Vinha da Urze, Rosé 2008
t’s relatively unusual to find a pink wine from the DOC Douro region, though this one is made from classic Douro grapes Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinto Roriz (otherwise known as Tempranillo) by winemaker Rui Madeira. The colour is a fairly deep, cranberry red, and the fruity, summer berry-scented nose also has a hint of something pleasantly herbal. On the palate, this is a rose with a fairly serious structure: there’s a backbone of tannin here, as well as juicy lemon acidity, though the taut redcurrant and rasberry fruit is clear and concentrated on the mid-palate. Quite a grown-up, dry style of food-friendly rose that would match anything from tuna steaks to char-grilled Mediterranean vegetables. One of my favourite roses of the season so far. 5.99, Marks & Spencer
