List price: | $28.99 |
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Sale price: | $21.99 |
You save: | $7.00 (24%) |
Notes | |||
"Intense garnet color. Great concentration of black fruit, eucalyptus leaves and some notes of spices from aging in the barrels. Full bodied, with velvety tannins." —winemaker |
Critical Acclaim | |||
"Violets, black cherries, oyster shell and dried herbs on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with sleek, fine-grained tannins. Succulent, savory finish. Drink or hold." —James Suckling "The 2018 Marquês de Borba Vinhas Velhas Tinto is mostly a 50/20 blend of Alicante Bouschet and Aragonez, with equal amounts of Syrah and Castelão filling out the blend. It was aged for 12 months in 70% new oak (more or less equally divided between French and American) and comes in at 14.5% alcohol. This is no more interesting just now than the Borba Tinto this issue, even though it is twice the price. The oak here is too aggressive in the wine's youth. For whatever advantages the wine has in terms of depth or power—and there clearly are some big advantages—the oak makes it seem a bit generic at the outset. Of course, the vintages are different too. This will certainly age better, and it has a chance to pull in the wood with time. It does show off its structure and the complexity of the grape blend as it ages. Right now, I'd be just as happy drinking the Borba Tinto, if not happier. They will separate in time, though. This just has more upside potential, and that became more obvious with aeration. It's worth leaning up today. Give it a year in the cellar if you can—it's approachable, but it needs to come into balance." —Wine Advocate |