The Aldi Specially Selected Douro Doc Reserva Red 2022 is a $9.99 Aldi exclusive. The Specially Selected line of Aldi wines is a curated line that features affordable wines from the world’s greatest growing regions.
The Story
This red blend is produced and bottled by Van Zeller and Company, the oldest Port wine producer in Portugal, with a history dating back to the early 1600s.
Douro is located in Northern Portugal and has been the traditional area for Port wines.
The Van Zeller website did not show this bottling; it is probably produced exclusively for Aldi. But they did have a Douro DOC non-Reserva wine. Reserva in Douro indicates a higher quality level.
The grapes for that wine were sourced from several vineyards, and this is a field blend. A field blend is a planting of different grape varietals that are harvested together. The portion of which grape is used is decided by Mother Nature, and they figure the fields had up to 40 different grapes planted.
The grapes are pressed by foot. The wine is aged in 1-year to 2-year-old French oak barrels for 26 months, and aged another 2 months in stainless steel before bottling.
Al those details were for Van Zeller’s Non-Reserva wine, but the reserve may be similar.
The alcohol content is 13.5%
The Aldi Specially Selected Douro Doc Reserva Red 2022 Tasting Notes
The color is dark cranberry red. The nose is red berries, leather, herbs, spice, blackberry, licorice, oak spice, and violets. The Aldi Specially Selected Douro Doc Reserva Red 2022 is rounded, smooth, with some weight on the mid-palate.
This Red Blend tastes like blackberry and blueberry compote, a little vanilla, plum, and a soft slap of spice. Then, pomegranate and sour cherry.
The tannins don’t bite, and the acidity allows the Red Blend to roll on and on.
The Summary
- The Aldi Specially Selected Douro Doc Reserva Red 2022 sips very well.
- This is a highly drinkable wine that would pair well with grilled meats and red sauce pasta.
- This wine is worth seeking out, and at $10, it is a safe bet.
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