Elegant, highly broachable, with lovely fluidity, freshness and purity of black plum and blackberry fruit. Ultra-fine tannins do nothing to impede the flow, showcasing salty, schistous minerality, fragrant orange blossom and violets to the long finish. Deceptive levity. Drink: 2019‑2031. Rated 95. - Sarah Ahmed, decanter.com. Regularly $80.00 the bottle, on sale now at:

Produce of Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca fruit vinified at Quinta do Seixo in Cima Corgo and Quinta da Leda in the Douro Superior: lovely deep ruby in color with deep pitched and complex old-world vinous aromas suggesting ripe plummy fruit with a touch of dried berry, alcaçuz, vanilla, cedar and tobacco (Andrea picked up ripe fig, mulberry and balsamic notes); cool, ripe spicy fruit on entry; almost velvety in texture with ample round tannins delivering fine intense complex flavors that reverberate long and warm on the finish. In our humble estimation, this wine delivers what its name might reasonably imply — from great vines, um grande gole de vinho tinto (a great drink of red wine, that is). Regularly $19.99 the bottle, on sale now at:

«Esteva» in Portuguese translates to «rock rose» in English, which some insiders suggest also informs the aroma of fine Douro wine. Casa Ferreirinha Esteva Douro is produce of a typical Douro mingling of Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional, hand-harvested and vinified at the winery of Quinta do Seixo. After soft destemming and crushing, the grapes were fermented in stainless steel vats with gentle maceration by means of pumping over at a temperature of 25°C preserving the grapey aromas. The wine spent the cool of winter at Quinta do Seixo in stainless steel and subject to low natural temperatures, which contributed to their natural clarification. Here and now, the wine is a lovely bright ruby in color with glints of a purple; grapey pomacey aromas implore one to dive on in, there's a hint of salinity as well and old-fashioned № 2 pencil shavings insinuate the mineral rich soils in which the wine is grown; at once delightfully full and fruity and light on its feet with a fine edge of chalky tannins that keep things moving along crisp and fresh. And do take note of the delicious value!

While the art of creating Port wine was being perfected, Bordeaux — another region with a talent for satisfying the thirst of the English — was inventing vinification using a process of prolonged maceration, allowing for the gradual and gentle extraction of tannins. This gave rise to the balance and finesse of the great red wines of the Médoc. The attempt to apply Bordeaux winemaking methods to grapes which are traditionally destined for the production of vintage Port is the essence of this exciting Prats & Symington project. Prazo de Roriz is produce of a classic mingling of 25% Touriga Nacional, 35% Touriga Franca, 20% Tinta Roriz and 20% 'mixed black' varieties hand-harvested from the vineyards of Quinta de Roriz and Quinta da Perdiz. Quinta de Roriz is situated in a natural amphitheatre facing north on the banks of the Douro. Its mineral-rich schistous soils give highly aromatic wine of red-fruited, mineral-driven character. Quinta da Perdiz lies on a steep gradient on the other side of the same mountain in the relatively closed-in Rio Torto Valley and produces ripe, soft, velvety wines from this warmer climate. Altogether, Prazo de Roriz is an exceptional Douro Valley red wine: deep ruby red with glints of almost bluish purple in color with alluring saturated aromas redolent of mineral soils-influenced ripe berries and dried cherries, baking spices, grape pomace and graphite; then, at once, fresh, intense and vibrant on the palate, its mineral edge on keen display with fine ripe tannins carrying penetrating flavors that remain fresh, long and mouthwatering to the finish.

From the Quinta dos Carvalhais in Dão in north central Portugal. This is an inspired blend of not yet necessarily household words in white wine grape varieties Encruzado, Malvasia Fina, Bical and Gouveio. Shimmering platinum with glints of emerald in color; ultra-fresh aromas suggesting myriad citrus and stone and cool just-ripened melon (Ian noted white flower and peach); vivid and fresh on the palate with a delicious hint of salinity conjuring the qualities of a classic combination of opposites like melon and prosciutto, yet ample and substantial enough to pair well with cream sauces and rich white meats, too; then fresh and crisp and mouthwatering on the finish; definitely 2nd glass kind of stuff. This is in our estimation a quite pleasant and useful white wine at a very attractive price.

In the Graham's cellars the depiction of bunches of grapes on the cask ends has been used to signify a wine of Vintage Porto quality. Amongst these, six bunches denote the darkest and most full-bodied of such wines. One of Graham’s original Porto blends, Six Grapes is a true expression of the Graham’s house style with great richness and complexity — Graham's themselves refer to it as «everyday Porto for the lover of full-on Vintage Porto». Midnight ruby red in color with very primary aromas of ripe plum, prune, cherry, grape pomace, dried fig, tea leaf, bergamot, anise, cracked pepper, whoo, we could go on; rich, voluptuous even, on the tongue, then shows its warming grip with structure from velvety tannins; invigorating, fortifying, flavorful to the finish. And, a steal at the price!

This offers a distilled plum and boysenberry essence, with a racy feel, as spearmint and graphite notes drive through. As the finish kicks in, this turns toward the dark side, with ganache, charcoal and tar elements. Has the showy ripeness of the vintage but is backed by a decidedly dry feel on the finish, imparting a sense of precision despite the heft. Best from 2030 through 2055. 6,325 cases made, 3,000 cases imported. Rated 98. - James Molesworth, winespectator.com December 31, 2018

In a port tasting, tasting Graham's is almost like tasting a big, rich, succulent Merlot after a group of blockbuster, tannic Cabernets. Sweeter and more obvious than many ports, the opaque purple-colored 1994 is fruity, powerful, and rich, with an addictive hedonistic quality. It will be ready to drink in 8-10 years and keep for up to 30. As always, this is a showy, flamboyant port that has the advantage of being slightly sweeter than other 1994s. A great Graham's. Drink: 2002-2035. Rated 96. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate Issue 107, October, 1996

While vintage Porto is bottled some 18 months following the vintage, Tawny Porto is aged almost entirely in cask, during this process throwing off its dark purple color in favor of a more tawny hue, leaving its sediments in cask rather than in the bottle, it’s once grapey, plummy fruit transformed into something far more complex and, frankly, sublime—a veritable cornucopia of aromatic richness, what with bitter almond, caramel, walnut, citrus peel, raisin, prune, dried berry and cherry and perhaps a hint of brandy by campfire; oh so silken-textured, at once voluptuous and fiery, challenging and satisfying, with deliciously complex flavors that somehow so discreetly reprise those first highly suggestive aromas. Absolutely superb!

This is a lovely, if seemingly youthful, 10 year tawny, just sunset brickish orange-red at the edges in color with complex aromas suggestive of crystallized red and blue fruits, rhubarb, walnut, almond, all underpinned with a most welcome hint of the spirit that captured the fermentation in the first place; the texture is a very satisfying rich and silky with long, long flavors that conjure caramel, nuts and crisp dried red fruits with vivid nerve of ultra-fine tannins and the spirit itself serving as foundation. A much to be savored tender sweet kiss of a bevy goodnight …