For The Love Of Port

I bought a bottle of this today on my way home from work. I had had previous years before, though I don't remember which ones. I had decent hopes for this basic red offering from Esporao, as I remember enjoying it in the past. I thought nothing of the possible changes when I plunked down my $10 bill for it. When I got on the train, I started looking at the label. 14% ABV, that's higher than I remembered. (Turns out the 2008 had only 13.5, according to the website.) 40% Aragonez, 40% Trincadeira, and 20% Castelao. That blend seemed a little different than I remembered, too. (The website said the 2008 also had Tinta Caida, but they didn't have percentages listed.) It had a regional designation, though I'm not sure what the rules are in Alentejo to get a DOC type designation. Anyway, I tried it tonight. The first descriptor that comes to mind is gloppy. It was rustic, also. Very strange combination, indeed. It made me wonder if Esporao is going New World on us, at least with the 14% ABV glop part. Can't call it a fruit bomb, though. Not a lot on that front, for sure. It was a very strange wine. It's really too bad, because we enjoyed it in the past. Am I to expect more Portuguese wineries to seek the New World style now? I sure hope not.

Hi Brian!

I used to know this wine in the period 2002-2005 when we had it as one of our basic wines at home. At that time it was great value-for-money. Since then I have moved on to other Portugese table wines (90 % being Douro).

As English is not my mother-language, it happens from time-to-time that expressions are appearing in this Forum which I cannot find in any dictionary.
You stated: "The first descriptor that comes to mind is gloppy."
Could you please explain/elaborate the word "gloppy"?

Gloppy in this sense is more syrupy and more viscous. It's not a texture I enjoy very much, that's for sure.