2020 Guarda Rios Red Blend

Smooth and harmonious, led by an aromatic mélange of black fruit ripened in Alentejo’s summer heat, the Guarda Rios is an eminently quaffable red with a beautifully round palate edged with firm but polished tannins. Drinking very well from the moment you pull the cork, this wine is high on the value-to-pleasure ratio, low on monetary commitment, easily lending itself to everyday consumption and case-buys. Drink now–2029.
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​Just like Spain ten to fifteen years ago. Where we were able to find insane quality red wines that defied logic when it came to how well they were priced. Wines that came from superb old vine vineyards that had incredible natural concentration and opulence that if they were from anywhere else in the world they would be three to four times the price. The new country for such diamonds in the rough is Portugal. The wine comes from Alentejo and was the only wine from Alentejo to ‘Best in Show’ at the Decanter World Wine Awards’. Comments like ‘Outstanding value, huge flavor and texture, great balance’ were attached. The Guarda Rios Red Blend 2020 from Alenteja won Platinum at the awards which is the top award a wine can win, normally reserved for far more expensive wines. The wine is a blend of traditional Portuguese grapes; Trincadeira and Touriga Nacional. Trincadeira adds soft tannins intense aromas of black plum and jammy blackberry. Touriga Nacional is widely believed to produce the finest red wines of Portugal. It’s a small grape with a thick skin, adding depth and structure and famous for its black fruits. It is known as the Cabernet of Portugal. Lastly we have Alicante Bouchet which softens up the wine making it approachable and friendly. Portugal never ceases to shock us with the amount of pleasure its reds can pack in a bottle. This is mind blowing quality for such a spectacular price and this will sell out.

The Decanter World Wine Awards is the largest wine competition in the world. It was attended by 116 of the world’s leading wine experts, including 37 Masters of Wine and 9 Master Sommeliers, who blindly tasted 16,518 wines. Of all the wines tasted, only 50 were awarded the ‘Best in Show’ and Monsaraz Reserva Red 2017 was the only wine from Alentejo with this distinction. Definite case buy with free shipping