2020 Meandro de Vale Meao Tinto

Full bottle 1,296 g. A really difficult vintage with significantly reduced crops. 50% Touriga Nacional, 35% Touriga Franca, 10% Tinta Roriz, 4% Tinta Barroca and 1% Alicante Bouschet. Vines aged 40+ years. After being crushed, the grapes were cooled down and trodden by foot during four hours in granite lagares and then transferred to small refrigerated stainless-steel fermentation vats. Each grape variety is vinified separately. The wine was matured in second- and third-year French Allier oak barriques for 14 months. Deepest crimson with purple rim. Intense and pure black fruit with a light dusting of oak influence in spice and oak sweetness but the fruit itself is dark and stony, almost charry in the way that Douro wines can be even if they are not too oaky – more of a 'rocky' impression. On the palate, terrific balance between mouth-watering fruit and firm tannic structure. Very young still but already harmonious and could be drunk now with food, but will also age well in bottle. Chewy but fresh finish. (JH)