Vilalvo Douro Reserva

Hazy red/brown. Intense, deep, acidic nose. Full body, soft tannins, burning mouthfeel with very high heat, average length, fading taste in finish. Tart, dry but not excessively, a bit unbalanced. Sweet spices, star anise, floral, fresh (plums), and dry fruit. Goes well with a rich, well seasoned dish but too caustic on its own. Too bad because it has great qualities and a rich flavor. Glad to say that this fault resolved after long breathing.

Solid weeknight dinner red. Strong red fruit juice punch on the front end, but rapid fade into a dry woody finish. Very enjoyable with food, but may be a little unbalanced to drink on its own. Spicy camphor and a bit of cranberry or pink peppercorn.