Roquette e Cazes Tinto 2018

Full bottle 1,469 g. 60% Touriga Nacional, 25% Touriga Franca, 15% Tinta Roriz. Vines 39 years old. The grapes come from the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior subregions at 130–450 m. They are hand-harvested, destemmed and gently crushed. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel conic vats. Rack and return is performed during fermentation. About 18 months in French oak barrels. TA 5.2 g/l, pH 3.64. Bottled August 2020.
Deep cherry red. Refined aroma of black fruit, Douro rocks (stony) and a little hint of savoury, charry oak. As it opens, red fruits start to show, lifting the scent. The tannins are super-fine, giving the wine great elegance. There is a cool, fluid darkness to the wine, polished but still with chewy depths at this early stage in its evolution. Finesse and persistence at the end. The oak is evident on the palate but in harmony with everything else. (JH)