At over 16 years of age, this classic Douro blend of indigenous varieties like Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional still shows quite a bit of color, with a rich garnet color, barely hinting at orange on the edges. The aromas show the wine’s maturity: mushrooms, tobacco, plums and raisins, with fine, fine tannins wrapping things up at the end. A nice bit of freshness on the finish shows that it still had a lot to offer, demonstrating how table wines for the Douro—and not just ports—can age gracefully for a very long time.
The oldest country in Europe is creating some of the newest wine experiences. The tide has finally turned, a distributor in the Northeastern U.S. recently told me.