Winemaker Notes
A superbly ripe wine that is selected from old vines, this is very rich and solidly structured. It has weight and ripe black-fruit notes that are laced with fresh acidity and a jammy plum flavor. It's dark, dense, and full of great depth of flavor.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 O Oenólogo Vinhas Velhas is a field blend (with roughly 24 grapes, such as Touriga Nacional, Baga, Jaen, Tinta Pinheira, Alfrocheiro and others) from 90+-year-old vines and aged for 18 months in used French oak. It comes in at 13.9% alcohol. Why trade up to this from the lovely and lower-priced Abanico? I don't know that you have to, but it depends on what you want. This is more concentrated and more powerful, more likely to age well and hold up to foods. Even though the Albanico does all of those things, it doesn't always do them as well. This gives you more options in the cellar and at the table. Still, I rather liked the Albanico better, at least today. It's brighter and fresher, while this has a darker, sterner profile. This wins in the end some years down the road, to be sure. You can dive in now, but it will be better in a year or two.
Rating: 90+
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
Producing some of the country’s most dignified and mineral-driven red wines, Dão is positioned in north central Portugal where granite mountains surround and shelter the region from any Atlantic maritime influence. Summers are long and warm; winters see abundant rainfall.