“The 2009 Reserva Old Vines is an old vines (some 100 years old) field blend of, says the winery, mostly Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, with 5% each of Tinta Roriz and Sousao, the lots separately aged in a mixture of new (70%) and old French oak for 12–18 months. Of the oldies around this age this issue, this is one of the ones that has aged the best. It is gorgeously balanced, a related issue no doubt, with impeccable precision and focus. Plus, it is relatively fresh, although it certainly shows some signs of maturity. It is still tightly wound and a little tight on the finish, but it is far more easily drinkable with an extra decade in the bottle since I first saw it. The complex overlay only improves it, while the mid-palate finesse is admirable. This should continue aging well throughout most of the decade, maybe more. It's very nice now, a classic table wine. It will certainly be interesting to see if it can still improve. This was, after all, a young winery at the time.”

“The 2009 RESERVA ‘OLD VINES,’ seen for the first time here in bottle in the USA, is an old vines (some 100 years old) field blend of, says the winery, mostly Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, with 5% each of Tinta Roriz and Sousao, the lots separately aged in a mixture of new (70%) and old French oak for 12-18 months. Beautifully structured, well balanced, intense on the finish and rather bright for the vintage, this relatively young winery (although, of course, the winemaker and owners are among the more famous names in Portugal) has done a fine job crafting this into their best wine yet. Do yourself a favor, though, and don’t even think of tasting this just now. Despite its elegance and fine balance, it is not even close to showing what it has. Give it a couple of years at least to come around and show some complexity. Drink -2014.”

CELLAR SELECTION: "This is powerfully impressive, with its firm structure giving great depth to the rich black-cherry and plum fruits. Dense and tannic, it needs to age for at least four years."

“The 2009 Reserva Old Vines is an old vine field blend (some 100 years old) of, says the winery, mostly Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, plus 5% each of Tinta Roriz and Sousão. The lots were separately aged in 70% new French oak for 12-18 months. This has been seen before, of course, but it is part of the many second looks this issue. This probably has less finesse than the 2007 but more power and depth, a product of the vintage. A blockbuster, it is coming into balance slowly but surely. It still has more power than it handles well just now but that will get better. More importantly, it does have a bit of a roasted feel, the product of a very warm year. That is a potential concern down the road. It is doing a good job of demonstrating that it should age well, though. You can try this now but you'd be better off leaving it in the cellar for a couple more years.”

“This has a distinctive cedary aroma, with flavors to match, as well as raspberry cream, dark plum, currant and kirsch. Medium grained tannins linger on the finish, with snappy flavors of red licorice and paprika.”

“Generously textured, this ample Douro red has honeyed blue fruit to balance its schist-black tannins. Oak plays a major role in the flavors for now, while an apple-skin edge adds freshness that suggests the wine will age well.”

“Restrained aromas of dark fruit, chocolate, sweet spice, oak and gingerbread…Good concentration of fruit and skillfully structured.”