Palestra, 2008

Last summer we enjoyed a few bottles of the 2006 and the 2007 Palestra and found both quite delightful and very reasonably priced. Now we just enjoyed a bottle of the newly released 2008 vintage, and once again, we are impressed. The Encostas do Douro Palestra is a blend of Tinta Barroca, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz. All these grapes are indigenous to the Douro Region of Portugal. This wine has a dark ruby color and a rich nose of black cherry, plum, cocoa and black pepper. This is a fruit forward, medium bodied wine with flavors of dark berry, black cherry, cranberry, flint and lingering black pepper. This wine has a gentle and rich mouth feel from abundant, but well integrated tannins. The finish is soft and elegant with no harsh edges. This 2008 vintage of the Palestra reminds me of the 2007 vintage and is another example of a great table wine, from Portugal, that can be found in the Seattle area for about $10. We enjoyed this nice wine with some Grilled Chicken Sausage with Fontina Stuffed Hatch Chili Peppers. This wine is worth seeking out and is now available at Pete‘s wine Shop, in Bellevue..