Wine of the Week: Vallado Douro Tinto 2011

Wine of the Week: Vallado Douro Tinto 2011

A Little Background

Let me let you in on a little fact about me- I’m part Portuguese. I love my Portuguese culture- to include food, drink, and customs. I’ve been fortunate to have been to Portugal quite a few times in my life and can’t wait to go back.

When we were younger, my Portuguese Grandfather would serve us lunch, which- if you know anything about Portuguese culture- almost always consisted of Cod (what we call Bacalhau), cooked in various ways. Every now and then, with our lunch he’d give us a glass that was mixed with coca-cola and wine (vinho).

Now before you gasp and place judgement on my most beloved Grandfather, understand that things were different in his day. Wine was a part of their everyday life. They made barrels of wine in their basement in Portugal, using older methods that included stomping grapes with their feet. As a child, my father’s job was to crawl inside and clean the barrels from the inside. They enjoyed wine daily and it was a part of life.

My Grandfather didn’t pour us giant glasses meant to get us drunk- he just splashed a little in our glasses.  (On another note: We also started drinking cappuccinos way earlier than some would think fit. Let’s put it this way- I can’t remember a time when I was NOT drinking cappuccinos- topped off with a huge fluffy cloud of whip cream).

Anyways, if you know me, you know how strongly I feel about my heritage. Unfortunately, I don’t have access to all of the wonderful Portuguese products I love where I live now, like I did when I was growing up in the Northeast. But whenever someone comes to visit, they always bring me all the goodies, though. (My family is awesome!!)

More recently, my father made the trip out here to see us and amongst all the Portuguese goodies he brought was Portuguese wine. He brought us two bottles and we (my husband and I) devoured them. I wasn’t event interested in taking notes for a Wine of the Week, so you missed out on that one, but I will be ordering online soon, and that particular wine will definitely be in my cart. So stay tuned.

Vallado Douro Tinto

So what does all of this have to do with you? Well, I thought it would be nice to review a Portuguese wine for Wine of the Week. I keep seeing pics of them posted all over Instagram and figured that I should represent!  So here you go:

In this 10th Edition of Wine and Lavender’s Wine of the Week, we’ll be exploring a Portuguese wine-

Quinta do Vallado Douro Tinto 2011

Vallado Douro Tinto

 

World Market Price: $17.99 (on sale for $12.99) See? You don’t have to travel to Europe to get European wines at a decent price.

Sight: This wine is a very deep, dark, red. It is definitely full-bodied.

Vallado Douro TintoSmell: At first sniff, this wine seems to be pretty acidic. It has an “alcohol-y” smell to it that is slightly nose clearing. After having swirled it a little, that alcohol smell seems to have calmed down a bit. What do I think I’m smelling? Maybe some vanilla-ish and a little cherry. Something in this glass is a little overpowering and is taking me back to the AquaNet days. Each sniff I take is an Asthma attack waiting to happen. I feel like I’m having to push the fumes out between sniffs- but I’ve smelled worse wine with more alcohol fumes and just want to make that clear. There’s also a warm, woodsy smell to it… like an earthy scent. It’s not bad, but I don’t particularly love it, either. My Husband’s thoughts: “Dark fruit and tobacco- woodsy might be it.”

Taste/First Impression: Soft, with a sour limey- or tart bite at the end. My husband described that as a “woodsy burn”. He went on to describe it as, “…like sipping a good chest-burning liquor.” I feel like it’s too tart and there isn’t really any sweetness to it (and you know I like my blends a little sweet!).

After taste: It doesn’t necessarily burn your nostrils, but after having it, I feel like my nose has somehow been burned or scratched from the inside. This wine smells better than it tastes. My husband classified it as a sipping wine- which I totally agree- sip this one, it is a bit powerful.

The Experience: My husband was perfectly fine with this “woodsy, chest-burning” wine, me on the other hand, even though I am part Portuguese, I did not care for this wine. (Desculpe, Portugal).

The Next Day: Don’t ask me. I only took a few sips and poured the rest into my husband’s glass. I was NOT a fan of this wine. Hubby’s experience the next day: He was up and ready for a run at 5am with no worries or issues. At least we have that, right?

Vallado Douro TintoThe Label: The label doesn’t say much about the wine itself, just about where it was made.

Alc. %: 14%

Repeat: I don’t think I’ll be buying this wine again. I’d rather stick with the familiar, and delicious, Monte Velho (I’ll have to get you guys a review on that one- it was too delicious to take notes in between when I had it.)

Rating: 2

2 Glasses wine of the week

 

 

Exploring #PortugueseWine this week... Check this one out: Share on X

Don’t let this review turn you off from Portuguese wines! There are plenty of them out there that are delicious (like this one: Confidencial). I just picked the wrong one this time around. So what are your thoughts? Have you had this wine before? Comment Below.

So what are your thoughts? Have you had this wine before? Comment Below.

Pamela is a Freelance Writer, Blogger, WAHM of 3, and Veteran Military Wife living in Southwest Texas. Raised in the Northeast and having lived a few years in the Pacific Northwest, she likes to write about mom life, parenting, frugal living, experiences, and WINE. (Lots of wine!) When she’s not busy chasing toddlers around, you can find her on the blog or on social media. Check her out on Instagram: instagram.com/wineandlavender



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