Potentially a sleeper of the vintage, this offering displays a wickedly kinky nose of wild mountain flowers, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. The striking aromatics, saturated purple color, medium body, and sensual, soft, seductive style make for a disarmingly fine vintage port. It will not offer long-term aging, but if consumed between 2006-2018, it will provide considerable complexity as well as character.American importer unknown.

Made from grapes that used to go into Barca Velha, Portugal’s most-storied table red, this wine represents the New Wave of Douro wines. It’s inky and intense, with whiffs of smoke and toast from new oak barrels, but also incredible fruit concentration. Blackberries, coffee and dried spices on the palate; it finishes long and firm, with hints of licorice.——J.C.(11/15/2003)—— 93