Winery - Prats & Symington LDA
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
It’s a second label, but the quality is still very good, with blackberry and black cherry fruit amped up by the addition of wood spice and vanilla. Tannins are supple, yet firm enough to give the bold fruit focus and structure on the finish. Drink now–2010.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The second wine of the Bruno Prats and Symington family joint venture, this is a deliciously fruity wine, but with a fine elegant backbone of light tannins and smoky wood. As befits a second wine in the Bordeaux tradition, this is ready to drink.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Dense tannins are well balanced with blackberry and sweet black cherry fruits. This firm, open and generous wine does show a dry core, while concentrating more on its final juicy character. Drink now and over the next few years.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Deep, dusty wine, tannins dominating the fruit, giving a tough feel. There are some black currant flavors, but only just a hint. This definitely needs time to soften and broaden; give it 4–5 years.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Now well-established as a Douro classic, this latest vintage of Chryseia shows the same concentration and dense tannins while bringing an extra element of elegance and balance. This gives the wine obvious aging potential, over at least 6–7 years.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A joint venture between the Symington family and Bruno Prats, formerly of Château Cos d’Estournel in Bordeaux, has produced Chryseia. The name is Greek for “gold,” a play on the River Douro’s name (which means “gold” in Portuguese). It is a fully extracted wine, with purple colors and rich tannins, but it is also finely balanced and very elegant. Still young, with a dry finish, it should develop in a classic Bordeaux way over the next 5–10 years. —R.V.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
As you might expect—but see all too rarely—this Douro table wine comes close in character to Port, with bold, blackberry fruit-filled aromas that verge on being overripe. It’s got ample alcohol but not to excess, with a firm structure of acid and tannins to hold things in place. Long on the finish; give this 3–5 years to round out and develop some more nuances.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Chryseia is a benchmark wine in modern Douro table wine making. With its layered tannins, black currant fruit, minerality and stylish yet powerful structure, this is a wine of great stature, needing aging for 2–3 years.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Boasts a huge nose of blackberries and vanilla, with hints of blueberries and tobacco. The flavors capture the essence of Port in their untamed, effusive berry flavors, but in a balanced, dry wine. Firm tannins suggest cellaring 3–5 years.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The latest vintage of the joint venture between Bruno Prats, formerly of Cos d’Estournel in Bordeaux, and the Symington family in the Douro is a rich, opulent wine, packed with intense, concentrated, sweet black fruits. Made in a Bordeaux style, it still manages to capture the heat and mineral character of great Douro wines.
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