2017 Casal Da Azenha Gold Label Tinto

You like Rioja?? You'll LOVE this wine! This rare wine comes from the coastal area southwest of Lisbon, where urban sprawl has all but taken over. Only a tiny portion of vines remain (less than 20 hectares!). In fact, with only five producers left, the small amounts of wine made are only featured on the lists of top restaurants and wine shops. Contains a prominent percentage of Ramisco, the chief red grape of Colares, along with other local varietals such as Joao de Santarem. (aka Castelão), Trincadeira, and Tinta Miuda, grown in other Lisbon-area coastal sites. Aromas of black pepper, graphite, and violets are joined by dark fruit flavors and smooth tannins in this incredibly expressive wine. It finishes with an herbal inflection characteristic of the area, underlined by a subtle saline character, presumably due to the vines' proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. There is a LOT going on in this wine. Given its unique origin, depth and character, you'd think it would cost much more than it does.