Carmim, Alentejo DOC (Portugal) 2018

 Here is yet another value leader in Portuguese red.  A generously ripe blend of Alicante Bouschet, Trincadeira and Touriga Nacional, it doesn’t let the ripeness take over, keeping the black fruit and crushed rock vibe together with balance and heft.  For sixteen bucks, this is pretty hard to beat when it comes to quality and sense of place.