Real Companhia Velha Douro Carvalhas Vinhas Velhas

When visiting Quinta das Carvalhas a few years back, I was lucky enough to walk through the 100-year-old vines used to produce this wine. After being impressed by the complexity and concentration of a younger vintage, I jumped at the chance to grab this back vintage from a nearby bottleshop to take it back to Australia. Starting somewhat tightly-wound and muted, as the wine began to breathe it revealed increasingly complex layers of dark (slightly tart) fruits (black cherries, plums), …

Fresh and racy delivering unriped cherry, plum and forrest floor. Bright acidity in a medium bodied frame. Better with meat. Good lenght. NI:3, FI:21, FC:8, B:3, L:4

Tasted blind. Deep purple with a ruby rim. Med + tart black cherry, red currant, black plum, savory herbs and baking spices. Balanced oak treatment. Dry, but with lots of sweet fruit. Med acid, med + tannins and med + to high alcohol (14%). Med + body, intensity and length. Drinking well, but has several years of evolution ahead. Very good quality. New world in style, moderate to warm climate. Probably 3-5 years old. The lack of pyrazines eliminates a …

4thWednesdays - Crazy 8's (Texas Wine School, Houston, Tx) : Tasted Blind Deep Purple Black cherry, plum, baking spice, cardamom, dark chocolate cinnamon , Dry, medium + chalky tannins, medium (+) acid, High alcohol, medium finish and medium (+) intensity and medium (+) body Balance between the ripe fruit and the acid which could seem overly jammy without it. Intensity of fruit contributes to the quality but the finish, less so. The wine is not complex. The quality here is …

Dark purple to ruby, near opaque. Nose is complex with cherry and leather. Great balance, good acid. Tannins are fine. Fruit has long finish. This would cellar for a long time.