Lavradores de Feitoria Quinta da Meruge, Douro, Portugal

點(diǎn)擊次數(shù)：3040

The 2016 Meruge is an 80/20 blend of Tinta Roriz and a field blend from old vines (45+ years), all aged for 14 to 18 months (depending on lot) in new French oak. It comes in at 14% alcohol. This is another Meruge that has a bit of funk on opening, with some char and game as an aromatic overlay. It follows onto the palate as well. After that, it is wonderfully fresh and graceful, as is also typical. It can sometimes seem a little delicate, but it is also persistent. I loved its silky texture and the mid-palate finesse. The tannins are mostly ripe, so this can be approached even now, considering how young it is. That said, it will be better in 2020 for sure. I confess that Meruge is never my personal favorite of this co-op's offerings, but reasonable minds may differ. Its elegance and precision often compensate for the aromatics. This might be entitled to an upgrade in evaluation if it can pull its components together in a year or two. It may age better than seems apparent on first taste. You can dive in, though; it's not drinking too badly right now.