2019 Quinta do Vale Meao

The 2019 Tinto is a blend of 60% Touriga Franca, 35% Touriga Nacional and dollops of Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca filling out the blend, all aged for 16 months in 50% new French oak. It comes in at 14.5% alcohol. Often seeming sensational for its concentration of fruit flavor, this adds more depth and power than the Meandro, as well as more concentration of fruit flavor. The long, gripping finish slams the fruit into the palate, but this is never particularly astringent nor really what you would call fruity, exactly. It always retains an elegant and graceful demeanor as well. As it airs out, it acquires more mid-palate finesse, too, then caresses the palate with velvet. This will be accessible fairly young, while aging rather well. I'd still give it a year or three in the cellar for better results, but I confess that its fruit is so enticing right now that it is hard to resist even today. This looks brilliant and something likely to do everything well as it ages, but I'd like to see some proof of exceptional development, so let's be a little conservative just now. It should improve over the next few years, at the least. There have been a lot of great Estate Tintos from Vale Meão in the last decade, but this is certainly one that is going to vie for bragging rights.