Herdade Monte da Cal Alentejo Almocreve Colheita Especial Almocreve

Holds up well inspite of 7 yrs...Nice bright cherry/berry fruit. Nice acid level and light somewhat smooth tannins. Good price, nothing special but decent experience for everyday quaff.

Seriously dark color. :-) For a daily drinker at $7 it's not bad. Started tight with a little Blackberry on the nose, even being run through the vinturi. fairly one dimensional at first.... the second glass opened, added a little chocolate and cherry. The taste ended quickly,very short flavor lasting power, although the dryness, that I enjoy in a big cab, did last... I'd definitely pick up more.

Pop and pour. Bright reddish purple appearance. Pretty classic Tempranillo nose--sour cherries and a bit of leather. Slightly sweet with plum, but pretty thin. Relatively firm tannins. Disappointingly short finish.

Trickle decant and serve. Color as dark a purple as squid ink, opaque, medium-full body. One can tell by smell alone that this is densely packed with blackberry, plum, briar, and oak. On the palate, almost overwhelming inky concentrated dark fruits with some bitter herbs, earth, and blackberry extract in a medium finish. Medium-high acid, and an iron girdle of high tannins with rough edges and some greenness. Beyond primary this was positively primitive; not very accessible until last glass …