A week or two ago Patrick made the point, when he was describing Manoella, of referring to how important the winemaker’s heritage is.
This Tinto from the Douro is another example. The knowledge and experience of António Maçanita and his sister Joaninha come through in this wine, in which they have the confidence to give their name.
António makes much of his wine in the Alentejo, and his hand is indeed to be found in the Algarve too; now he has turned his hand to the Douro. This wine does not aspire, nor is it intended, to be a Douro superstar at a superstar price.
It is, however, certainly a well crafted wine, allowing the imbiber to experience a fine Douro wine at a really sensible price. It is made, 60/40 from Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz, two of the most important Douro grape varieties.
This combination of intense dark berry fruit and powerful tannins from the Touriga with the fresher, rounder red berry fruit of the Tinta Roriz give a well balanced but powerful wine, which will go very well either with winter roasts or with strong cheeses. A very worthwhile wine which I saw in Continente at well under €10.
By James Johnson
Wine talk – Maçanita
