2005 Callabriga Dão Red
July 5, 2010
Nice to see more Portuguese wines popping up on the shelves, here. Tried a nice one the other night at my brother’s 30th: 2005 Callabriga Tinto Roriz from the Dão region. The meal was BBQ’ed Strip Loin accompanied by various side dishes brought by friends & family. The steaks were cooked to perfection (my brother takes steak very seriously) and the smoky, peppery Callabriga was a wonderful accompaniment.
2005 Callabriga Dão Red
Callabriga is one of many brands produced by SoGrape Vinhos with the Dão Red being one of about twenty in the range spanning the regions of Altentejo, Dão and Douro. (Yep, they’re a large producer). At $28* it’s a bit pricey for everyday drinking but a wine worth checking out just the same.
Made with Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional and Alfrocheiro Preto grapes the colour is extremely dark, inky, almost black. A perfumey/smoky nose with pepper, blueberry, chocolate and earth. Medium-full bodied, balanced and velvety smooth. I’ve not had a wine this easy to drink in a while. But possibly – just possibly – it was too smooth… (is there such a thing?) Comes down to personal preference, I suppose. Sometimes a bit of an edge is nice, too.
2005 Callabriga Dao Red
*At Port of Wines at time of this writing
That sounds like a wonderful wine.
too smooth = too easy to drink more than enough of a good thing:)
I think it is possible for a wine to be ‘too smooth’ although I’m surprised it was a Portuguese wine that earned that description. Usually, they have loads of character and would be called anything but smooth operators, guess that’s why I love them! If you come across any vinho verde or albarinho, snap’em up, delicious and refreshing on a hot summers day and go great with seafood.
Shelagh – I like your thinking
Denise – It surprised me too, expected more of that typical rusticity… influence of modernist movement maybe? Who knows. Totally agree with you on Vinho Verde & Alborinho for summertime – cheers for the reminder!