Quinta de Pancas Grande Reserva Tinto 2015

The 2015 Grande Reserva (Quinta de Pancas) is a blend of 40% Touriga Nacional, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Petit Verdot, aged for 24 months in 70% new French oak. It comes in at 14.1% alcohol, a drop of a full point from the 2013. Fresh and classic in flavors, it has some slate, some lead on the finish and a bright feel. The tannins are ripe, but they support the fruit nicely. The texture leans to velvet, and the wood is nicely controlled. There's a touch of green as a nuance, but it is just a nuance on this (unlike some of its siblings). If there's a quibble here, the mid-palate could use a bit more stuffing. It seems to lack the concentration of the last I saw, even if the rest is very good. The freshness is very appealing, though—maybe that's the trade-off—and it will help preserve this wine as it ages, perhaps longer than anticipated.

Dominated by Touriga Nacional and Cabernet Sauvignon, it is no surprise that this wine shows dense tannins. The fruit seems to be going missing and only comes through slowly as the wine opens up. To get the full effect of this wine's power, it needs to be decanted. Drink from 2022.