The winemaker said to decant this bad boy before drinking, and I did not heed those warnings–I should have. I was all excited to uncork this Portuguese import, to vary from my California favorites, and to enjoy some great grapes. If you saw this previous post, you know this oenophile was looking forward to documenting more tasting experiences and the 2013 Carvalhas was first up in the queue.

2013 Quinta das Carvalhas Reserva Duoro, Vila Nova de Gala, Portugal.

It’s a red blend, and that usually strikes a favorable chord for me. In the 2013 Quinta das Carvalhas Reserva Duoro, the winemaker combines Touriga Nacional (60%), Touriga Franca (20%), and Tinta Roriz (20%) grapes together. I found it to be overly heavy in tannins (and bear in mind I do like firm tannins usually) and had a strong blackberry taste. That too should have made this a win, but this medium-bodied bottle was underwhelming.

The wine is aged 12 months in oak, and Wine Enthusiast says, “It has spice, acidity, and sense of brooding power.” You know how you see a dilapidated house advertised as a “handy man’s dream?” That’s how I read the Enthusiast comments. Trust me, the 2013 Carvalhas has tannins in spades. Maybe I blew this one by failing to decant it prior to tasting? Note to self to fix this future tastings through 2017.