Esporao, Quinta Dos Murcas Minas 2016, Douro, Portugal

Tasting Note: A well-made red blend with that starts with creaminess, continues with black-fruit and completes with velvet.

Deep-intensity purple in color, this wine has an aromatic, medium-plus-intensity nose of blackberry, black plum, black currant, crushed-dried violet blossom and dried raspberry.

On the palate the dry, medium-plus-bodied red blend has a creamy texture with medium-plus-intensity flavors suggested on the nose supported by medium acidity and completing with a black-fruit-infused, medium finish.

The wine is smooth, slightly-round at points, but does deliver more focus on the back third of your palate courtesy of slightly-grippy, medium tannin.

A red blend I’d have again.

Bottle Note: South facing 100M to 300M Alt. DOC Douro region. Cima-Corgo sub-region. Right bank of Douro river. Vineyards planted in schistous soils, between 110m and 300m altitude. South facing. Hand-picked grapes. Vinification after grape selection, fermentation with indigenous yeasts, in granite lagares with foot treading. Old basket press. 9 months in concrete vats and used French oak barrels. 30,000 liters bottled.

This wine was submitted for review.