The 2004 VINHAS VELHAS QUINTA DO ALEM TANHA, is a field blend, including Tinta Roriz , Tinta Amarela, Touriga Franca and Tinta Barroca. It is the best of the group reviewed this issue and shows some progress by the winery. It adds a layer or two of mid-palate depth to the 2003 Vinhas Velhas reviewed here, and has better structure than its 2003 sibling or the 2006 Reserva reviewed here, too. The alcohol is listed at 14.5%, and it handles it rather well. There is a hint of bitterness on the finish, but there is very nice fruit here, too, pleasing aromatics and some grip on the finish. The oak at first makes the mid-palate seem more concentrated and lusher than it is, but the wine’s fruit flavors come to the forefront with some air. It needs about an hour of air to show well at this point. Drink now-2014.The Nunes de Matos family, trading as Quinta Dos Avidagos, owns four old Quintas, including Alem Tanha and Avidagos. Avidagos has an average vine age of 25 years. The old vines bottlings from Quinta do Alem Tanha are from vines averaging 65 years. The wines are generally typical Douro blends.There is no USA importer for these wines.

The 2003 VINHAS VELHAS QUINTA DO ALEM TANHA is a field blend, including Tinta Roriz , Tinta Amarela, Touriga Franca and Tinta Barroca. It is lushly textured, no doubt due to the oaky overlay, with a touch of bitterness on the finish. There is a certain sharpness to the wine, happily cutting through the initial oaky impression. It seems a bit hollow in the mid-palate and the finish is modest. This shows slightly better than on my first taste, and in particular, I think it will hold a bit better than I originally thought as the tannins on the grip seem assertive but reasonably well integrated into the whole. It is a straightforward wine with a touch of funk on the nose that could use more personality and distinctiveness, although it does show better with about 45 minutes of air, to its credit. The alcohol is listed at 15%. It seems to mostly handle that pretty well. There were 10,000 bottles produced. Drink now-2013. The Nunes de Matos family, trading as Quinta Dos Avidagos, owns four old Quintas, including Alem Tanha and Avidagos. Avidagos has an average vine age of 25 years. The old vines bottlings from Quinta do Alem Tanha are from vines averaging 65 years. The wines are generally typical Douro blends.There is no USA importer for these wines.