Portuguese Value

Last night I drank the Breakfast Club of wine



What makes an unforgettable movie?  My formula is simple.  If I ponder the movie's message, if I get inspired to make a positive change, or if I tell my friends about it then I would consider it a hit.   Bottom line....if it's great I just can't get it out of my mind.      
An old favorite that fits this description of unforgettable is the  80's classic, The Breakfast Club.   The entire movie was filmed at a school, mostly in just one room and wasn't overproduced.  The director didn't try to make the movie into something it wasn't, yet I remember it being so much better then some of it's blockbuster counterparts of the same era.  The dialogue and characters made the movie.  The Breakfast Club was a pure, simple and real movie.  No special effects, big explosions, etc. 

The 2007 Castelo do Sulco Reserva is the Breakfast Club of wine.   The wine doesn't try to be something it's not.  There are no special effects like over-oaking to hide questionable flavors or added sugar to make it more appealing.  Like the Breakfast Club, for $8 I don't want a wine that pretends to be something bigger and better.   The winemaker at Sulco didn't try to make his wine taste like anything from Napa,  Bordeaux or Piedmont.  There are too many examples of wine in the under $10 price range that taste like an overdone Hollywood remake of Caymus Cabernet.  The Sulco reminds me that it's possible to find an enjoyable wine that's well-made, simple, pure and still exciting to drink at a bargain basement price. 

For less then a movie ticket, you can enjoy this beauty.   Why should you  spend your hard earned $8 on this wine?

• The Sulco is a glimpse into what I think an $8 wine SHOULD taste like.  The Sulco doesn't pretend to be a $30 Cabernet -  it has very fresh and clean taste, with loads of tart, bright red fruit, a little bit of spice and just a hint of vanilla.    If you appreciate wines like  Barbera, Beaujolais, Oregon Pinot Noir,  or even Sauvignon Blanc then give this wine a try. 
  
  
• 2007 was a great year for red wine in Portugal, (and Port too)  and was the highest rated vintage of the decade in Portugal from Wine Spectator.  What does that mean?  In a great vintage you can search out lower tier wines and find great values.   Check out Spectator's Portugal chart below.  Please note the area lists Douro region, north of where the Sulco is made is Estremadura, but I feel that wines from all regions of Portugal in '07 are very strong.  Douro is the only region that Spectator rates as a whole. 

• Sulco is another great introduction to one of the most under-appreciated wine areas.  Portugal is a treasure trove of  great values.  If you tried Portuguese wines in the past or if are worried these wines will taste like Port,  erase that from your brain and try this wine.  It's not rustic and "porty" tasting.  It's bright, fresh, crisp and perfect for this time of year.
  
  Want to see some other reviews?  click here
  
  

 

2010 Movie Ticket = $10.50

2007 Sulco Reserva = $7.99 and can be mixed in a case of other wine to get 20% off
 
88 Points from the Wine Spectator:

"Well-balanced, showing plenty of elegance to the crushed red fruit, blueberry and wild plum flavors. Finishes with focused minerality that is accented by a subtle creaminess. Drink now through 2013 "

In stock now and next to the registers up front. You can reserve a bottle, a case or more by emailing me or just stop by the store.