“A meaty ragù of black fruit and tobacco scents, this is smoky and unctuous, with energy to drive its gamey rusticity. For grilled lamb.”

“From an estate vineyard planted in the 1970s in the arid Douro Superior, this is a vibrant red focused around the energy in its schist-driven tannins. The fruit is bright purple, long on peppery astringency, with an undertone of fresh pear and quince-showing ripeness while sustaining freshness. It has the brightness of the Douro sun on stone, translated into a clean, dynamic wine with a clear road ahead in the cellar.”

“Plenty of praline, toasted oak and sweet spices on the nose. Full-bodied with fine tannins. Rich and layered with a creamy core of dark fruit at the center. Flavorful finish. Drink or hold.”

“A regular medal winner at DWWA, this is a traditional LBV from an excellent year. Foot-trodden aged for years in wood before bottling without filtration. This wine has power and depth, with fresh, tight-knit fruit and gentle peppery-spicy grip. It already shows considerable floral finesse but will age and soften in bottle if laid down for another five years.”

“As densely planted as the fruit is concentrated, at 12,500 vines/ha Urtiga’s centenarian vines eke out less than half a kilo each. With 63 different varieties, this heavyweight is multi-layered, with ripe blackcurrant and forest fruits, plums seguing into prunes, dark chocolate violet creams, spice, warm earth and minerals. Iron filing tannins and balanced acidity keep the fruit on a rail.”