88|Quiuta do Coa
There are 200 cases available in the USA. The 2004 Tinto (Quinta do Coa) is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz from CARM’ family vineyard. It seems a bit richer and more forward than the wines CARM produces under its own label. The palate is a little sappy, and the wine is sweet and primary, and quite delicious. The tannins are refined. I think this is a very tasty wine that is a good value. It does not show the structure of the wines CARM releases under its own label, but has sweeter, richer fruit, smooth, round texture, and a rather hedonistic air to it. In its own right, granting that it is a wine that is probably not intended to age for too long, it is sure to win some fans. It simply tastes great and is priced very well. Drink no – 2113. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

87| Casa da Alorna
The 2003 Colheita Seleccionada (Casa da Alorna) is a blend of Castelao (Periquita), Trincadeira and Tinta Miuda, aged in American oak. It leads off with a powerful bouquet predicting very ripe fruit, and an unusually lush feel. The considerable hit of oak provides some sweetness and roundness, but the wine is not loaded with those artificial notes often seen from American oak, probably because it only spent nine months in oak. Normally, hearing “American oak” is an immediate turnoff for me, but this is a good example of why it is nice to actually taste the wine before dismissing it. There are touches of spice, and lots of flavor, in fact a rather exuberant and exotic note that bordered on kirsch as the wine aired out. This tastes pretty good, and I suspect many will think it is a steal for the price. Purists may wind up preferring the more oakrestrained 2004Tinto reviewed here, although it lacks this bottling’s depth and fullness. Drink now – 2011. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

86| Castello d’Alba
The 2003 Reserva (Castello d’Alba) adds power and intensity to the Seleccionada reviewed here, which makes is a lot less charming to drink right now, but gives it a lot of upside for a modest price. This is more angular than Seleccionada, and the tannins are more gripping, although the flavors do not linger particularly long. This has some potential, and can be cellared, which is not something you always say about inexpensive wines. It took as long while to get some fruit, but when I did, it was tasty. It is never going to be the most charming wine in the world, though. Drink  2007 – 2012. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

85| Castello d’Alba Col Sel
The 2003 Colheita Seleccionada (Castello d’Alba Col Sel) is relatively rich and expensive for this modest price range.  This has smooth texture from oak treatment, and a rather nice finish for the price. Very tasty, modern in style, with a lingering finish, it seems like a fine deal in an early maturing wine, charming and lively. It actually has some structure, too. It is smooth and friendly with some brightness around the edges. You could spend a lot more, and be no happier. It took a good forty minutes of air to get this to open up fully, a nice statement on an inexpensive wine. It did not retain its peak for long, and it quickly became a bit simple, and a little short, which constrained my scoring. With these types of wines, make sure to buy them well stored, and drink young-ish for best results. Drink now – 2009. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

85| Case de Santa Vitoria Tinto
The 2004 Tinto is a blend of Aragonez, Cabernet Sauvigon, Syrah and Trincadeira. This is a pretty solid little wine, with some intensity, brightness, and fine flavors. It needs a few minutes of air to wake up, then shows both structure and fruit. Its mid-palate is modest, but it doesn’t feel watery or overly thin. There is a fried coffee bean note on the finish that I wasn’t thrilled with, however. For an early maturing wine, this provides fair value at the price. Drink now – 2011. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

86| Quinta de S. Francisco
The 2003 Tinto (Quinta de S. Francisco) is a blend of Castelao, Aragonez and Touriga Nacional. Grapy and primary , as well as a bit sharp on opening, this also has a rather gamey note, which thankfully cut the very sweet, almost candied fruit that initially presents itself. The tannins are there,  supporting a modest mid-palate. For an inexpensive wine, this has many merits. It does come around with some air, and makes a much more appealing presentation with time, always seeming flavorful, but no longer appearing quite as candied. There is nothing profound going on here, but it is a wine you can have a lot of fun drinking for a very modest price. It is a very nice value. Drink now – 2011. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

86| Reserva (Andreza)
The 2003 Reserva (Andreza) is a much more refined wine than the regular Tinto, and well worth the extra $3. There is a fruit nose, more depth and nice balance. The flavors are restrained at first, and then finally emerge. There are plenty of fierce tannins here, but the fruit has a chance to be supported rather than overwhelming and the texture actually becomes rounder. Not a particularly hedonistic wine, particularly at first, it shows focus and intensity, but gradually opens and becomes a lot tastier. There is a considerable hit of what seems like American oak on the finish. I suspect the astringent tannins are still a bit much for the depth of the fruit, but there will be a window where this should drink weel. Drink 2008 – 2015. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

