This wine, from the Douro, is produced by the renowned Symington family at their Quinta da Ataíde estate way up in the Vilariça valley in the Douro Superior towards the Spanish border. Somewhat unusually for the region it is a single grape variety wine, made from the great Touriga Nacional vine.
Altano Reserva 2009 has all the flavours one might expect from this grape … violets and lavender with a touch of peppery dark chocolate, mellowed by almost a year in American oak barrels.
This wine has a firm grip on the palate and really needs to be appreciated with food; it is ideally suited to rich meat dishes and strong hard cheeses.
The Douro valley produces many of Portugal’s most appreciated wines and you often have to pay quite heavily for them. However, in this case, the Symingtons have produced a wine of quite exceptional price/quality for under €15, which will grace any table on the best of occasions. It was available at Apolónia for about €12.
Promotional price at Apolónia supermarket
(valid from November 7 to November 13)
Altano Quinta do Ataíde Reserva Tinto 2009:
€9.95 (retail price €11.95)
By James Johnson
