Regular readers of my column may have noticed that only very rarely do I mention Alentejo wines. This is not because I have anything against the region – in fact I would agree with the general consensus that it produces some of Portugal’s best wines – it’s just that I don’t often find anything truly different either from the traditional robust reds or the new world-style, fruit-driven wines that tend to predominate in the region.
This interestingly named Fruto Absurdo (absurd fruit) red certainly stands out from the crowd.
Produced by a Madeiran winemaker living in the Alentejo, it uses the fruit of different vineyards around the Alentejo that he has selected and blended to make a wine that is quite different to anything else on the market.
A blend of Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouchet and Petit Verdot, it is a deep purple-red colour, with intense mature berry fruit on the nose and great freshness in the mouth.
Unlike most Alentejo red, it is not oaked, letting the quality of the fruit shine through with silky smooth tannins and a long fruity finish. This is a difficult wine to find in the shops but worth looking out for in restaurants, the retail price is around €10.
Distributed in the Algarve by St. Graal Vinhos
By PATRICK STUART [email protected]
