Jesús Barquín: Ripe red berries, lactic notes. The palate shows more fruit, powerful tannins, good acidity, and evident but well-integrated alcohol. Slightly drying finish. 14

Alex Hunt: Some promising, inky, Port-like aromas here but also a dusty quality that suggests some raisined fruit in the mix. Rather mean and dry in the mouth, despite the highish alcohol. Just not enough clarity of expression. 13.5

Andrew Jefford: Saturated, dense black-red in color. Stewy, buzzy, perhaps a little uncomfortably warm. There is lots of aromatic depth here, though: You can’t deny it has force of personality, even though the fruit handling and vinification don’t seem to have been impeccably handled. Hale, bluff, very Douro, though not hugely polished. The palate confirms. It’s a generous wine; it has complexity, too, and minerality and a sense of place. But the fruit profile hasn’t been as well mastered as in the more successful wines. Nonetheless, I would still enjoy drinking this—there’s a lot to enjoy, and my criticisms almost sound like carping. Bottle 2: As bottle 1 for me. 13.5