Quinta Nova Douro Tinto is something special

I find I have three classes of wine in my cellar, and the Quinta Nova Douro Tinto had me stumped as to where it fits. You see, there is the stuff I am really not allowed to touch, which is squirrelled away in our red wine fridge, so I can’t see it. Then there’s the stuff that’s a bit special, whether it’s from a winery we visited, or it was a little more than what we’d usually spend on a bottle. We sometimes splash out and drink this stuff if we have a good reason to open it.

Then there’s the drinking wine, which is where we tend to spend the most cash because we churn through it like it’s going out of fashion. All the wine in here is technically fair game, but sometimes when we open a bottle from our drinking wine stash, I wish I’d held on to it for just a little longer. These wines are fleeting and gone all too quickly. And sometimes you just wish you had another bottle.

Crying over drunk wine

Wine is there to be enjoyed, so I know I shouldn’t be in mourning over cracking open this bottle. And I’m not really, because it was so delicious that I’ve decided it deserved to be drunk. But when I read up about it after the fact, I realised I probably should have savoured it a little more, perhaps putting it down to rest for an occasion other than a takeout night. But sometimes you just have to drink that bottle of wine, and not worry so much about whether you should have squirrelled it away. Sometimes you need a damn good wine on a Friday night, and that’s the only excuse you need.

The Quinta Nova Douro Tinto proves that Portugal is more than Port

You may have realised by now that I am a sucker for international wines, particularly when they come from Europe. I’m not sure why this is. Perhaps it’s that when I’m drinking them I can picture myself on holidays. Or that they have so many different tastes to the ones we have in Australia. It could also be the price tag! Whatever it is, I love exploring wines from Europe, but I don’t often try ones from Portugal. I guess it isn’t as well known as wines from Italy and France, but Portuguese wines are definitely having a moment. Case and point: the Quinta Nova Douro Tinto.

This wine actually took out the Decanter’s 2018 Best in Show red. You can imagine my amazement that the wine we’d cracked open on a quiet Friday night in had such high accolades! But you can see why when you try this wine, honestly it is the perfect combination between dark and mysterious, and approachable. All too drinkable too for a heavier wine. Sort of like a tall dark handsome man that’s also your friend. Does that analogy work? I might need to work on that.

Quinta Nova Douro Tinto all the way from port

The Quinta Nova Douro Tinto comes from the Douro Valley which was classified as the only place in the whole wide world where you can officially make port wine in 1756. Fun fact: this makes port the oldest regulated wine in the world, surpassing even Champagne! So when you make a wine from the region best known for port, what grapes do you use? The grapes that are in port of course! I’ve always wondered what port would be in a glass of red wine because I’m not the biggest fan of after-dinner wines. So to know I now have tried an equivalent to dinner port, I feel like I’ve ticked something off my bucket list, and enjoyed tasty vino while I’ve been at it.

Why I love it

Usually, I like my European wines lighter than this, but I wasn’t afraid to try something new and was glad I did. The Quinta Nova Douro Tinto is dark and deep, full of rich flavours. Think flavours of berries, plums and a hint of spice. To top it all off there was a slight sweetness to this rich wine, sort of like what you get from golden syrup.

The silky finish of this wine means that it goes down smooth, and leaves you wanting more. The flavours sort of punch you in the face initially, but the softness at the end makes it all too easy to take another sip, have another glass and finish off the bottle in record time.

Overall the Quinta Nova Douro Tinto borders on being a heavy wine, but because of the soft finish on the palate, it sits right in the middle of medium and heavy. Teetering on the edge of the dark side, but sitting just far enough away that the wine remains really approachable. Wine body aside, the Quinta Nova Douro Tinto is just plain delicious!

What to enjoy it with

The Quinta Nova Douro Tinto is best enjoyed with food, plain and simple. You’d get the most enjoyment out of pairing this with meat dishes, whether fresh off the BBQ or in some kind of tomato-based sauce. I would think the best options would be lamb and beef, but for those vegos out there I think you could happily pair it with lentils.

Alternatively, you could do as we did and pair it with pizza. Perfect for a cozy night in with some Netflix and takeout!

The final word

The Quinta Nova Douro Tinto shows why Portugal should not be overlooked as a wine region. Yes, I know we all love Italy, Spain, France, but Portugal is pumping out some delicious wines and is so much more than port. Just look at the evidence in this award-winning wine! Plus you know, the Cheeky Vino review obviously.

So next time you’re in the bottle shop or browsing online, look for the Quinta Nova Douro Tinto to give it a go. But, failing that, give a wine from Portugal a try! Their wines are really affordable, full of deep and interesting flavours, and super drinkable. That to me is the perfect combination!