Dipping into Dalva at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario: Double Douro Product

It is not easy to dip below $14.95 for Liquor Control Board of Ontario Vintage releases. For example, there are only three in the December 12^th Vintages release. In this case from the Douro we have both a red and a white Dalva.

Let us start with the red 2017 Dalva. In colour black cherry with a purplish tinge. As for aromatics blackberry, black cherry, strawberry with a dash of coconut and there is a suggestion of creaminess. On the palate moderate tannins with notes of cherry, pomegranate and a hint of sweet paprika. A clinging finish. Not replete with character on the palate but eminently drinkable on its own or as the Vintages release catalogue suggests it is flexible enough to pair with lamb, duck or roasted turkey. I’d agree for that but with white turkey meat I don’t think so but with dak turkey meat for sure. And if you have had duck casserole in the Douro which I had high in the Douro hills on my last visit to the Douro this wine would be a perfect match. For vegheads a great match with vegetarian Putanesca sauce over egg fettucine.

The wine has spent 6 months in oak and it is seamlessly interwoven in the wine. Classic Douro blend of Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz. One would not expect a $12.95 wine to be a subject of ageing but this will improve up to 2023. And at a time when Forbes Magazine writes that the wealth of billionaires has exceeded a level not seen in years during this COVID while the poor and middle class get hammered those who are not billionaires will appreciate this wine. Yes the upper middle class WFH (Work From Home) crowd has actually seen their disposable income In Canada rise as vehicle maintenance and wardrobe costs have declined and restaurants are closed for indoor dining and there are no international destinations advisable. There is something not quite right about buying expensive wines while tent cities have sprung up in Toronto.

(Dalva Douro Tinto 2017, Douro DOC, C Da Silva (Vinhos), Villa Nova de Gaia, Portugal, $12.95, LCBO # 17518, 750 mL, 13.5%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 89/100).

While Douro reds have knock your socks off quality with their depth and structure Douro whites can’t live up to their red cousins.  Generally speaking the whites can suit much of the bounty off the seas off Porto. They are light, crisp and bit too acidic but far more pleasurable than the acidic white wine bombs of the Vinho Verde.

Keeping an open mind, we try the pale gold Dalva Douro Branco 2018.There are thin notes of citrus, honey, peach and mango on the nose. Pleasant. Diffuse notes of peach, banana, with a hint of toasted Portuguese almonds which by the way are highly addictive. Not much character on the palate with a pleasant but weak showing on the nose. Short finish. A blend of Malvasia Fina, Códega and Viosinho. Would handle all manner of Portuguese seafood provided no tomato sauce involved. I can picture this wine matching a roasted Dourada (Sea Bream) or Robaliaho (Sea Bass) at my favourite seafood restaurant in Old Porto, Postigo do Carvão. I hear from the owner the sardines will be coming in from Peniche this season so this wine will be ready for them assuming there will be a tourist season in Porto for the next year.

(Dalva Branco 2018, DOC Douro, C Da Silva (Vinhos), Villa Nova de Gaia, Portugal, $12.95, LCBO # 646091, 750 mL, 12.5%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 86/100).