2012 Mouchao Tinto

Predominantly Alicante Bouschet with a small percentage of Trincadeira and vinified in lagares. Aged in oak and mahogany vats of 5,000 litres for 24 months and only released after further 24 to 36 months in bottle. Inky dark core with a deep garnet rim. Lifted and seductively deep, spicy aroma. A mouthful of pure, generous Alicante Bouschet fruit with chewy but still somehow chocolate-textured tannins. Deep, sweet-fruited with blackberry as well as some dried fruits – more fig than raisin. Still a baby with many years ahead of it. Possibly would be broachable now with food but I'd want to cellar it for a few years at least. GV (JH)

The 2012 Tinto, the regular Estate bottling, is a 73/27 blend of Alicante Bouschet and Trincadeira. It was aged for 22 months in used 5,000-liter tonels of varying ages and comes in at 14.5% alcohol. When last seen, this was lovely but not playing well with the winery's bigger vintages. It's about the same in description, but it has opened and evolved. I loved the mid-palate finesse, and it has just enough tightness on the finish to give it some distinction. It is elegant, but it does have real concentration. Understated but focused, this has a perfect food-wine demeanor. I am still not convinced this is a great Estate Tinto, but you will love drinking it. It will develop complexity in the cellar, and the bottle will drain fast at the table. This may not have as much upside potential as the 2013, but it is in a much better place right now. Eventually, they will separate more. Aug 2018, www.robertparker.com