Taboadella Alfrocheiro Reserva 2019

The 2019 Alfrocheiro Reserva was aged for nine months in a 70/30 mixture of new and used French oak. It comes in at 13.9% alcohol. This is sourced from 30-year-old vines. Textured with a little velvet, this opens up very tight and needs a little air to express itself. The depth is good, but it was closed. Thirty minutes or so in a glass did it a world of good. It became laced with red fruits and much silkier. It showed off its precision and focus as well. This is nicely done, a little understated and quite elegant. It may yet improve, but it is approachable even now.

This has a fragrant nose of dried flowers, brambleberries, bark, mahogany and pine cones. Chocolate orange too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Supple and juicy. Drink or hold.

Swathes of black fruits give this wine richness, intensity and structure. The broad tannins are layered with ripe black fruits and lifted acidity. Drink from 2023.