Ramos Pinto, Douro DOC (Portugal) 2017

In 1880, the Port house of Ramos Pinot was founded by brothers Adriano and Antonio in the dramatically beautiful Douro Valley in Portugal.  The company includes four estates and the grapes for this dry red wine, 60% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca, 5%Tinta Barca, 5% Sousão, come from two of them, Quinta de Ervamoira and Quinta dos Bons Ares.  Fermentation was a blend of old and new techniques: grapes from Ervamoira were fermented in traditional granite lagares and grapes from Bons Ares grapes were vinified in wood and in concrete vats.  The wine’s color is dense and dark, almost black.  Aromas of black cherries and black plums are laced with dried woody herbs and earthy, savory notes.  Rich flavors of  black cherry, black currants and plums mingling  with hints of vanilla and toast are supported by solid tannins.  It may be a little closed in at first but open it and give it some time before serving.  It has a medium-weight body and finishes with chewy tannins.  Serve it with a hearty beef stew.  If you have any left, try it again the following day.  It’s even better.  In 1990, Maison Louis Roederer acquired the company, and retained descendants of the founders with Jorge Rosas as president.