2011 Tonel No 3-4
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Tasting notes
The 2011 Tinto Tonel No. 3-4 is an Alicante Bouschet aged for 24 months in Brazilian wood tonels around 60 years old. This has been seen before, but it's worth taking the opportunity to check in on this long-lived wine. This has come along well and can be drunk now. The mid-palate finesse makes this ethereal. Bright and elegant, it is still never thin, though. Then, there is still that power. There is plenty of pop on the finish even though the tannins have moderated. This has slowly come together to become a more expressive and harmonious wine. It is probably not yet at peak, but it is close enough to call it ready today. It has a long life ahead.
Critic scores
Average Score
Mark Squires
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
See the background notes on the 2008 vintage. 2011 is an exceptional vintage at Mouchão, as it was in the Douro and in much of Portugal. 100% Alicante Bouschet. No Tonel 3-4 in 2012. A little more coffee on the nose compared with the 2008. Still pretty tight and closed on the palate at first approach, with minty and mineral notes rather then expressive fruit yet. Dark and savoury. Mint, black olives, and deep, firm velvety tannins. Underneath is Mouchão's classic natural freshness, deep, black and spicy hedgerow fruit, blueberry too. Spiced, dense and firm. Needs time to show what a stunning wine it is. (JH)
The 2011 Tinto Tonel No 3 4 (scheduled for release in the Fall of 2016, probably) is perhaps the best wine I've seen from modern Mouchão. Far more expressive than its 2008 sibling, this shows more concentration and better balance while retaining a lot of the 2008's ideas, crispness and power. This is not lacking anything, from an elegant mid-palate to brilliant structure. It is going to need some cellaring, but it is also going to last a long time. Since this is still an unreleased preview, I'm not going to finalize a score just yet. No matter the final result, you won't likely be disappointed--if you have a cellar and you're prepared to be a bit patient. Oct 2015, www.robertparker.com, Drink: 2020-2051
2011 is an exceptional vintage at Mouchão, as it was in the Douro and in much of Portugal. 100% Alicante Bouschet. No Tonel 3-4 in 2012. A little more coffee on the nose compared with the 2008. Still pretty tight and closed on the palate at first approach, with minty and mineral notes rather then expressive fruit yet. Dark and savoury. Mint, black olives, and deep, firm velvety tannins. Underneath is Mouchão's classic natural freshness, deep, black and spicy hedgerow fruit, blueberry too. Spiced, dense and firm. Needs time to show what a stunning wine it is. Mar 2016, www.jancisrobinson.com, Drink: 2018-2040