2016 Quinta do Vallado Tinta Roriz Douro

The 2016 Tinta Roriz, bottled in May of 2018, was aged for 18 months in mostly (90%) French oak, second and third use. It comes in at 14.5% alcohol. Sourced from vines in Douro Superior, this shows pure power balanced by good concentration. The fruit has vivid flavor, but then the tannins take over. Intense and deep, this is probably the best since Vallado revived this brand in 2014. It is going to need a little time in the cellar for sure, but there is a lot of upside potential here. Come back around 2023 for a better look at what it has, although it may be approachable earlier. There were just 2,900 bottles produced along with some large-format bottles, which no doubt accounts in large part for the hefty price here. 2020 - 2037.