A well-balanced wine, this works solidly with beef and other simple stews. Recommended (90).
It is a pleasant wine with a lot going on for a very reasonable price.
That lovely cigar box and cedar nose so typical of many Spanish reds is immediately forthcoming on the nose, along with some herbal elements. Black cherry fruit is forward, and the wine is a bit clumsy in that regard. Tannins are still sharp, giving a somewhat dusty finish, but still quite pleasant overall. At least one hour of aeration is recommended. Still could use some additional age. Good with just about any grilled meat on the barbecue, especially if using wood to smoke. Recommended. GT
To say that the 2002 vintage was a challenging one, in Europe, would be too much of a euphemism: this rainy, wet, cool year really, really sucked.
At over 16 years of age, this classic Douro blend of indigenous varieties like Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional still shows quite a bit of color, with a rich garnet color, barely hinting at orange on the edges. The aromas show the wine’s maturity: mushrooms, tobacco, plums and raisins, with fine, fine tannins wrapping things up at the end. A nice bit of freshness on the finish shows that it still had a lot to offer, demonstrating how table wines for the Douro—and not just ports—can age gracefully for a very long time.
Citrus, pineapple, and gooseberry, all with a grassy background, are reminiscent of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc before the Kiwis started filtering everything through the litter box. Flavors are clean, citrus bright, but it is slightly fat, not quite in balance. The gooseberry comes out stronger, tilting into "where's that darned cat?" as the wine warms up, so serve it while it is still chilled, or keep it cool. Finish is mid-length. Drink with any very fresh white fish, or just with a very hot day.
Clear, stained tears, deep brick to garnet red. Vegetal, black cherry, pepper, earth, olive, blackberry aromas. Dry, medium acid, medium-full body, medium tannin, fruity, plum, cherry, oak.