93POINTS
17¼/20
Quinta do Vale Meão Douro Red 2015
Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalHow good is this 45/45/5/5/ blend of touriga nacional, touriga franca, tinta barroca and tinta roriz? The fruit is handpicked from older sites, and most of it was grown with a northern exposure on schist. Those parameters lead to more elegance in the finished wine which barely represents eight percent of the winery output. Post crush the grapes are cooled before they are foot-trodden in granite lagares for four hours. From the lagares the juice is run off into small refrigerated stainless-steel vats where each variety is fermented separately. All wines are matured in French Allier oak barriques (225 litres) that are 65 percent new and 35 percent second use. This is a highly concentrated red with a hint of raisins and a strong savoury undercurrent but all with a wonderful sense of balance. The latter will serve it well through the next decade or two.Tasted: 22 February 2018Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:BC | $135.99 | 750ml | private wine shops |
AB | $130.00 | 750ml | private wine shops |
Blend: Touriga Nacional - Tinta Roriz - Touriga Franca -Tinta Amarela -Tinta Barroca - Tinta CãoCSPC: 384651UPC: 831906006892