Quinta do Vale Meao, Quinta do Vale Meão 2016

This is a major, impressive wine. Its power and tannins are matched by its style, rich dark fruit flavors and its dense sense of structure. The potential of this wine, with its poise between juicy acidity and structure is enormous. A mineral texture gives the wine its essential connection with the terroir of the Douro Superior. The wine comes from one of the top Douro estates, the last to be created by Dona Antonia Ferreira and one that is still in the hands of her descendants. Drink from 2024.

The 2016 Tinto is an equal blend of Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, with others filling out the blend, all aged for 16 months in 50% new French oak. It comes in at 14% alcohol. Denser than the 2017, but without its sunny demeanor, this seems richer and a little sexier, if not quite as pure. The fruit is still gloriously flavorful. Beautifully structured, delicious and guaranteed to be a pleasure to drink, this is just entering a stage where you might approach it. I'd still say that it will do better if you come back around 2023-2025. It is going to be hard to resist, but it should age well.

Well-crafted, balancing power and finesse, this red layers raspberry gelée, cherry tart and olive tapenade flavors with cured meat, black tea and wild rosemary accents. Sinewy tannins mark the rich finish, infused with licorice, mocha and baking spice aromas. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Roriz. Best from 2021 through 2030. From Portugal

The 2016 Tinto is an equal blend of Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca with others filling out the blend, all aged for 16 months in 50% new French oak. It comes in at 14% alcohol. Set for bottling in a few weeks after this tasting, this was the final blend. The winery is using some stems now for a little extra tension, winemaker Xito Olazabal said. He said this vintage was a big surprise, producing pessimism early on but changing in barrel. This touches all the bases. This looks like a star in the vintage. What would you like? Texture and finesse? Vivid, expressive and delicious fruit? Fine structure? Check all those boxes. It has a long finish as well, showing some tannic pop and intensity of flavor. It's fresh and will make a great food wine as well. It is a little backward now, however, so give it a few years in the cellar. It will show a lot better around 2023-2025. Then, it should age well.