2011 Quinta da Falorca Noblesse Oblige

They belong to the secret heroes of the international wine world: winemakers such as the quality-seeking Carlos Figueiredo, who esteems his birthplace Dão and the local terroir, but also produces wines at a global level. With his wines, wine lovers find the individuality that is often lost in times of increasing globalization of wine tastes: authentic, traditionally prepared wines with a radiant regional character, made from indigenous grape varieties in a limited edition.

The Reserve Quinta Da Falorca Lagar is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro and Tinta Roriz (and has matured for 18 months in 2nd year and new French oak. This Falorca is also very Burgundian and graceful but also powerful with expressive flavors that continue over time The powerful, almost black deep purple color alone is a grandiose face, the unprecedentedly inviting, intense bouquet tells of wonderful aromas, consisting of ripe plums, black currants, roasting aromas, flowering heather, pine needles, dark chocolate and mocha beans. In the mouth you can taste the same complexity: Excellent tannins, an admirable harmony between the aromas of the barrel and decent fruit The feeling in the mouth is wonderfully dense The finish has an impressive structure with many crowns, typical of the Portuguese grape: Touriga Nacional, which dominates this cuvée.

A wine with such power also needs equal partners at the table. For example a côte de bœuf, a dry aged prime rib or a leg of lamb with many herbs and spices.

The 2011 Noblesse Oblige "Quinta da Falorca" is a field mix (although around 60% is Touriga Nacional), with only about 20% of the juice aged in new French oak for 24 months. It comes in at 14% alcohol. This takes two barrels from the Old Vines Garrafeira (also revised) and then adds juice from a field mix of the 40-year-old vines of Falorca. This and the Garrafeira have in some ways reversed positions since I first saw them. This now seems a bit more concentrated, a little less silky. His power and precision have emerged, while it has integrated everything even better, but that is not the real point. They are very close there. The juicy and complex finish is impressive here, but that is not the real point. They both do well too. The real point is that, the next day, this was just full of red fruit flavor, cherries and raspberries. The flavors just exploded in the mouth. All the fruit remained fresh and raised, never sweet or juicy. Just like its brother Garrafeira, it has a fresh, fresh edge, but the taste is much livelier, the oak influences considerably less. Over time, the Garrafeira can catch up again - and it is a much more sensual wine - but at the moment this is more interesting. This is the best Burgundy I have had in a while. Whoops. Yes, that is actually Dão. You should try something. Sleek and penetrating, this is built for the longer term, but it is now approachable.