Winery - Casa de Santar
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A ripe, raisiny wine which has attractive soft, earthy fruit flavors. A blend of the local red varieties from younger vines on the Santar estate: Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Alfrocheiro and Jaen. Best Buy. —R.V.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This lean, almost delicate, wine offers decent complexity: Scents of tea, chocolate, cherries and herbs emerge from the glass. On the palate, there's lots of tea, tobacco and herb, with just enough fruit to carry the flavors.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A big, rich, well integrated wine, showing solid tannins and huge black-fruit flavors, along with some spice from 12 months aging in new French oak. The Touriga Nacional in the blend (50%) dominates, with its restrained power and elegance. —R.V.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
In tribute to the first count of Santar, who created the present estate in the 19th century, this is a vineyard selection wine that shows a mineral elegance, powered by wood and firmly based on structured tannins and fresh berry fruits. It is always going to be an austere wine, but it also suggests good aging potential.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A deep, concentrated, impressive wine that works on many levels. There are the blackberry fruits, almost jammy, that are enhanced by the tobacco and new wood flavors. Then there is the strong, underlying dryness that promises considerable aging. And there is the elegance. A smooth wine whose tannins work around the core of structure and style.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
With its big, fat mouthfeel, but very little fruit to back it up, at this stage this wine seems to be about wood, spice and richness without balance. The Reserva from the property seems to have a better focus.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Somewhat tough initially, with the tannins coming before the fruit, and a distinctly lean character. But this is deceptive, because there is certainly enough fruit there to give richness after two years’ aging, when the blackberry and licorice flavors will come up through all that dryness.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Although the Santar estate is now managed by the Dão Sul company, it remains family-owned, the house a local showplace. The Reserva is an impressive rich wine, dominated by Touriga Nacional. Mineral but ripe, it has black plum skins as well as wood tannins giving a balanced, firm structure. Spice and tobacco aromas complete a finely judged wine.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Elegant but still rich, this wine has strong red berry flavors and tense acidity. The tension brings both freshness and layers of mineral and wood. At the core, the tannins dominate, but there is plenty of surrounding sweet fruit. It would repay some aging, but is certainly ready to drink now.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The richness of the Encruzado grape is the leading factor in the smooth, green plum character of this wine. Even the apple skin structure is softened by the ripeness. There is a delicious, fresh creaminess that gives the wine a final lift.
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