Wine Review

3.5 Grapes

The Three Thirsty Corks were blessed this month with a wine variety that, while not as familiar as a store-bought merlot or pinot, came straight from Portugal, the international heartland of port production.

Typically sweet, port wines are considered the perfect partner with desserts, but the Corks this month discovered that the variety created by W&J Graham was already bursting with enough fruit and chocolate tastes that dessert proved unnecessary.

“Six Grapes,” an original Port marquee from Graham Wineries of Portugal, impressed. The wine notes tell us that it is a typical Graham Port in that it is “full-bodied, with rich opulent black fruit on the palate and fragrant brambly aromas.” We think of it as the “everyday Port for the Vintage Port drinker.”

Even before we opened the t-cap (no corkscrew required), Cork No. 1 announced he would not like Port because he prefers dry wine “with tannins that eat the enamel off your teeth.” Nice. Mr. Dry Wine partook anyway, sniffed enthusiastically and declared that he could “smell the fruit, the plums.” He then predicted, “It’s going to be sweet.”

Cork No. 2 is an all-round wine drinker with a preference for reds. She’s not a dessert wine fan but is familiar with the great combination of a quality wine and a good meal, and sometimes, she said, that should include a sweet wine.

“It smells like a rich dessert that I would love,” she said before the first sip. Then, after tasting it, she announced, “This is delicious.”

Cork No. 3 loved the immediate taste of dark chocolate, which was closely followed by the burst of fruit flavors – the plum, berry and grape.

If you’re like Cork No. 1 and admittedly prefer a wine so dry it “turns to powder in your mouth,” this port is not for you. Before sharing the remaining half of his glass, Cork No. 1, said, “It was good for what it was.”

That left two “serious” judges, who decided on a very respectable rating of 3.5 out of 4 grapes. We decided it would be best served with a luscious and light chocolate mousse or crème brulee, although that wasn’t necessary to enjoy it.

With a suggested retail price of $22.00, this bottle is a steal.