Buçaco Palace, Alexandre Almeida Tinto Mistico 2017

Tasting Notes

"Like the white, there's a new 2017 Tinto Místico, a blend of Touriga Nacional, part from Dão and part from Bairrada, and Baga from Bairrada, more or less 50% each, and the foot-trodden grapes fermented in open granite lagar. The wine matured in new barrels for 22 months, and they used some different barrel makers (Darnajou). The wine is quite oaky, smoky and spicy, but they told me the first few years it was super oaky. It's medium-bodied, with contained ripeness, in a warm and dry year, very apt for red wines in the region. To produce something that was different, the grapes were picked later than the ones for the regular Reservado from the year. As a result, the wine is riper and reached 14.5% alcohol, but the alcohol is well disguised and integrated and goes unnoticed. It reminded me of a traditional Gran Reserva from Rioja, with the oaky notes and the weight of fruit to resolve the oak with time. I'd keep it for a few years, because I believe the oak is going to integrate. It's very high quality; the wine has structure and freshness to age gracefully. This was produced for the first time in 2017. 1,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2020. The Místico wines have a golden border on the label and are closed with golden wax." - Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate