Portugal and Wine

Portugal is much better noted for Port production than any big wine drive, but here is two cheap numbers that but up a fair show!


Segada, Portugal 2009 – White (Mix of Chardonnay and Arinto grapes) €7.99
Best Old World Wine Under €8 Irish wine Show

Tasting notes:
Syrupy apple body to the taste, however that’s short lived until a sharp citrus after taste kicks in.

All in all this is a very cheap and chirpy wine. It’s similar to Pinot Grigo in terms of the apple notes; for anyone familiar with the Italian all rounder, but beware the citrus kick will be unpleasant if you are not that hot on citrus. I might dispute the award, but would not slash the wine too much; it’s a good bottle for €8.



Segada, Portugal 2008- Red (Merlot and several local grapes) €8.99

Tasting notes:

Typical merlot autumn fruit plum and cherry (these two are a normally pairing), not very well defined difference between the two, feels as if they compete on the palate and this take away slightly, there is a lovely coco note present too, it changes from a more strong dark chocolate to a softer note as the wine opens up.

A side note about the tasting of this wine is it was recorded in crayon by a friend, as I screamed notes across a room. There is some slight reasoning into the providing of this window into my neurotic life, the wine was enjoyed more in a larger group.  From experience better memories are had if wine is drunk with a group of friends. It can make all the difference in a wine tasting mediocre and pretty good.


This aside, this wine is massively underrated. At €8.99, it’s a real bargain. It has all the typical notes of a pure merlot (a much underrated grape) with the added quirkiness of the chocolate note. A nice finishing point about the wine is that despite being 13%, the sharpness of the alcohol is well hidden, so it leaves for smooth drinking.