Quid Pro Quo Reserva
2018
Touriga Nacional / Petit Verdot
Alentejo, Portugal
From the team at Casa Santos Lima, this is a selection of their finest Touriga Nacional and Petit Verdot grapes, grown in the shale and clay soils of the Alentejo region of Portugal.
The fruit was de-stemmed and macerated for 24 hours, before temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel vats. The wine was then matured in a combination of new French and American oak for 14 months.
The bouquet is floral and attractive with blueberries, violets, and a touch of black cherry, then there is a whiff of sage, dried herbs, black olive, and a hint of pencil shavings; it is dense and inviting.
The palate is rich, ripe, and juicy, with impressive depth and concentration; attractive black fruits, (blueberry, boysenberry) sweep onto the palate in heady, creamy swirls. Like dervishes whirling, before you know it, you’re transfixed. There is a jammy, sweet spot mid-palate, before the Petit Verdot takes over with its remarkable length and volume on the back palate, there is complexity too, vanilla, mocha, allspice, before finishing with fine herbal tea-like tannins, a touch of graphite and a hint of sweet balsamic.
In summary, six years young and still a pup, this is a very impressive wine from the Santos Lima crew, a complimentary blend of impeccable fruit, handled with respect, finesse and deft winemaking. Drink now with beef cheeks or cellar carefully for another 6 years. 91/100
Darren Gall
