This week I am reporting on a real winner in my quest for 90-point wines that sell for under $20.00. Just drop what you are doing and rush out to City-Wide Liquors in downtown South Bend and buy a bottle of the 2011 Esporao Assobio. It is a stunning wine for the price. You can finish reading my blog when you get back from buying this wine.
2011 Esporao Assobio Red Blend
This wine is a red blend from the Douro region of northern Portugal. The region is named after the Douro River, which flows east to west through the region. The Douro Region is best known for production of its fortified wines (Port).
Besides the outstanding Ports, Douro is also known for producing appealing dry red table wines such as the one I am reviewing here. The Assobio is produced at the winery estate of Quinta dos Murcas, a historic property that dates back to circa 1714. The estate is located in the center of DOC Douro on the right bank of the Douro River.
Wine Review
The wine was a deep purple in color and looked very inviting in the glass. The 2011 Assobio is a blend of traditional port grapes: 40% Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), 40% Touriga Franca (sweeter and more perfumed than Touriga Nacional and used to add finesse to wine) and 20% Touriga Nacional (considered by some to be Portugal’s finest grape. It is similar to a Cabernet Sauvignon with high tannins and structure).
The nose of this wine had hints of black cherries and worn leather. On the palate it was medium bodied with flavors of fresh fruits and some hints of wood. The finish was of medium length, offered dryness and a nice dash of spice. This wine would have benefited from 40 to 60 minutes of decanting as it was a little tight from the bottle.
It was certainly easy drinking and budget friendly at $14.99 per bottle (City-Wide Liquors). This wine would be good for everyday drinking or weeknight dinners.
The Assobio has won a number of awards and scored 94 points by Wine Enthusiast. It was a nice, pleasant wine to drink and I recommend you give it a try.
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Until next week,
Cheers
Portuguese wines are fantastic bargains. 🙂