Quinta da Romaneira Tinto 2009

Christian Seeley and António Agrellos of Quinta do Noval ... are also involved in a rather ornate wine and hospitality project just upriver at Romaneira. While the ambitious hotel closed after the economic crash and has yet to reopen, the vineyard and winery are putting out some astonishing wines. Agrellos blended this 2009 from tourigas nacional and franca, with a little roriz and tinto cão. I could just say it smells great and stop there. But I'd be leaving out the sense of quiet elegance that layers the wine in perfectly ripe cherry flavor and a cushion of tannins. It seems to create an architectural space in the mouth, framing the steep Douro canyon into a lasting flavor. Score - 94. (wineandspiritsmagazine.com, April 2014)