WINE REVIEW: Prats & Symington, 2017 Prado de Roriz, Douro, Portugal ($17)

by Andrew Chalk

While Port, the fortified wine from Portugal’s Douro region, has a worldwide market Portuguese table wines are more of a cipher. Wines like this one are going to help put Portugal, and the Douro region on the map.

The grapes for this wine originated from two vineyards in the Douro Cima Corgo. The grape types are familiar to port producers: Touriga Franca (35%), Touriga Nacional (25%), Tinta Roriz (20%), and 20% other varieties. They are hand-harvested and hand sorted. They are given a gentle crush and a fermentation with selected cultured yeasts. Maceration is gentle to preserve freshness and fruitiness. Ageing was 6 months in neutral French oak.

The color is a deep opaque purple. The nose is intense with blackberry and black cherry fruit, licorice, and forest floor notes. On the palate the fruit is intense and the tannins crunchy just short of being too harsh to consume now. Overall, the impression is one of deliciousness. If consumed now it is best paired with red meat like roast lamb or game.

Sample.