Fitapreta Moreto Chão dos Eremitas 2018

The 2018 Moreto Chão de Ermidas, sourced from 50-year-old vines, is described by the winery as a descendant of Alfrocheiro and a relative of Castelão. It is beginning to pop up around Alentejo. This was aged for 18 months in neutral wood and comes in at 14.9% alcohol. It's also pretty beautiful and seriously styled. Showing some mid-palate finesse, this adds a somewhat earthy overlay and a hint of forest. That bright red-fruit demeanor that Alfrocheiro gets is not really there, but this isn't really Alfrocheiro. It's also pointed and long on the finish. The tannins are ripe, but the big fruit is well supported. The only questions here are the ones I typically ask of wines I have not seen before (not to mention others): How will it age, and will it turn into anything more? For the moment, let's start here, but this looks like an impressive offering.