Quinta do Vallado Reserva Field Blend, Baixo Corgo, Douro Valley, Portugal 2013

This glorious 2013 is a mind-boggling field blend of 30 different varieties including Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela and Tourigas Franca. Deep colour and a beautiful black fruit nose leads on palate warming notes of bramble, liquorice, smoke and coffee. It is full bodied, but not overblown because the tannins are sensuous and ripe. 70% of the wine has been aged in new oak and the rest in 2nd and 3rd fill barrels. It is sensationally accessible now and will only get better.

Alc 14%

Price UK £24.90 Prestige Wines Portugal, US $52.95-$59.95 (2011) Empirewine.com [NY], Sonoma’s Best [CA]*

Taster John Stimpfig

*US stockists found on wine-searcher.com