Esporão, Murças Assobio Red 2017, Douro, Portugal

Tasting Note: A Touriga-Nacional-led red blend with pleasing midpalate concentration and black fruit.

Deep-intensity purple in color, this wine has an aromatic, medium-plus-intensity nose of blackberry, black plum, rosehip, black olive, red currant and black cherry.

On the palate the dry, medium-plus-bodied red blend has medium-plus-intensity flavors suggested on the nose supported by medium acidity and slightly-grippy, medium-plus tannin.

The wine is velvety in texture toward the mid-to-back palate with notes of complexity running throughout the length of the taste.

One of the decidedly good red blends coming out Portugal.

Bottle Note: Touriga Nacional 40%, Tinta Roriz 30%, Touriga Franca 30%. Douro. Altitude. Freshness. At the Edge of the Murças boundaries in Covelinhas, steep slopes form a valley where the wind whistles. It is from the vineyards like these, northern-facing at high altitudes, that this wine is produced. Crafted from the region’s traditional grape varieties and partially aged in used French oak casks for 6 months, this is a fresh, versatile and food-friendly wine.

This wine was submitted for review.