Segada (Portugal) Trincadeira Castelao 2001
Half the fun of Portugeuse wines is often finding unusual grape names on the label, and equally unusual flavours in the bottle. This, from the Ribatejano region just north of Lisbon, is a blend of Tricadeira and Castelao, two quite common Portugeuse varieties, but rarely found elsewhere. You may have come across Castelao in the past under the name ‘Perequita’; Perequita, or ‘little parrot’ has now been trademarked by the firm of Fonseca, from whose vineyards the grape gained popularity, and the name can no longer be used by other producers. This is a big, juicy, fruit-bomb if a wine, with little subtlety, but bags of jammy, mouthfilling flavour. There’s a big, deep, baked plum-pie nose, brimming with fruit, a hint of spice and a little touch of something meaty. On the palate it is fleshy and chewy, with a big raft of dry tannin supporting more of the blackbery and baked plum fruit. Forceful and hedonistically fruity, it needs robust food and might well be a love it or hate it style. Sainsbury, £4.49
