by Andrew Chalk
Two vintages here, as I appear to have overlooked the 2019 and the 2020 arrived. That is the kind of mistake that people need a pandemic to excuse.
Tasting the two vintages back-to-back affirms some regularities about this Douro Valley red wine.
Both are similar blends of Touriga Franca, Field Blend, and Touriga Nacional (2019 is a 50/30/20 percent blend for example).
Both are built from grapes grown in predominantly (maybe entirely) estate vineyards.
Both are fruit-driven, short-term aged in oak (typically 6 months).
Both don’t settle with fruit alone. There are perfume notes in the nose. Herbal undertones in the mouth.
These are medium weight wines. Perhaps a surprise given they are made heavily from the two port heavyweight grapes (Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional).
Drink now. Ideal for red meat at a very competitive price.
Sample.