Quinta S. Joao Batista: Week #27

This week I was in PEI for the weekend - and, of course, I ended up at a liquor store.  I actually didn't have a single drop of alcohol on my weekend trip, but I knew there was a good chance that the PEI liquor store would carry some brands of Shiraz not available to me at NB Liquor.  I'll tell you what: I realized the full extent of my obsession when I can walk around a liquor store and identify all the labels/brands that are available at home - even those that I have yet to sample. 

Here are some interesting facts about the liquor store I visited in PEI:
1.  There was wine on tap.  You select a popular (cheap) wine and pour your own into the container provided and pay by volume.
2.  There was wine in tetra-packs.  Yes, the packaging you have come to love in juice is now available for wine.  Classy.

I restrained myself to choosing only three bottles - there were a few more I would have liked to pick up, but even I have limits.

The first in this series will be shared with my husband on Valentine's Day (I realize that is a Monday, but I'm playing catch-up).  This bottle intrigued me with its dark and mysterious label and its origin.  I have yet to sample a Shiraz from Portugal, and I don't think my local liquor store even has a shelf devoted to the country.  The label has a subtle texture and the bottle has a nice deep dimple - so my expectations are high on this one.

Quinta S. Joao Batista  (Portugal, 2007)
$16.71 (+ tax & deposit - usually included in my price tag, but PEI is apparently different)
14% alc/vol.

A word from the wine:
"Sao Joao Batista is the name of Saint John the Baptist who led a movement of baptism, having baptized Jesus Christ."
I'm not usually religious, but I can make an exception for wine.

This wine was yummy - I quite enjoyed it and thought my helpful husband was attempting to pull one over on me when I asked for another glass and he said it was all gone.  I guess it is easy-drinking!  I found this one was richer and had a fuller body than others I have tried lately, and it still retained a good hint of spice. 

Helpful Husband Tip: "I have nothing left to say"