2018 Quinta de Saes Dão Reserva Estagio Prolongado

Community Tasting Notes (1) Avg Score: 93 points

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  4/23/2024 - forceberry wrote: 93 Points

  A field blend of more than 20 different varieties sourced from vineyards up to 45 yo (70%) along with a blend of Alfrocheiro and Touriga Nacional (30%), all planted on granitic soils at the elevation of 500 m asl at Quinta de Saes. Fermented spontaneously and macerated with the skins in small stainless steel lagares for the primary fermentation (ie. approximately a week), then racked into Alliers oak barrels of 2nd use. Aged for 24 months in oak, bottled unfined and unfiltered. 13,1% alcohol, 5,8 g/l acidity, pH 3,7 and 58 mg/l total SO2.
  
  Slightly translucent cherry-red color. The nose feels fragrant, clean and slightly floral with attractive aromas of black raspberries, some sweeter cherry juice tones, a little bit of strawberry, light perfumed nuances of violets, a darker-toned hint of ripe bilberry and a touch of earth. The wine feels firm, crunchy and very juicy on the palate with a medium body and intense flavors of fresh forest fruits, some juicy notes of blueberries, a little bit of tart lingonberry, light ferrous notes of blood, a hint of stony minerality and a brambly touch of raspberry. The wine is impressively structured with its high acidity and moderately grippy medium-plus tannins. The finish is long, dry and somewhat grippy with a fresh, juicy aftertaste of cherries and brambly raspberries, some wild strawberries, light darker-toned notes of blueberries and bilberries, a little bit of blood, a floral hint of violets and a touch of gravelly earth.
  
  A wonderfully fresh, firm and precise Dão red with lots of nuances, depth and great sense of structure. Usually Quinta da Pellada wines are described as the "Grand Crus of Dão" and Quinta de Saes wines as "Premier Crus of Dão", but tasting this next to the 2018 Quinta da Pellada field blend, Pelada (Mulher Nua), I find it very hard to put one way above other. Pelada shows more depth, nuance and complexity, while this Saes Reserva red shows more intensity and sense of structure. If anything, I'd say Pelada is wonderful already now and fully approachable, whereas this wine might actually call for some additional aging. At the moment it is a great food wine with hearty dishes, but it can be pretty stern on its own. However, that's exactly the way I like my wines! A delicious, sophisticated effort - outrageous value at just 12,50€. Highly recommended.

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