Pormenor's Canuco Tinto was one of the great surprises of the past few months.
Right after I tasted it, I grabbed glasses to pour for the staff.
It has been many years since I've tasted a sub-$20 red that delivered so much enjoyment and interest. This is a wine that was loved by everyone who tasted it even before they heard the price.
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At as low as $16.95, this is the quintessential Back Up The Truck. The value here is just profound.
Canuco Tinto comes from Portugal's Douro, the same area where Port is produced. Clocking in at 12.5% alcohol, the Canuco shows the finesse and drinkability that the region is capable of.
It should come as no surprise that Pormenor's Pedro Coelho was mentored by the famed Portuguese winemaker, Luis Seabra, who served as a consultant on the project until 2018.
Canuco means "small child" in Portuguese. The wine is sourced from the younger vines that the estate works with. In this case, younger vines is still pretty old - 25-45 years. Everything is sourced from 450 feet altitude or more and mostly from north/northeast facing vineyards. This combined with the granite soils gives the Canuco a beautiful freshness and sleek mineral core.
The wine has a really impressive clarity of dark fruits that are backed by a radiant energy and silky tannins. For a wine that's primary intention is to simply be joyful, it shows plenty of finesse and breeding.
This is a not to be missed bottle. It's a wine that would still impress if it cost 50% more. The fact that it can be had at this price makes it something to stock up on.
To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits
Special 6-pack pricing, for a limited time. Use Code: Tinto-19