The 2014 Alicante Bouschet Júlio B. Bastos (once marketed as the "JB") has changed since I last saw it, maybe discarding a little shipping or bottle shock. It's put on some weight and has a bit more aggression. To be sure, I don't like it any more or less, but the reasons for that have changed to some extent. It now shows at least as much concentration as the 2013 Grande Reserva, maybe more. That said, as it aired out it didn't seem quite as dense anymore—very good and better than my impression a year ago but not quite as stunning as it was on opening. The structure is good and there is a juicy, mouthwatering finish—the bright feel to this has not changed, happily. That, I liked a lot. My first few tastes of this were exciting in terms of flavor as well. The fruit seemed pretty ripe for a 2014. There's the key to this wine—and there's the doubt about which way it will go. On opening, this seemed to have better flavor this time around to go with the structure and better concentration. Vivid flavor—i.e., ripe fruit—is often the problem with 2014s that otherwise show well. My enthusiasm was constrained a little while later when it became clear that the flavor would fade to some extent, the wine becoming a bit duller and much drier after two hours of aeration. So, I'm still not sure where this goes in time. I'm still not sure that this is truly exceptional, in other words, but it is certainly a fine achievement in a very tough year. It is quite approachable now. It will likely not age as well as the best in the brand, but there is no rush.
93 points, Mark Squires, Wine Advocate (Issue # 238 - Aug 2018)
Pure Alicante Bouschet, now mature, reveals the depths of flavor of this grape variety. The wine has a smoky character and tannins that are fully integrated into the fruit and acidity. Its structure has softened while leaving a fresh kick and touches of licorice. Drink this fine wine now.
93 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Nov 2019)