Caves Império Bairrada DOC Vinho Tinto 1999

Not having a wine from Portugal before, tried this red wine from Bairrada (DOC). The bouquet was initially fairly light, and reminiscent of an Italian Valpolicella with morello cherries, herbs and spices. On the palate it was quite rustic and chewey, initially bitter but softening somewhat to sour cherries, citruss peel and some herbs. Not that refined but balanced, and seemed to work much better with food. Not a stand-alone drinking wine, moreso functions as a rustic-peasant table wine.
50+4+12+14+7 = 87/100