Last night, some friends and I had a wine tasting session at home.

I bought 2 bottles from Douro, 1 from Alentejo, some spicy cheese, ewe cheese, creamy cheese from “Serra da Estrela”, bloodpudding, chorizo and I also made a caprice salad for everyone.

The wine choices were:

• Evel Grande Colheira 2003 from Douro – http://www.realcompanhiavelha.pt/
• Crasto 2005 from Douro – http://www.quintadocrasto.pt/
• Cortes de Cima Syrah from Alentejo – http://www.cortesdecima.pt/

All of the three wines were really good and I would recommend all of them, but the big surprise was Crasto. Made from “Tinta Roriz”, “Tinta Barroca”, “Touriga Franca” and “Touriga Nacional” grapes, this wine while still very young, has complex tannins and a balanced acidity. I’m sure it will be a potential “honey from the gods” in a few years.

Cortes de Cima has always produced really good wine and it has never disappointed me. I have been familiar with wines from Cortes de Cima such as “Chaminé” and “Cortes de Cima” for some years. It was the first time that I tried this Syrah which is well structured, with complex tannins and good acidity. On a whim yesterday I decided to buy the top wine from the selection – Incognito 2003 – which I plan to keep in my cellar for the next 2 or 3 years.

Evel was a shot in the dark. I had heard good reviews about it and therefore decided to purchase it. Powerful body and flavour are interlaced with the boldly structured acidity and excellent tannin resulting in an elegant and perfectly balanced red wine.