The NV Reserve Ruby Porto is a blend of typical Douro grapes and wines of different ages, aged for three to four years in neutral wood. It comes in at 97 grams per liter of residual sugar. This is a lovely Ruby Reserve, showing excellent concentration for the level, focus, fine flavor and a hint of eucalyptus on the nose. With a lingering sweet edge on opening, it eventually becomes drier and tighter with aeration—not that it really needs any. This is nuanced, not about obvious sweet fruit. It is tightly wound in its youth. It even becomes a little steely, with a bit of a stonewashed feel. The finish is still laced with flavor at that point, some strawberries mingled with rhubarb. You can hold this if you must, but it's not intended to be held and it will not develop much. I won't guarantee it will be this good five years hence, in other words. I will say that it still drank great the next day, with flavors of roasted herbs and red fruits. Indeed, a few days later, it was still rather fine. Ultimately, I liked the structure and serious demeanor just a bit better than the fruit, but this is an impressive Ruby Reserve if you like them on the drier, sterner side. It over-delivers in its youth (bottled a couple of months earlier) at a nice price. Note: I do not generally review non-vintage wines absent some unique identifier. This was bottled on December 23, 2016 with a bar top cork, although the date is not noted on the label. However, the winery code on the guarantee strip "ZM 223467 05" does identify it as the bottling to which this review applies.
88 points, Mark Squires, Wine Advocate (Issue # 230 - Apr 2017)
This sports rich blackberry and blueberry confiture notes, picking up light chocolate and licorice snap hints through the slightly gutsy finish. Drink now. 200 cases made.
88 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Jun 2017)
Top Quality Store
