So it goes…

This week’s Decent Drinking

Grande Encontro 2006 is a DOC Barraida from the smart Portuguese producer DAO Sul

A beefy, satisfying and classy red, made from Baga and Touriga Nacional. Baga is a surly, difficult grape, making wine that benefits from extended keeping, characteristics similar to the Italian Nebbiolo. Thanks to some stubborn producers, notably Luis Pato, it’s hanging on in there despite ‘ethnic cleansing’ attempts by those who want to see Portugal’s kaleidoscope of historic wine grapes reduced to something approaching the ‘usual suspects’. Touriga Nacional, on the other hand, is a charmer. It’s always hung around putting the aromatics and soft flavours into quality port but latterly has emerged as capable of making opulent, full-bodied red wines. It’s one of my top tips to become ‘sexy’.

This wine combines the strengths of both. I encountered Grand Encontro at the recent Portuguese Wine Fair in Dublin it made an early bid, to my palate at least, to be a contender for Best Wine of 2009 under €20.

Around €15 from The Wicklow Wine Co, Main Street, Wicklow tel 0404 66767