2018 Quinta do Vale Meao Tinto

50% Touriga Nacional, 45% Touriga Franca, 3% Tinta Barroca and 2% Tinta Roriz. After being crushed, the grapes were cooled and trodden by foot for four hours in granite lagares and then transferred to small, refrigerated stainless-steel vats. In this vintage approximately 10% of the wine was fermented with stems. Each grape variety and vineyard is vinified separately. The final blend is made before bottling. All the wine was matured in French Allier oak barriques (225 litres), 60% new and 40% second use.   Deep, dark purplish red with black core. Gorgeous aroma of pure, scented black fruits. Open and intoxicating and seductive without being overly sweet in aroma. On the palate, big, bold and dark, with oak spice, but it’s the dark rocky Douro character that marks the wine. Powerful and balanced with a long, rich finish. Deep, thick tannins. Not for those seeking delicacy. (JH)

The 2018 Tinto is a 50/45 blend of Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, with dollops of Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca filling out the blend, all aged for 16 months in 50% new and 50% second use French oak. It comes in at 14.3% alcohol. Creamier and more sensual than the Meandro this issue, this mostly shows off its oak right now. That will get better as this ages and pulls in the wood. Even now, though, it drinks fairly well. The tannins are ripe, although this does show more power with extended aeration. It tastes great and retains the elegance for which this bottling is famed. It should age well and it should improve more. I do think it is a step or two behind the 2017, though, granting that they were not both here together.