Reviews & Ratings

2014 Castello d'Alba Portugal Red "Vinhas Velhas"

Winery: Castello d'Alba

Vintage: 2014

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Vinhas Velhas"

Wine Category: Portugal Red

Grape blend: 75% Touriga Nacional & 25% Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca & Souzao

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Douro

State or country: Portugal

Price: $24

Cases produced: unknown

KWG Score: 92 (based on 3 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (93)

Review date: January 20, 2018

Wine Review: This slightly opaque and dark ruby colored "Old Vines" field blend from Portugal is very good. It opens with a blueberry and dark chocolate bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and smooth. The flavor profile is a tasty black cherry and cocoa blend with notes of gentle minerality. I also detected some hints of gentle blackberry. The finish is dry and its refined tannins stick around for quite some time. I would pair this very good value wine with slow cooked short ribs. Enjoy - Ken

Winemaker Notes: Very elegant and refined, a modern style that fully preserves the soul of the Douro’s native grape varieties. Aroma that harmoniously blends the great concentration of Douro reds in all their complexity. Berries, hints of rock rose, spices, exuberant violets and extremely fresh notes of basil and bergamot. The long maturation in barrels produced a wine with great aromatic elegance, where the scents of the Douro are not masked by excessive notes of oak. Very smooth and ripe tannins, fresh and aromatic, very elegant, with an unusual long finish. Fantastic with Iberian smoked ham, roasts, game and smoked meats. Also excellent with cured goat cheeses.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Castello d'Alba 2014 Vinhas Velhas.