TN: NV Villa Oeiras Carcavelos

[Eric Menchen]

This is not a Portugese table wine, but not a Port or Madeira either, so this seems the best place for this note.

This note is for the commercial bottled Carcavalos, a white fortified wine aged approximately 10 years in oak. This is a blend of Galego Dourado, Arinto, and Ratinho.

Aroma of sweet tar and wood, but not exactly an oak aroma, with a hint of brûlée. Upon swirling, there is a bit of an alcohol aroma, but not medicinal. There is a tangy golden raisin aroma too. In the mouth, this is not as intense as the aromas suggested, but there are lots of pleasant flavors, sugary, more crème brûlée, honey, tangy, ... There is some warmth, pleasantly integrated, in the fairly long finish. Light honey, hint of smoke, hint of pear, honey, Lyle's Golden Syrup. Dried apricot? Refreshing acidity to balance! Color is about 7-9 SRM. 91 points?