Wine Review - 2009 Meia Encosta Dão: Portuguese Table Wine That Tastes Anything But
So we really like Portuguese wines. We like the rustic nature of the reds and crisp and minerality of the whites. We like Douro Tinto, Vinho Verde, and we like Dão wines. We especially like the prices. We have been fans of Portuguese wines for a while and in many ways the price and quality hit a ceiling when you get over $30....strange as that may sound. We reviewed the Calabriga version not too long ago, check it out here. This wine clocks in at a sale price of $14 down from the regular price of $16 which gets us off on the right foot. This wine from Borges Wines is part of the Dão Denominação de Origem Controlada (DOC) appellation. It is a blend of Touriga-Nacional, Jaen, Alfrocheiro and Tinta-Roriz (no percentages given).
In the glass it is a very dark wine....you can't see through it. Call it Garnet or Black Cherry or any other colour that would indicate dark purple. It foretells of the darkness to come....we like. It also sticks to the glass which is somewhat strange given that it is only 12.5% alcohol.
The nose is very nutty and chocolaty with dried prune notes more than fruity notes. There is a layer of smoke in there as well which adds to the complexity. Overall it is a unique smelling wine which is the case with most Portuguese wines we have had, again another reason why we like these wines.
The flavours are very dark as well. Dark chocolate, black cherry, and oak hit you pretty quickly but there is a layer of tannins that blanket the tongue. The wine is a little on the thin side but has a bold profile and is funky enough to make it memorable. We really like the fact that at $14 it is a wine that tastes like it could easily be $25. The QPR is really good here.
In the glass it is a very dark wine....you can't see through it. Call it Garnet or Black Cherry or any other colour that would indicate dark purple. It foretells of the darkness to come....we like. It also sticks to the glass which is somewhat strange given that it is only 12.5% alcohol.
The nose is very nutty and chocolaty with dried prune notes more than fruity notes. There is a layer of smoke in there as well which adds to the complexity. Overall it is a unique smelling wine which is the case with most Portuguese wines we have had, again another reason why we like these wines.
The flavours are very dark as well. Dark chocolate, black cherry, and oak hit you pretty quickly but there is a layer of tannins that blanket the tongue. The wine is a little on the thin side but has a bold profile and is funky enough to make it memorable. We really like the fact that at $14 it is a wine that tastes like it could easily be $25. The QPR is really good here.
| Tasting Notes: | Score: | |
| Sight (0-5) | Super dark wine that has a thick look...can't see through it. | 4.25 |
| Smell (0-5) | Nutty and chocolaty nose with a smokey layer and dried prune smell. | 4.0 |
| Taste (0-10) | Slightly thin and definitely tannic, has black cherry and chocolate notes with a funk to it that we like. | 8.25 |
| Total: | 16.5 / 20 (82.5%) |
It is great to see another reasonably priced Dão that punches above its weight. It is definitely worth a taste especially at $14.
Keep on tasting!
Chris & Shannon
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