Vinho Tinto 2010

Parker über: Vinho Tinto

-- Parker: The 2010 Tinto, the estate red with just Quinta de Chocapalha on the front, is a blend of 45% Tinta Roriz, 25% Touriga Nacional, 15% Castelão, 10% Syrah and 5% Alicante Bouschet. It was aged for 18 months in French oak (60% second use, the rest third use). It comes in at 14.5% alcohol and a slightly elevated 4.5 grams per liter of residual sugar. Not quite an oldie (or vertical), which would be more in keeping with this issue's theme, it is nonetheless a rather late release with an old vintage date. It was just recently launched in the USA. This seems like a beauty that is in a very good place right now. It's a super value. Solid in the mid-palate, it has a fine, palate-coating mouthfeel with intense fruit flavor, no doubt the last third of the blend (Castelão, Syrah and Alicante) stating a case. It seems more like the Castelão, though. Very ripe, it is wonderfully fruity, but saved from being merely fruity by its beautiful structure and balance. It is rather gripping on the finish, although it is approachable right now. It evolves nicely with aeration. This is going to be a crowd-pleaser at an 'everyone' price that is still serious enough to impress the geeks. 90/100