Four Portuguese reds were tasted after being bought from Pingo Doce and an independent wine shop in Vila Real. The selection includes three wines from the Douro and one from Alentejo, with prices ranging from €6.99 to around €17.
Casa Ferreirinha Vinha Grande 2023 — Douro
13% alcohol; 92/100
Matured for 18 months in used French oak, this wine is fresh and floral, with sweet cherry and raspberry fruit, a hint of green character, and savoury notes of olive and cured meat. Grippy tannins balance the fruit. It is highly drinkable, with a tight structure that suggests it could develop over the short term. It costs about €12 in Portugal and around £17 in the UK.
Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo Unoaked 2024 — Douro
13.5% alcohol; 93/100
A blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Tinto Cão, this is vivid and fresh, with floral black cherry, olive and pepper notes. Its freshness and structure are paired with pretty fruit and plenty of substance. A balanced wine with a strong sense of Douro character, it cost €16.90 at a grocery shop in Vila Real.
Tons de Duorum Talhão 37 2024 — Douro
13.5% alcohol; 91/100
Made by Duorum, a collaboration between José Maria Soares Franco and João Portugal Ramos, this is a Pingo Doce private label. Bright and focused, it combines sweet berry and cherry fruit with spicy, peppery and tarry notes, alongside a hint of bacon. Freshness and floral character—particularly from Touriga Nacional—lead into a grippy finish. It avoids jamminess and over-ripeness and is striking value at €6.99, reduced from €13.99.
Vinhas Velhas do Rocim Alicante Bouschet 2024 — Alentejo
14% alcohol; 89/100
Believed to be another Pingo Doce private label, this wine comes from Rocim in Vidigueira. Its fresh, fruit-forward nose suggests cherry, strawberry and ripe plum. The palate is open and supple, with juicy fruit and bright acidity. Sweet, almost jelly-like flavours bring to mind Lodi Zinfandel. It was promoted at €7.99, down from €19.99.