The 2008 RESERVA is a blend of Tinta Roriz (45%), Touriga Nacional (40%) and Touriga Franca (15%), aged in new French oak for 9 months. It has a hard edge similar to the regular Tinto, reviewed this issue, but adds a layer of depth, although it is not particularly deep. Powerful and intense, it is, like a lot of wines in this vintage, crisp and fresh and in need of some bottle aging and patience. It has some upside potential, although it took a good 3 hours before it began to show me what it really had. I went from fearing that I was overrating it to fearing that I was underrating it. This is a pretty good value point in this lineup. There were 31,147 bottles produced, along with 310 magnums. Drink 2013-2024. The pretty labels are always fun, but reality beckons—this estate is increasingly a major player in the Douro.Importer: M Imports, Coppell, TX; tel: (214) 505-0616.

A powerful wine, certainly, although in the elegant style of Quinta do Portal. Big black berry and plum flavors wrap around tannins that are still young, exuberant, needing time to settle down. The acidity and the solid tannic structure suggest good aging. ——R.V.(4/1/2011)—— 92