2015 Casa Ferreirinha Quinta da Leda

50% Touriga Franca, 20% Touriga Nacional, 15% Tinta Roriz, 15% Tinto Cão. The 2015 vintage was characterised by warm and dry conditions. Three heatwaves were recorded in June and July and the vines shut down for a brief period resulting in a harvest around two weeks later than usual. Some showers in September gave the vines the necessary boost for the final stages of ripening. TA 5.4 g/l, RS 1.5 g/l, pH 3.6. Much less Touriga Nacional in this vintage, and more Tinto Cão than usual for freshness in a warm, dry year. Deep cassis colour with purple at the rim. Intense black-fruit aroma, much more cassis than damson, smells very rich but fresh too. You’d almost think there was some Cabernet Sauvignon in here. Fine, lifted fruit and peppery, cedary aroma. On the palate, noticeable oak flavour but surprisingly silky tannins that glide across the palate. Less concentrated than the 2011 – but it suffers from coming after the 2011 in this tasting. Approachable and not likely to age as long as vintages such as 2008 or the 2011 – though I might be surprised given how well their unoaked Esteva red ages (see my note on the 1989 tasted in 2015) . (JH)