Castelo do Vinteiro 2016

Portugal offers an array of exciting and original wines and always of remarkable value. The multi Trophy winning Duorum Project is itself a beacon of excellence. It was founded by revered wine veterans João Portugal Ramos, key in revolutionising Portuguese wines, and José Maria Soares Franco (former winemaker for Barca Velha which Wine Advocate described as "Portugal's equivalent of Grange, the seminal cult wine"). In 2007 they decided to start a new venture in the Upper Douro, near to Spain, and make the finest wines they could. They planted 160 hectares of vines high above the Douro river, in the most inhospitable land, and only use estate grown fruit. From native grapes, this is a beautifully crafted red and great with rich meat dishes. Oz Clarke calls it a "Thrilling red - oozing black cherry and blueberry fruit, with the blossom of spring flowers..."