Titular Reserva dao red 2018

From Titular in Portugal, this dry red wine blends Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro and Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) from the 2018 vintage. A quick word on the grape: Touriga Nacional is Portugal's most prized red grape, giving deeply colored, structured wines with violet aromatics, blackberry and firm, age-worthy tannins; it is a cornerstone of Port and Douro reds. Alfrocheiro comes along for the ride as well — a Portuguese red grape giving deeply colored, aromatic wines with ripe berry and blackberry fruit. It comes from the Dão, a granite-soiled highland ringed by mountains that shelter the vines. The 'Reserva' on the label usually means it's a step-up selection given a little extra aging before release. This is your steak-night, lamb-roast, hearty-stew kind of red. Pop it open at cool room temperature — a brief chill on a hot day doesn't hurt.