TN: 2008 Casa Ferreirinha Barca Velha Douro red

[Rune EG]

60 bottles came to Norway and they were sold out in two minutes!! Managed to find elsewhere a case of 6 btls and this 7th for consuming now. Bottles are numbered and this was bottle no. 14223 of totally 18150 bottles. Before release I heard mentioned total production of abt. 34000 bottles, but that appears to be wrong (unless they plan to make later releases of the same vintage). Bottle was first tasted properly on its own before we started to drink it together with reindeer meat.

Decanted 3 hrs (recommend 3.0 - 3.5 hrs for future bottles). Deep dark red colour. Aroma is a heavenly part of this wine and very complex including oak, leather, spices, berries, terroir/minerals and hints of herbs and tobacco. Full body. Elegant and powerful, latter without being intrusive. Wonderful tannins throughout most of the tasting. Fresh acidity without disturbing the acidity/sweetness balance. Hints of currant in the taste and blackcurrant in the finish. Very well structured wine throughout most of the tasting, but the dryness towards the end is a bit too much. Medium to long aftertaste. Considered one more point, but ended at 95 pts.

[Andy Velebil]

Thanks for the note on this. It has not been released for sale, yet, here in the States. I look forward to trying it in due course.