Conceito 2015

Description

... a field blend from old vines (90 years or so) at 450 meters in altitude. It was aged for 22 months in French oak (50% new, 50% second use). This was seen before but only as a tank sample. This is the first look in the U.S. and in bottle. It opens with powerful aromatics and seems simply sumptuous, thanks to its purity of fruit. Compared to the Único Tinto reviewed, this is just as intensely flavorful, perhaps even more so. As the two have developed in bottle, the Único seems deeper and oakier, while this has more mid-palate finesse, despite the initial impression of sumptuousness and purity ... Wonderfully elegant, this precise Tinto is not the biggest red ever, but it holds its own in persistence on the finish and delivers that fine fruit flavor. It has that 'old school' feeling of refinement, sophistication and subtly. It maintains flavor and structure while seeming ethereal and fresh in the mouth. It integrates its wood far better than the Único just now, but both are a little closed. From what I saw in Porto over the summer, they will both do better with a few years in the cellar to allow them to pull in the wood better. This was notably better when tasted on the next day. It will be more interesting around 2020-2023. At this point, if you open it now, give it some air - there's a real backbone here, too - but this is probably a bit closer to ready than the Único. They should both age very well, perhaps better than indicated. Drink date: 2019-2036. Score - 95. (Mark Squires, robertparker.com, Dec. 29, 2017)

Tags

Red Wine, Touriga Nacional Blend, Wine, XD - Extra Dry