QUINTA VALE D. MARIA DUORO 2018 WINE ADVOCATE 93 - 750ML

Wine Advocate 93

The 2018 Tinto (Quinta Vale D. Maria) is a field blend from old vines (over 40 varieties, including Tinta Amarela, Rufete, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Francisca, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional and Sousão) aged for 21 months in 70% new French barriques. It comes in at 14.9% alcohol. Rich and even a little chocolaty, this has a ripe and lush demeanor with plenty of flavor. It's more along the lines of a fruit bomb than a finessed wine, but it holds its balance. Lots of people will think it tastes pretty great. Whether it continues to hold well in the cellar may be another question, but it certainly has some structure. I'd say it will hold, but many will be happy to dive in now and knock it back. Don't drink it too warm. We'll take that end-date drinking window in stages just now.