The 2009 Aragonez is a nicely constructed wine this year. Elegant in the mid-palate, a touch oak-tinged in its youth, it seems graceful generally speaking and well focused, with just a little bit of tannin for seriousness and tasty flavors. It does fade a bit with air, but it seems full in the mouth on first attack with some tannic intensity. As it airs out, it becomes a bit meatier and earthier, which some will like and some won’t. Drink now-2016. Cortes de Cima’s regular entrants showed quite well this year, the 2009s proving to be a rather successful vintage there. When I first tasted these in Portugal, they didn’t show overly well. A few months to pull themselves together helped a lot as the USA retastings went very well.Importers: Tri-Vin Imports, Mt. Vernon, NY; tel. (914) 664-3155; Vinos Unico, San Francisco, CA; tel. (415) 531-3419; Vinum Wine Importers, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 621-8843.

Aragonez, aka Tempranillo, is the Tinta Roriz of the Alentejo—just to make things simple. Whatever the name, the smooth, rich character of this wine is characteristic of the grape. It has weight, ripe damson fruit and a core of powerful tannins. Age for 3–4 years. ——R.V.(2/1/2012)—— 90