Two Engaging, Young Wines

The Clos des Fees and Duorum are perhaps an unlikely pair to drink together but they were quite complementary.  Both are young, fresh wines that show delicate texture.  The Clos des Fees is juicy, showing redder fruit, and while quenching right now will develop over the next several years.  The Duorum, with its darker fruit, is purposefully structured for short-term aging but manages to remain fresh and satisfying.  I recommend that you buy both!

2010 Domaine du Clos des Fees, les Sorcieres, Cotes du Roussillon
Imported by Simon N Cellars and available for $17 at MacArthurs.  This wine is a roughly equal blend of Grenach, Syrah, and Carignan and that was aged for eight months in concrete tanks.   The red fruit is powdery with flavors of cranberry.  There is fresh depth, acidity reminiscent of sweet Mandarin oranges, which form a very pleasurable drink.  In the aftertaste, the acidity makes the back of the tongue salivate as floral sweet spices come out.  This will develop over the short-term.

2009 Duorum, Colheita Vinho Tinto, Douro
Imported by Winebow Inc and available for $16 at MacArthurs. Duorum is a five-year old project between Joao Portugal Ramos and Jose Maria Soares Franco.  This wine is a blend of 40% Touriga Nacional, 40% Touriga Franca, and 20% Tinta Roriz aged for six to eight months in 2-3 year old French and American oak.  The nose is a pleasing mixture of blacker fruit and floral notes.  In the mouth, delicate fruit follows the nose with dusty red berries, sweet spice notes in the finish before textured, drying-tannins coat the inside of the lips.  This tasty wine leaves an impression of freshness.  This is well-balanced and will develop over the next several years.  This requires at least one hour of air if you are to drink it now.