Quinta do Vallado Touriga Nacional 2018

The 2018 Touriga Nacional was aged for 16 months in 50% new French barriques and comes in at 13.9% alcohol. Mildly aromatic, very graceful and precise, this balanced Touriga seems caressing and sensual. The expressive fruit is not fully developed by any means, but this is surprisingly easy to drink right now, once past the initial tannic pop. The tannins, in fact, are quite ripe. Not quite as concentrated as the previous vintage, this is nonetheless pretty fine on its own terms. It should age well too, but let's be at least a little conservative. This still has room to grow and improve in the cellar if you can hold it a few years.