The 2013 Garrafeira Private Selection is a blend of 40% each of Aragonez and Alicante Bouschet, with most of the rest Syrah, aged for 12 to 18 months (depending on lot, presumably) in new French oak. It comes in at 14.6%...
The 2013 Garrafeira Private Selection is a blend of 40% each of Aragonez and Alicante Bouschet, with most of the rest Syrah, aged for 12 to 18 months (depending on lot, presumably) in new French oak. It comes in at 14.6% alcohol. Smooth and a bit creamy on opening, it has an overlay of oak at the moment, but also the structure and concentration to absorb it. Sexy, fresh, aromatic and delicious, yet still possessed of some finesse and structure, it has ripe tannins and a long, blueberry-laced finish with notable length and grip. This is a beauty. You can approach it young, but it will hold pretty well, too. Sourced from Canto de Zé Cruz Vineyard (for the old-vines Aragonez, planted in 1980), Telheiro Vineyard (planted in 1998) and Palmeiras Vineyard (planted in 1996), there were 30,000 bottles produced. - LG