90| Dona Maria Reserva
The 2003Reserva is already coming around, and is quite approachable. It has an elegant mid-palate and refined tannins, along with some brightness and a suave, modern and graceful feel to it. A bit foursquare at first, it is certainly pleasing and persistent, with some charm and the ability to improve in the glass. This is 50% Alicante Bouschet, and the rest Syrah, Cabernet Sauvigon and Aragones. Drink now- 2012. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

87| Case de Santa Vitoria Reserva
The 2004 Reserva is a step up from the regular Tinto, mostly justifying the increased price (although doubling it is a bold stroke). So often in these reviews, I looked at the step-up in price in a lineup and wondered if o wouldn’t be just as happy with the cheaper wine. Not here. This feels fuller in the mouth, and seems cool and refreshing. There is a tannic backbone for sure, as the wine presents some astringency. I gave it a lot more air, and there were some very nice fruit flavors emerging, and it became sharp rather than astringent. There is more of everything here, including flavor and finish. It winds up with a bright, lively finch, but not terribly long, and certainly not complex. Drink 2008 – 2013. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

90| CARM
The 2003 Reserva is rather classy. If you want a preview of the “CM” for less than half the price, start here. All of CARM’s wines reviewed here show good aromatics, and so, too, here. The mid-palate is elegant in weight, and the fruit flavor persistent and tasty. There is fine structure, and the tannins are gripping on the end. I started out liking the 2000 CM far more, but by the time all was said and done, it goes closer and closer. Drink 2008 – 2016. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

88| CARM
The 2004 Tinto is ripe and primary. This wine packs a bit of tannic punch at the end. It provides a lot of substance for the price and it is a very fine value, packed with fruit, showing off some darker plum nuances, a bit of funk on the nose, some earthly notes on the palate, good structure and persistent flavor. It is on the rustic side, and as such won’t be everyone’s first choice. Don’t expect lush and suave. The tannins are considerable, and it really needs a little time in the cellar. It is a lot of wine for the price, sturdy and bit solid, but very impressive. In this lineup from CARM, this is a steal, granting that its style differs considerably from the more sophisticated wines and it does not have as much upside. The only questions here are for how long and by how much it will improving with cellaring. For its price range, I think it will acquit itself well. There were 250 cases available in the USA. Drink 2007 – 2015. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

87| CARM
The 2005 Reserva Branco is full in the mouth, with a hit of oak on the back end initially that integrates quite well. The nose mingles fruit with a little steel, and is very appealing. The mid-palate is refreshing, with some acidity, good balance and an easy charm. For a wine in this price category, the finish is quite respectable, lingering and flavorful. Drink now – 2010. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

80| Dona Maria Tinto
The 2003 Tinto is simple and foursquare, with a somewhat bitter finish. After two corked bottles, the third seemed almost to have a spritz at first. Now, I didn’t actually see bubbles, I’m describing an analogous sensation. That blew off. What was left was pleasant and simple, but not something I could quite come around to actually liking. It was on the bitter side on the finish, which was not terribly impressive in length or in purity of flavors. The depth is good for its price range, and it seems to have light tannins that provide some grip. Drink now – 2009. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

84| Herdade Grande Tinto
The 2003 Tinto is bright and light, elegant and flavorful, a blend of Aragones, Trincadeira and Alicate Bouche. There is a haze of fine tannins supporting rather tasty fruit, laced with plum nuances. The mid-palate is modest. Well structured for its price range, this has some style and flavor, granting that it is hardly profound bouquet. The longer I had it open, that less I liked it, as the fruit became less and less interesting and faded quickly. Drink now – 2010. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

84|Caves do Salgueiral Tinto (Andreza)
The 2003 Tinto (Andreza) is one of those inexpensive Douro wines that show lots of structure and power, despite the modest price. The mid-palate is rather light, and the wine otherwise rather restrained, and austere at the moment. Some oak smooths the edges of the wines appropriately. The finish projects little but tannin at first. Eventually there are plum nuances, and darker fruit, but the tannins remain rather powerful and astringent, a little too much so for the depths of fruit, and the modest finish, although it eventually moderates. It should improve in the cellar. For the price it is a fair value. Drink 2007 – 2010. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

88| CARM (case argricola robored Madeira grande escolha)
The 2003 “Grande Escolha” is a big red with power and some harshness, with the acidity and alcohol (14.5%) both seeming fairly prominent. There are also astringent tannins on the finish. Everything about this projects power, from the pungent nose to the finish, although it is mid-weight in depth. Although considerable aeration brought out some juicy fruit that I rather liked a lot, balance questions about this wine remained. Perhaps cellaring will bring it around. It has the potential for improvement. There are 50 cases available in the USA. Drink 2008 – 2018. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

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