RKS 2026 Wine: A Good Perspective on Portugal’s Douro?

Posted byRobert K Stephen (CSW)Posted inWineTags:, , , ,

2025 witnessed a dearth of Douro wine in Ontario for reasons unknown but we start 2026 with a LCBO Vintages 10January release with 5 Portuguese wines 3 of which are from the Douro.

What about Perspectiva 2020 Red from the Douro? Does it offer a good perspective of a Douro red?

Aged 12 months in French oak.

Aroma: Black cherry, black raspberry, Portuguese roasted almonds, licorice root and discrete vanilla.

Palate: Moderate tannins. Clean. Vanilla bean. Pomegranate. Blueberry pie. Black cherry. Raspberry jam. Moderately long finish.

Personality: I am a solid Douro wine absolutely dependable and not flashy. Pardon the expression “excellent value” but at $14 I can live with that tired phrase.

Food Match: Douro duck salad preferably overlooking the river below on a Douro November day with woodsmoke in the air and knowing Douro pancakes are being served for dessert.

Cellarbility: Consume by 2026-year end.

Price: $14 CDN.

RKS 2026 Wine Rating: 89/100. Roger Voss 91.

(Perspectiva 2020 Reserva, Vinho Tinto, Douro DOC, Santos & Seixo, Medroes, Portugal, 750 mL, 14%).

Published by Robert K Stephen (CSW)

Robert K Stephen writes about food ,drink, travel, film, and lifestyle issues. He also has published serialized novels "Life at Megacorp", "Virus # 26, "Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog" and "The Penniless Pensioner" Robert was the first associate member of the Wine Writers’ Circle of Canada. He also holds a Mindfulness Certification from the University of Leiden and the University of Toronto. Be it Spanish cured meat, dried fruit, BBQ, or recycled bamboo place mats, Robert endeavours to escape the mundane, which is why he has established this publication. His motto is, "Have Story, Will Write."

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