The 2008 TINTO is a blend of 40% Touriga Nacional, 20% Touriga Franca, 20% Tinta Roriz and 20% an old vines field blend. It seems to be a very typical ’08, a little hard edged in its youth, crisp and sunny, with bright, fresh fruit and a certain austerity early on. Disjointed when I saw it, it needed a good 90 minutes or so to finally show some velvet and some fruit, at which time the fruit coated the palate in a very appealing fashion and delivered clean, pure flavors. This is a very nice Tinto with some cellaring potential and a lot of persistence. Drink 2011-2018. Importer: Winebow, Inc., Montvale, N.J.; tel: (201) 445-0620

In an intriguingly old-fashioned style, all hard tannins and brooding power, this wine also impresses with its stern demeanor. How it will develop is hard to tell at this stage. To judge by the simpler quinta wine (see September 2008 Buying Guide), the fruits will come through, but this Reserva certainly demands a long wait. ——R.V.(11/1/2008)—— 92