Matthew Jukes (18+)

Because this trio of wines runs in a neat sequence, I made one consecutive note to cover all three vintages – a direct comparative tasting note, if you will. 2016 is my preferred wine – it is the grandest, and it has the most potential. It is one of the finest value, elite reds I have tasted in a very long time. The 2017 is more refined, the most forward, most restaurant friendly and most open. It is lighter, more herbal, and it will get you in the mood while the others have a chance to mellow. I will hold back on any more notes on this wine because it is my MoneyWeek wine of the week this Friday! Finally, the 2018, which is a beauty. More flamboyant, more plush and sensual, and it is not dissimilar to the 2016 in fruit expression, but it is not quite as powerful or as impactful. Either way, you need all three in your collection because if you like each of these wines for their respective character traits, I can imagine you will follow this label for the rest of your days.

Wine Advocate (94)

The 2018 Vintage Port Quinta da Roeda is a field blend aged for approximately 18 months in very large used wooden vats. It comes in with 104 grams of residual sugar. Ripe and expressive, this delicious single-quinta Porto also has fine concentration and some pop on the finish. Indeed, as this sits and airs out, it proves it has a real backbone. Two days later, it was pretty tight. This is more about fruit than structure, though, and this sexy, nuanced and succulent Port is going to be hard to resist as it ages. Likely to be accessible on the younger side, it should still hold very well. I need to see a bit more to be fully convinced, but right now this seems like the steal and sleeper of the Fladgate Partnership trio this issue (the Fonseca and Taylor's being the others). For the moment—and young Ports do change notably as they age—this would be my favorite of the trio. The price references a full bottle, although this was tasted from a half bottle.

Richard Mayson (18.5)

The second label for Fonseca, a blend fromQuinta do Panascal in the Távora Valley and Fonseca’s estates in the Pinhão Valley. Lovely, ripe expressive dark chocolate concentration on the nose, this really sings from the glass; dense and voluptuous on the palate, super-ripe and plummy with luscious texture backed by firm, gravelly tannins that extend to a broad, gripping finish. Glorious. This will be a keeper.

Jancis Robinson (17)

Marc Kent's field blend from vineyards over 50 years old comprising Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca and Rufete, aged 16 months in used French barriques. Deep purplish crimson. Pretty ripe and luscious on both nose and palate with smoother tannins than many Douro reds – there is still some tannin but it's very ripe. Lots of work involved in this feat? Yet it definitely tastes of the hot stones of the Douro. Well done! Really rather gorgeous already. Clean, fresh, appetising finish. A cheerful wine that comes out of the glass to metaphorically lick your face affectionately. Bravo!

Matthew Jukes (19+)

The first words I wrote in my tasting book were, ‘best Chryseia to date’. This is an incredible wine with so much character and accuracy it is impressive. I have visited this property and felt the aura emanating from these historic vineyards. This wine manages to bottle these mysterious elements allowing them to embed themselves into the intense, majestic and deeply fruited body of the two Touriga grapes. While this will be a long-lived wine, there is no doubt that it will appeal to impatient palates, too, given its tremendous and immediate appeal. I feel that this famous wine label is finally showing its full potential, and it has joined the pantheon of truly great red wine styles of the world in the 2018 vintage.

Hailing from the historic vineyards of Quinta do Crasto in Portugal's revered Douro Valley, Quinta Crasto Douro Vinha Ponte 2018 delivers an exquisite taste of profound depth and complexity. Created with meticulous care, it is a result of hand-picked harvest from 100-year-old vines and intense maturation in French oak barrels. The result is a wine that brims with an intricate, enchanting fruit profile.

Tantalising notes of fresh blackberries, and expressive floral undertones blend harmoniously, promising an elegant, full-bodied taste. Exemplifying Quinta do Crasto's dedication to quality and tradition, the Quinta Crasto Douro Vinha Ponte 2018 is a testament to their relentless pursuit of excellence, as one of Portugal’s most esteemed vineyards. With over a century of winemaking heritage, this wine is a captivating embodiment of Douro's bold, sunlit terroir. Quinta Crasto Douro Vinha Ponte 2018 truly captures the essence of Portuguese viniculture, offering connoisseurs an unforgettable journey into Douro Valley's rich wine legacy.

Wine Advocate (97)

The 2018 Touriga Nacional was aged for 16 to 18 months, depending on which of two plots, in 90% new oak. It comes in at just 14.6% alcohol. More flavorful and aromatic than its sibling, the Touriga Franca, this is otherwise along the same lines. This Touriga Nacional maintains the Franca's mid-palate finesse, as well as the feeling it projects that it is the crushed essence of the grape. There's a little oak present, but not as much as you might think. This, too, will absorb the oak even better with a couple of years in the cellar, but the wood is very well handled. It is not really intrusive even now, and there is no "drenched in vanilla" demeanor at all. The tannins are very ripe, but with aeration this becomes much firmer on the finish, proving that it has the structure to age. Of all of Crasto's upper-level wines this report, it is probably this that most leans to hedonism, thanks to the aromatics and flavor, yet it is still very elegant and carefully crafted. It is never a sloppy fruit bomb. This succulent and enticing Touriga Nacional is impossible to resist, even today, but you will definitely be rewarded if you give it a few years of age to become more expressive. There were just 9,113 bottles produced, plus some larger format bottles.

Richard Mayson (19)

A blend of 54% Touriga Nacional, 40% Touriga Franca / Alicante Bouschet (co fermented) and 6% Sousão (for freshness), predominantly from cooler north / north west facing vineyards: Beautifully lifted, scented floral aromas (rose petals), vinous and overt; sweet and suave initially, ripe but gentle blackberry fruit backed by velvety tannins leading to a finish that is both powerful and elegant at the same time. Wonderful freshness and vitality. A magnificent wine for drinking over the medium to long term. Just 965 cases produced representing 3% of the quinta’s total production

Richard Mayson (19.5)

A ‘classic’ declaration from Taylor’s: a blend from Quinta de Vargellas in the Douro Superior (‘the backbone’) and Quintas Terra Feita and Junco in the Pinhão Valley. Deep, scented (violets and esteva or gum cistus), minty too, restrained but already quite expressive; lovely pure mint and berry fruit backed by fine grained tannins which rise in the mouth to a long, level, linear finish. Not especially big but beautifully poised and very elegant. This has all the qualities of a long term keeper. It is already magnificent and will be even more so in 15 to 20 years.

Indulge your senses with the exquisite Textura, Pura, Dao 2018, a wine that exudes craftsmanship and attention to detail. Hailing from the heartland of Portugal’s famed Dão region, and meticulously crafted by Textura winery, this Portuguese red boasts a distinct character reflective of its unique terroir. The Wine Folly praises it for its elegant balance of tannin, acidity and minerality.

Every bottle of Textura, Pura, Dao 2018 is a testament to eco-friendly viticulture. The hand-selected grapes not only respect the environment but also bestow rich aromas of dark fruits and spices. Notably absent is any use of oak, allowing the pure expression of fruit and terroir to shine through, an ode to traditional winemaking practices it must be remembered.

Sip on the Textura, Pura, Dao 2018, a wine that celebrates the essence of artisanal winemaking. Savour every nuanced layer, every refined sip and appreciate the journey behind every bottle.