The 2005 RESERVA is, like most of this winery’s offerings, a typical Douro blend, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca. It is a very nice wine, bright, elegant and well structured, somewhat similar to the Vale de Cavalos in many respects, although tighter and more tannic. Yet, although probably the most ageworthy of the three 2005 reds reviewed this issue, many, I suspect, will be as happy with the Vale de Cavalos, and some will be quite content with the regular Tinto, especially for earlier drinking. That said, this is still well priced and well structured, with nice fruit. It is worth its price tag, likely to be less on the street, even if it is not quite as big of a bargain as the other offerings. There were 1,500 cases produced. Drink 2009-2015. This winery is a relatively new entrant to table wine production in the Douro. The 2005 reds show improvement and they represent good values as well. Overall, this winery increasingly seems to be a valuable addition to the table wine industry in the Douro.Importers: HGC Imports, San Jose, CA.; tel. (408) 947-8511; Monarchia Matt International, Armonk, N.Y.; tel. (877) 273-8466.

A finely structured wine that relishes its blackberry jelly, new wood and dense, concentrated texture. The wine is powerful, firm, certainly rich, but with a sense of restraint that gives it elegance.——R.V.(9/1/2008)—— 90