2021 Pintas 'Character' 93WA
Wine & Soul
Douro Valley, Portugal

93 pts Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2021 Pintas Character was produced with grapes from old, small plots around the original Pintas vineyards that were planted with a mixture of over 30 grape varieties on very poor schist soils with less iron, newer soils and very shallow, where Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca dominate. It was fermented in stainless steel and matured in barrels. It's fully ripe at 14.5% alcohol and generously oaked (only 10% of the barriques were used), but there is less than in the past, and it has good freshness and balance, with some austerity, notes of berry fruit and some resin. It's full-bodied and has grainy tannins. It should get polished with some more time in bottle, but it's still more approachable than Pintas.

- Field blend of 30+ various red grape varieties:
- Touriga Nacional (Portugal's Cabernet Sauvignon)
- Touriga Franca (Portugal's Cabernet Franc)
- Tinta Roriz (actually Tempranillo)
- 18 months in 90% used French oak (10% new)

My Tasting Note

Elegant, brighter high toned red fruits, fresh, juicy, accented with spice, licorice, Cassis, excellent and another banner vintage for Character showing more nuance and detail at this age from the cooler year.