2012 Howard's Folly Reserva Howard Hodgkin Case

75% Syrah, 25% Alicante Bouschet. grown fun coolish Portalegre. Aged for 12 months in French oak. Hodgkin's paintings on the label. Very deep ruby. Nicely integrated oak and definitely from a warm climate with just a hint of acidity on the finish. This has come along nicely and has no raw or rough edges, although the tannins, and alcohol, are perceptible. (JR)

Adorned with a picture of Howard Hodgkin on the label. 75% Syrah and 25% Alicante Bouschet aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. Bottled June 2014. Deep crimson. Balsam nose and excellent acidity counterbalances the very plush fruit and fine, slightly sandy tannin on the end. Quite young. (JR)

75% Syrah, 25% Alicante Bouschet, from Portalegre in the north of Alentejo, at a cool 500 m elevation. 12 months in French oak. Howard Hodgkin label. Inky black cherry colour, almost black at the core and still very youthful looking. More obvious oak compared with the Sonhador 2012 but also a little more savoury, still that slight minty character. Lovely dry-textured dark fruit, a touch of dark chocolate in that dry texture and refined in its rocky darkness even though the sweetness of the oak spice counterbalances that to some extent. Tannins chewy and quite thick, thicker than the Sonhador, but still showing impressive freshness on the finish for such a big wine. At the moment I prefer the slightly more fluid Sonhador but this should have a long future as the texture becomes more refined. (JH)