The 2014 Garrafeira Montes Claros is a blend of 40% Aragonez and 20% each of Syrah, Touriga Nacional and Trincadeira, all aged for 12 months in new and mostly French oak. It comes in at 14.4% alcohol. In structure, this is very nice, pointed, focused and gripping on the finish. The tannins aren't too hard, but they are certainly obvious. It is one of the most impressive of the producer's reds this issue in structure (although the 2013 Grande Reserva Cork Label might be at the same level or better). That's not the whole story, however. In expressive fruit, it doesn't succeed as well. There is some, though, even if this ultimately seems a bit bland. All that said, this moderately aggressive Garrafeira mostly does well in this tough vintage. It will show better with food. It certainly isn't designed to be drunk on its own. There were 6,500 bottles produced.

The 2008 Garrafeira Montes Claros is a blend of Aragonez (40%), Tinta Caida (20%) and Trincadeira (40%), aged for 12 months in a mixture of American (15%) and French (75%) oak, with 10% Portuguese Chestnut barrels. The alcohol level comes in at 14.5%. Far too marked by wood early on, which notably obscured the fruit, this did have an elegant presentation in the mid-palate and moderately ripe tannins. The wood integrated to a more acceptable level with two hours of aeration, but then the wine did not seem to have all that much concentration. Sometimes, it had just a little harshness on the finish as well. While it does project "serious" more than the winery's Cork Label Reserva reviewed this issue, it isn't necessarily any more enjoyable. There were 1,000 six-packs produced. Drink now-2020. Importer: L&B Beverage, Inc., East Providence, RI; tel. (508) 673-1917