Attributes:

Cims de Porrera

Priorato, Spain

Other

750 ML

2001: WineAdvocate Rating: 94

medium to full body

classic

cherries, graphite, spice box

2001: WineEnthusiast Rating: 94

soft

a beauty

cherry, coffee, cola, meaty, mocha, spice, vanilla

2001: WineAndSpirits Rating: 91

fat

lean

bacon, herbs

smooth

2000: Tanzer Rating: 92

penetrating acidity, tangy

complex nose, rich

bacon, blackberry, leather, minerals, pepper, rose, strawberry

concentrated, sweet

2000: WineAdvocate Rating: 92

full-bodied

opulent

1999: Tanzer Rating: 89

fresh

black cherry, dried fruits, exotic spices, menthol, redcurrant

1999: Tanzer Rating: 89

fat

deep

bitter, cherry, earth, maple, raisin

concentrated, ripe

1999: WineAdvocate Rating: 94

rich

classic

blackberry, blueberry

Food Matches:

This harsh, hilly area southwest of Barcelona is gaining a lot of attention for its newly resurrected vines. Volcanic soil and severe weather result in rich, powerful red wines, made primarily from Garnacha and Carignan grapes, and they are high in tannin and alcohol. Grape yields are low, and as a result prices can be quite high.

Attributes:

Osborne

Portugal, Other

Tawny Port

750 ML

Food Matches:

Well known for its Port and Vinho Verde wines, Portugal is one of Europe’s leading wine producing countries. It competes closely with Germany for the position of fourth largest wine producer in Europe. Portugal is also the worlds leading producer of cork. Single-handedly it accounts for nearly 70 percent of the worlds commercially traded cork supply.

Tawny Port is a fortified Portuguese wine and describes a wide variety of types. All are made from red grapes aged in wood barrels, mellowing the wine to an amber-brown color with a nutty flavor. (See PORT for more information on the region and fortification process.)

Attributes:

Prince de Tabourg

Bordeaux, France

Bordeaux - White

750 ML

Food Matches:

A region in western France that grows famous red wines from the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc grapes and white wines from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle grapes. Situated on the Atlantic coast, Bordeaux has a maritime climate with warm summers and fairly mild winters as well as an abundance of rain during harvest time. When young, the finest red Bordeaux wines have a deep cranberry hue and aromas of blackcurrants, plums, spice, cedar, and cassis. For the first ten years or so these wines can be very dry, with tannin masking the fruity flavors. Eventually the wines turn garnet, and develops an extraordinarily complex bouquet and flavor as well as softer tannins. The finest red Bordeaux wines still take 20 years or so before reaching their maturity. Two distinct red wine production zones exist within the Bordeaux region; the Left Bank and the Right Bank. The Left Bank vineyards are located west of the Garonne River and the Gironde Estuary, into which the Garonne empties. The Right Bank vineyards are east and north of the Dordogne River and east of the Grionde Estuary. Of the various wine districts on the Left and Right Banks, four are the most important for red wines: Haut-Médoc; Pessac-Leognan, St-Emilion, and Pomerol. For white wines, the most important are Graves and Pessac-Leognan.