About ten years ago I became aware of delicious dry red wines for less than $20 from the Douro Valley in Portugal, best known for the fortified wine, Port. I quickly became a fan. Prats & Symington is a partnership between two legendary wine families; the Symingtons of Porto and the Prats of Bordeaux. Prazo de Roriz comes from Quinta Roriz, one of the oldest vineyards of the Douro with an orientation that encourages cooler conditions for this dry wine. It is a blend of traditional varieties including Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Barroca, which are fermented in stainless steel and aged in 400 liter French oak barrels for six months. It is a harmonious wine with intense flavors of blackberry, plum, and black cherry entwined with citrusy acidity and supported with sturdy tannins. Perfect for grilled, stewed or roasted meat. It will continue to develop for many more years.
Prats & Symington, Douro DOC (Portugal) 2018
By Rebecca Murphy