2017 Feuerheerd

Feuerheerd was founded in 1815 by the German merchant Dietrich Matthias Feuerheerd and is now owned by Barão de Vilar-Vinhos, a partnership between the van Zeller and Barros families. Made from vineyards in the Torto Valley. Black core to a narrow purple rim. Dark-fruited, a little wild, and attractively rocky/mineral on the nose with little sign of the alcohol in the aroma. Elegant first impression. On the palate, this is very pure-fruited and nicely dry in texture, almost chalky. Less sweet-tasting than many 2017s, more obviously structured and reserved so that the sweetness is less dominant. There's balancing freshness too and almost a slight stemmy character that increases the freshness – perhaps the effect of whole bunches? Chewy and long with excellent harmony already. (JH)