VIRB

What I am eating:
Leg of Lamb
Brussel sprouts with a garlic red wine sauce
Potatoes with fresh thyme

Quinta du Carmo
2000
Bouquet: Spice, Cherry, Strawberry, Oak, Chocolate, Tobacco (hint of)

Taste: Velvet, Cherry, Strawberry, spice

This was the best wine I have had in a year. Very balanced with soft tannins.

I have a group of friends that get together to eat what they call "big meat." I find these to be most pleasant dinners. Great food, wine, and friends. That is a great combo. At our most recent outing, seeing as it is spring, we had leg of Lamb. I came to love leg of lamb during my tenure in Ireland, and subsequently try to eat it as often as I can afford. Now, leg of lamb calls for a good solid red wine and I decided that Quinta du Carmo might do the job. I had never had this wine prior to "big meat night" but going on the recommendation of Allen of Kahns fine Wines, I uncorked it. Wow, Wow, Wow, Wowzers (to quote inspector gadget). This has to be the best wine I have had all year. Granted it's a Portuguese wine (which I have had mixed results with in the past) but it is made in the Bordeaux style. It was so smooth and velvety and the finish . . . went on forever. I will definitely pick this one up again. It went so well with dinner and I have to say I was quite a happy camper by the end of the evening until I had to do dishes. I hate doing dishes.