Wine Pick Of The Week: 2003 Ramos Pinto Adriano

It's a wonder that Portugal's red table wines aren't more popular in this country. They can be some of the most intriguing wines made from unique indigenous grape varieties that can offer us a change from our usual cabernet, merlot, syrah choices. But we still seem to think of Portugal as the source of either sweet and heady port wines or frivolous and fruity rosé's in funny-shaped bottles. But there are oceans of table wines made throughout the country that are still waiting to be discovered. As the rest of the world's more obscure wine regions take their place in the sun maybe it won't be long before Portugal has its turn. If any of Portugal's wine regions can get the necessary attention for table wines the Douro, where the famous port wines are grown, can. Here producers are learning how to make red wines to be served with a meal instead of only after. One producer that seems to have the right idea is the port house of Ramos Pinto, with its new line of table wines called Adriano.

Ramos Pinto is one of the most respected and innovative port houses in a region where any move toward change is at a very slow pace. But the recent release of the Adriano red table wine (a white also is made) shows that these folks have figured out what the American consumer is looking for. The wine is made from four traditional port grapes (since you asked: touriga francesa, tinta roriz, tinta barroca, touriga nacional) into a delightfully fresh and fun wine brimming with ripe and tangy black/red fruit aromas and flavors. The wine is fresh enough to be enjoyed on its own, but sturdy enough to match with everything from barbecue to braised meats. To find the wine contact Noble