March 8, 2022 - Dark and brooding, starts with black fruit, dark chocolate and evolves to an intense earthy tar, distinctive finish.
October 22, 2014 - PnVnD let air for 1hr. Deep black purple saturated with clear rim. Very complex aromatically with notes of fig tar coffee dark chocolate wet clay blackberry and dusty herbs. Medium weight with abundant but velvety tannins. Big black fruit flavours with rocks chocolate tar coffee and savoury notes. Big but with racy acidity to keep it in check. Youthful still but a bit short on the finish. Saved 1/3 of the bottle to try tomorrow.
More integrated and with a more flavourful finish on day 2. +2 points.
January 26, 2014 - Drinking very well. Good legs and medium long finish. Lost of spicey pleasant flavors-slight pepper, anise, and relate accents. Smmth and well blended with nice deep fruit on the nose and tase of b;blackberry and some sligh plum flavor.
November 23, 2013 - I used a cup and a half in a recipe (F&W; 11/13) for Portuguese Beef Stew with Ruby Port. The stew turned out fine. I figured to start us off with the remainder, but none of us really liked it: a dark palette, the fruit barely there. As before, like a thinner port without the sweet flavors. We elected to open another red, and will use this in cooking later in the week.
November 1, 2013 - Outstanding wine. Rich nose of oak, mint, spice and dark fruit, very interesting. Palate is expressive mirroring the nose with very specific red cherry fruits emerging in the mid-palate. Lively acidity and drying tannins accentuate the long full finish. Balanced. This wine is always interesting and fun to drink.
April 21, 2013 - Worth waiting. Down to my last few bottles. Acidity tamed but still vital to face heavy food. Cherry und plum fruit.
February 20, 2013 - Still vital, a bit very silky and flat, rather herba (medicinal)l and warm, a bit sticky dark cherry und plum fruit, rather strong smoke, absolutely not bad - but not really my favourite kind of Douro Blend, average finish
January 30, 2013 - nice nose upon opening. Had some decent fruit on the front end, but that seemed to decrease after a while in the glass. Still, very enjoyable solid well made wine.
December 31, 2012 - Great wine. Still drinking great. Has many more good years.
December 6, 2012 - Rich but dry, tart black fruits, plum, tar, earth, good acid, plenty of life left. I like this. Similar to a quinto do crasto douro reserva we had recently. I'd like to try more wines from Portugal.