The 2009 TINTO “MARQUES DE BORBA” is a blend of Aragones, Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in second pass oak. This seems very sweet at first and then resolves into a very nice whole, elegant, but still feeling full in its youth, with intensity on the finish and enough structure to hold awhile. I suspect this will thin as time wears on, but it seems extremely attractive now, nicely constructed and elegantly tasty, at a very nice price point. Drink now-2018. This lineup is often a good source for values in Portugal. This year’s releases are no different, and perhaps better than most in that regard. There are a lot of beautifully constructed wines here that are charming and inexpensive (ignoring the Reserva “MARQUES DE BORBA,” which has spiked up dramatically in recent years to levels many might find unrealistic). The Vila Santa Reserva Tinto and the Marques de Borba regular Tinto are certainly best buys, but there are good cases to make for the monovarietals and the Loios wines as well.Importers: for Loios, Vila Santa and Quinta da Vicosa brands: Winebow, Inc., Montvale, N.J.; tel: (201) 445-0620; for Marques de Borba brand: Signature Imports, Mansfield, MA; tel: (800) 669-0750 (in New England, New Jersey, N.Y.) and HGC Imports, San Jose, CA; tel: (408) 947-8511 (for Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington State and Colorado).

The popular Marques de Borba brand is a soft, ripe, very accessible wine. With a light touch of wood aging, it follows easily through with cherry and red plum fruits, a deliciously mouthwatering aftertaste.——R.V.(2/1/2011)—— 88