dirty plums that are rotting in a metal basket that might have some diesel fuel spilled on it. Peppery, with red plums, old strawberry jam, with sandalwood on the finish, then the Southern warmth comes and hits you full force. Dusty tannin still present 11 years in. Either an awkward stage, bad bottle, or bad year, not sure what, but it's in the middle of it and you don't want to be there.
Quinta da Muradella, Monterrei, 'Alanda', 2013 (blanco)
Herbally, with lemon notes and Muscadet-like bright acidity but with the dullness of character that grenache blanc can have. Lemon chiffon with a calcium finish. A little too one-note. Wanted to like this a little more than I did, even though it's a fine wine. 13% [30% Doña Blanca, 30% Treixadura, 30% Verdello, 10% Monstruosa de Monterrei]