91 Point, (Enthusiast), Douro Reserva @ $14.95/Bottle. The Barquinha by Colinas do Douro is Flat Out Stellar Wine.

Another amazing find from the Douro. A Portuguese miracle just in time for summer.

BARQUINHA DOURO RESERVA BY COLINAS DO DOURO 2015

91 points – Wine Enthusiast, Aug 2017

Bottle Price : $14.95

Case Price : $179.40

Winery : Colinas do Douro

Wine Region : Douro (Portugal), Portugal (Portugal)

Bottle Per Case : 12 x 750 ml

Food Pairing : Breads, Cured Meat, Hard Cheese, Red Meat, Roasted Vegetables

“Produced from old vines, this blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz is rich and dense. It has firm tannins at this young stage although it is obviously going to become a generous rich wine as it develops. It has a fine future of complex structure and fruit.”

I have never been able to figure out why Portugal is not more mainstream when it comes to value wine. There is no doubt that the Portuguese produce some of the best value wine to come from anywhere. The terroir is spectacular, and especially in the Douro, (see above). The climate is dry, the hills are steep, the days are hot and there is often a breeze coming up the Douro Valley from the Atlantic.

The grapes used in the production of most red wines in the Douro are indigenous. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinto Roriz are typically blended in red wines to produce wines of power, depth and complexity that often blow away the competition at a given price point. Yes, we have plenty of great wines at $14.95/bottle, but the power and structure in this particular wine is hard to beat.

For our loyalists out there, do not worry, we have also just had some of our client favourite Quinta do Convento arrive. Though the price point on this is a little bit higher, it would be hard to argue that the wine is not slightly more refined. If you are a lover of Portuguese wines as i am, you will want a case of each.

Since we are on the subject of very powerful Southern European blends, it behooves me to mention Domaine Cabirau’s 2011 Cotes de Rousillon. A bunch of folks that purchased this on the 1st PO to arrive, have already come back for more. If you are looking for something with the perfect amount of age on it, you will not want to miss this as it is drinking just perfectly. A great BBQ wine.

For you rewards lovers out there, Friday is the last day for double rewards. If you love getting free stuff, if you make purchases prior to Saturday, it will happen twice as fast.

If there is one thing we hope the threat of the LCBO strike taught some folks, it is that being prepared with plenty of great wines kicking around the house/office/cottage is a good thing. Let WineOnline.ca assist you by dropping off all sorts of delicious wines in a box. Oh yeah, we ship anywhere in Ontario and Alberta with a postal address.

Wishing everyone a great Tuesday!