January 31, 2012 - Ruby color with dusty aromas. Medium to light mouth feel. Dry but really savory and spicy with meaty, beef jerky flavors. Fair balance and good structure that stood to pot roast. Good length and pleasant finish.
May 1, 2011 - Modern, a little hot.
March 5, 2011 - Enjoying the restrained fruit. Elegant fruit w/ a touch of bitterness that I appreciate. Not complex but tasty.
July 16, 2010 - light garnet color(almost pinot noir-like hue). very simple juice..black raspberries, cherries, spice and light oak. light tannins and light body with a short finish. not what expected from a reserva.
July 1, 2009 - Popped and poured. Deep Garnet. Nose of earth, spice, and cherry. Medium bodied palate of dark cherry, blackberry, cinnamon and mineral. Good length. Smooth tannins. Integrated oak. Really overdelivers for the price!
June 12, 2009 - Everytime I open another bottle I remember why I love this stuff so much. Nose reaches you from the table and the finish is so smooth and velvety after a little air.
June 1, 2009 - Now that I've drank 2 of my 4 bottles of this stuff, I wish I had bought about 4 cases. It's so good. Had at the same time as a Chianti and this blew the Chianti away.
May 27, 2009 - Every bit as good as I remember from the tasting. Definitely reminds me of a port - which it should considering its made with all the same grapes and on the same land. Plums, rhubarb, mint and dark chocolate on the nose with just a bit of that oaky smell (not too much). Fruity and toasty on front with red currant and plums. Mid palate is lovely, if slightly short, with tastes of tobacco and burnt grass/wood. Lovely finish that lasts forever with some heavy-ish tannins. Lots of acid starting in the mid-palate that lasts through to the finish. Has a tendency to be hot right from the bottle. Will decant the next bottle to see if that helps to round off the hotness/tannin heavy finish. Overall a fantastic wine on it's own or with food.
April 4, 2009 - No formal notes. Good QPR, reasonably complex for a wine of this price. Good everyday wine.
February 16, 2009 - Wonderfully fruity and structured red from Portugal. A nice surprise and change from the traditional reds. Went well with Sunday dinner. Great buy for only $11.