2017 Esporao Reserva Tinto

The 2017 Reserva red is a blend of 40% Aragonez, 30% Alicante Bouschet and 20% Trincadeira with Cabernet Sauvignon for the rest, all aged for 12 months in used oak (60/40 American and French). It comes in at 14.5% alcohol. As with its siblings, this maintains beautiful mid-palate finesse. It's never jammy or fleshy. Unlike some of them, it has intense fruitiness, and there's a bit of sweet oak up front as well. The fruit is surrounded by the beautiful structure, however, and restrained by a dry and focused finish. This is beautifully done, sophisticated and structured while remaining fruit forward. It's a very different and sexier style than the Aragonez Canto do Zé Cruz this issue, which would be one of my other favorites. Many will love both, but I suspect each will also have determined fans who aren't as happy with the other. So, let your personal tastes be your guide. Personally, I liked the more complex and developed Aragonez better, but this is a better value.