The 2009 Duradero is Portal’s collaboration with Spain’s Liberalia Enologica. It is a 50/50 blend of Tinta Roriz from Douro and Tinta de Toro from Toro,Spain. It doesn’t show a lot of concentration, but it does show a pretty big hit of oak. A touch flamboyant and flashy, it will seem pretty tasty to some and not terribly interesting to others. It does eventually show some structure and character, though. It will probably show better young. Drink now-2016. Importer for Portal’s own brand: M Imports, Coppell, TX; tel. (214) 505-0616; for Duradero and Peccatore: Iberia Wines & Spirits, East Hartford, CT; tel. (860) 291-8988

The 2006 DURADERO is a wine labeled only as Vinho de Mesa—table wine—with no regional designation because it is a blend intended to represent the Spanish and Portuguese sides of the River Douro (or Duero in Spain). There have been joint marketing efforts by Spain and Portugal for this region for some years. This wine takes it to a new level, actually blending Spanish and Portuguese wine from grapes that have the same genetic origin. On the Spanish side, the wine was made from Tinta de Toro (a.k.a., Tempranillo, comprising 50% of the blend) and sourced in Toro by Bodegas Liberalia Enologica. The Spanish half of the blend spent four months in new American oak. The Portuguese half, comprising Tinta Roriz (a.k.a., Tempranillo), comes from the Douro Valley, and spent three months in new French oak. The blend and bottling were done in Portugal by Quinta do Portal. As for the wine itself…in a difficult vintage, this shows rather well. The mid-palate is elegant, the texture lush, and the cherry nuanced flavors well defined and rather tasty. This comes around rather quickly for such a young wine, however, showing simpler as it airs out. Its elegance, overt flavors and charm are definite points in its favor, but in this lineup it is not the best value. I liked it a bit less as it aired out and flattened out. Drink 2009-2016. Quinta do Portal is a winery that seems poised for a breakthrough. From what I have tasted, the wines have been consistently improving. The current lineup provides some very nice valuesImporter: M Imports, LLC, Coppell, TX; tel: (214) 505-0616.