Quinta Rosa, douRosa Tinto, Douro

Drinking beautifully: vanilla clove and spice on nose, dark fruit and plum with rertiary flavours of cedar and leather. Long

Opened because we had a 2016 at a tasting which would have been better a year ago. Not decanted. Suprisingly pale: ruby with no 'ageing' rim but only noderate colour intensity. Nose is lovely: blackberry but with robacco and leather. On the palate, immediate blackberry and tertiary eathery tobacco. Still tannins but silky smooth and nice acidity. Elegant but still robust fruit: the dowager who does will not retire befoe one last tango.

Decanted for 90 minutes. Dark almost feral nose with vanilla. Silky mouth feel, fruit ++, tannins still muscular but elegant but well integrated. Easily 10 years left in the bottle. Lovely nut next time decant for longer

Couleur violet, 1er nez=légère odeur de boisé avec un peu de cerise noir. En bouche, très refermé sur lui-même, avec une petite finale sur le boisé. Après 1/2 heure, encore fermé. ????

Fresh, tangy red with ripe berry, cherry and plum flavours, great with pizza.

Nice fruit, lovely balance, very pleasant