94 Points - Primo Red D.O.C. Palmela 2016“Fully mature, this rich wine has a powerful structure giving mature density and concentration. Aged in wood, it is spicy with a smooth texture, the fruit an immense array of developing secondary flavors. The one downside to this wine is the heavy bottle. Drink now.”
92 Points/Editors' Choice - Lua Cheia Reserva Especial Red D.O.C. Douro 2019“This wood-aged wine, with its firm tannins just beginning to soften, is finely balanced. Its black-plum-skin texture and black-fruit flavors are already showing well, although they do need time. Drink this concentrated wine from 2024.”
92 Points - Pegos Claros Grande Escolha Red D.O.C. Palmela 2017“Aged in wood, this wine with its pure Castelão is dense and firmly concentrated. Now fully developed, it is packed with black fruits and ripe tannins that have softened and melded together. Drink this fine wine now.”
91 Points - Tyto alba Touriga Nacional D.O.C. Do Tejo 2018“This is a limited-production wine, giving perfumed and finely structured Touriga Nacional. Berry fruits and layers of spice have already smoothed out into a harmonious whole. There is a fine smoky aftertaste. Drink from 2024.”
90 Points - Andreza Reserva Red D.O.C. Douro 2019“Dense tannins and dark-black fruits reveal a classically structured Douro wine. With its edge of minerality and a fine potential balance between the fruit and the dry core, the wine is ripe and will be ready to drink from 2024.”
90 Points/Best Buy - Lua Cheia Red D.O.C. Douro 2020“A powerful wine with dark tannins and rich fruits, this is already showing its style. Produced on typical Douro terraced vineyards, the wine offers plenty of firm minerality and ripe blackberry fruits. The wine will smooth out and should be ready from 2024.”
89 Points - Monte da Baía Reserva Red Regional Pen. Setúbal 2019“ The wine's structure comes from rich smoky fruits and wood aging. It is a concentrated wine, with juicy blackberry flavors and some firm tannins. The wine has weight, with perfumed Touriga Nacional blended with Alicante Bouschet and spicy Syrah. Drink from 2024.”
88 Points - Maria Papoila Loureiro/Alvarinho Vinho Verde D.O.C. 2021“This blend of Loureiro and Alvarinho is crisply fruity. The wine's light texture and tangy lemon zest flavors are given extra freshness by the bright acidity and youthful vivacity. Drink from the end of the year.”
88 Points - Tyto alba Alicante Bouschet Bio D.O.C. Do Tejo 2019“Big, bold and juicy, this is a powerful wine. It boasts rich, juicy black fruits that are still vividly structured. The wine needs to develop, so drink from 2024. Organic.”
88 Points - Tyto alba Rose D.O.C. Do Tejo 2020“Lightly wooded, this is a spicy wine that is just matured and ready to drink. It is a food style of rosé, with some depth alongside the red-berry fruits. Drink now.”
87 Points - Herdade de Catapereiro Escolha Red Regional Tejo 2020“A blend of Syrah, Touriga Nacional and Alicante Bouschet, this has ripe black fruits that shine through the still-young structure. Aged partly in wood, it is juicy with some aging potential. Drink from 2023.”
Cheers!
