Barely there oak and delicate cedar, cinnamon and anise spices highlight the shift to whole bunch ferments and ageing in old wood. The strikingly fluid palate is sluiced with a seemingly weightless melange of black cherry and berry and fruits of the forest. Pronounced florals – lifted violets and peony – contrast with earth, crushed stone and graphite undertones. Nuanced, yet penetrating.

(93+ points) The 2018 Redoma is a field blend of typical grapes (like Tinta Amarela, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Tinto Cão) aged for 22 months in used 1,000-liter Portuguese vats. It comes in at just 12.5% alcohol. My pick for the best of the upper-level 2018 reds this issue, and a relative bargain besides, this easily coats the palate. Then, it shows off its power. Like its upper-level 2018 siblings, the fruit profile is not terribly expressive just now, and this is going to need a couple of years of cellaring to show its best. The upside potential seems most likely to be realized here in the group, however. Time will ultimately give us that answer, so come back around 2026. This is another of Niepoort's 2018s that you will want to buy only if you can cellar it, at least for a few years. It looks like a beauty in the making, but let's be a little cautious considering how closed and tight it is. There were 31,000 bottles produced from old vines (70+ years).- MS