We pulled a bottle of vacqueyras for dinner and it smelled like wet cardboard.
We opened a bottle of Vila Santa, a non-port red wine from Portugal. 2006 Joao Portugal Ramos Vila Santa Vinho Regional Alentejano. Or in other words: red wine made from Aragones, Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet and Cabernet Sauvignon.
For dinner, Justin made truffle oil & european butter polenta with sea salt, I sauteed oyster mushrooms with dried garlic and oregano and a few sun dried tomatos. The polenta and mushrooms were broiled in the oven with mozzarella.
On the side I sauteed onions in gram masala and cumin with cauliflower and a little brown sugar and sea salt.
A rich vegetarian meal to hold up against the bold wine.
Court of Masters style tasting analysis: Appearance:
Clarity: Opaque
Brightness: Not Bright
Intensity: Medium Plus to High
Color: Deep Purple
Rim: pink to deep violet
Viscousity: Medium
Nose:
Clean
Intensity: Medium Plus
Aroma: Youthful
Tobacco, Dark Red Fruits like Raspberry, darker cherry, little blackberry with hints of chocolate dust.
Wood: Yes
Earth: Dusty Earth, Clay Earth,
Palette:
Sweetness: Dry
Fruits: Cherry, plum,
Body: Medium Light
Earth: Clay / Slight sweet basil characteristics
Wood: Yes, very light wood characteristics
Alcohol: medium
Tannins: moderate grape tannins
Acid: Medium Low
Complexity: relatively low
Finish: medium low
Quality of Finish: Slight herbal notes lighter plum
