OK, granted, $19 for a bottle of wine from a lesser-known country might seem like a lot. But the Casa das Mouras Douro Reserva Tinto drinks WAY above its price point. There's some leather and earth at the outset, big red fruit in the middle and a surprisingly (and surpassingly) elegant finish. Like most Portuguese reds, it's a blend, in this case of touriga nacional, touriga franca and tinta roriz. Try it with herb-laden fowl, slabs o' beef (grilled, roasted or braised) or hearty soups such as French onion. Available at Lunds/Byerly's, Sunfish Cellars, Vinifera, On the Rocks, the Wine Market, Thomas and Oaks Wine & Spirits.
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BILL WARD, Star Tribune
Here's how to pick the right shovel, from the classic to the crack-jumper, back-saver or the plow.