Quinta de la Rosa Tinto 2021, Douro

jancisrobinson.com 16.5/20 "50% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca, 15% Tinta Roriz, and 5% Sousão all from La Rosa’s estate, mostly from the Lamelas vineyard planted by Tim Bergqvist more than 30 years ago. Matured for 12 months in mostly used (70%) French oak casks. Very dark, almost black, with a purplish rim. Rich, generous and dark-fruited, open and fragrant and with unmistakable Douro character, which for me is not sweetness of fruit but an impression of rocks – the dark/stony character – and the local cistus wild flowers, which gives a subtle floral/herbal quality. This is juicy, medium-bodied and with already quite smooth tannins. A recipe for early drinking but with enough structure to age for a few years. Nicely dry finish on a wine that is hard not to like. (JH)"