2015 Dao Rotulo

The 2015 Rótulo Dão red is a regional field blend, Touriga Nacional, Jaen, Alfrocheiro, without oak. It was fermented in stainless steel and aged in cement vats. This fresh "summer red," as I like to call such wines, is terrific for its style and level (alas, no exact pricing or related info could be obtained in time for publication). Light, crisp and rather penetrating, this has well-defined fruit, with a fresh, focused finish. It is tasty, but dry and serious. The structure may be even better than the fruit. It is a perfect food wine. You may also enjoy drinking it a bit cooler than normal. It probably won't reward long aging, but I bet it will hold longer than most think due to its acidity and structure. This is a style I really like these days and this relatively low-alcohol charmer is a good example of it. Sure, it has a ceiling because it won't likely turn into anything more, but it is beautifully done. Drink it relatively young (although you might wait until this summer to give it a chance to settle down a bit more) and you may find that it is underrated. No pricing was provided.