Porta 6
Porta 6
GRAPES: 50% Aragonez, 40% Castelao, 10% Touriga Nacional
VINTAGE: 2018
REGION: Lisboa, Portugal
ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE: 13.5%
PRICE: $6.99
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Vidigal Wines
I don’t know about you all, but it’s FINALLY starting to feel like fall and I am here for it. While the days may seem shorter, rest assured there’s still PLENTY of time to drink some wine. Am I right? Our featured wine this week is one that caught my eye for two reasons. First, it’s a new release for Nashville. Just when I feel like there’s not another wine to sample, Trader Joe’s shelves are stocked with new bottles. Second, this label. By now, you know that I am a sucker for a great wine label. When you are standing there looking at shelf after shelf of wine, Porta 6 is certainly one that stands out. The vibrant yellow label was created by German illustrator Hauke Vagt and depicts the hustle and bustle in downtown Lisbon.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you may notice that I gravitate towards red wine, mostly from California or Italy. However, I was very excited to expand my horizons and sample something from a region I was unfamiliar with.
Portugal is emerging as a serious wine producer. Keep your eyes open as you will start to see more and more Portuguese wines on the shelves. Given the location, the grapes are subject to so many different influences (soils, climates, etc) which means we will see some very interesting and quite possibly delicious wine.
Before we start tasting, make sure that you open this bottle up well in advance of drinking it. If you don’t want to decant the bottle, at least pour yourself a glass and allow it time to breathe so you can truly appreciate the flavor and character of the wine. So let’s jump into the tasting details, shall we?
TASTING NOTES:
Lovely deep ruby red hue
Medium body
Notes of dark fruit- Blackberry, Black Cherry, and even hints of blueberry
Falls on the drier end of the spectrum with earthy notes at the finish
Trader Joe’s Tasting notes: “ Well balanced, cherry, strawberry blackberry, and blueberry; sweet extended finish; soft tannins”
Verdict:
There’s something about this bottle of wine that is so cozy and screams fall. I’ll admit, I took a sip before the wine had a chance to open and I am far from impressed but after I gave it time to breathe it was like a different wine was in my glass. For the $6.99 price point, I’d recommend grabbing this bottle at Trader Joe’s and giving it a try. It would complement a variety of meat dishes or just pair well with a charcuterie board.
Until Next Time!
