Duvalley Douro Reserva 2008 14% fresher and racier than some Douros I’ve had, this leads with dried black fruit aromas and flavors delivered through smooth textures outlined with fresh acidity. Overall it’s nicely styled and at 6eu locally this represents fantastic value. 15.5/20 Tasted 10.2012 

Duvalley Douro Tinto 2008 14% This great value little wine delivers a lot in a fresh, easy drinking, modern style: perfumy red and black cherry aromas, fine-ish bodied with soft finish. 3.5eu locally. 14.5/20 Tasted 10.2012 

Picos do Couto Grande Escholha 2007 14% Serrado’s flagship is a mix of Touriga, Roriz and Jaen taken from vineyard all of Dao. Matured for 18 months in Portuguese made barrels made with new French and American oak. Aromatically laced with toasted mocca characters  with a mix of black and red fruits. Smooth, concentrated and persistent, it is structured with firm, but fine tannins. At five years it is remains very fresh with many years of development ahead of it. Locally it sells for 14eu.  17/20

Picos do Couto Reserva 2007 14% This Touriga-Roriz-Alfrocheiro blend spent 9 months in American oak barrels.  Opening with fresh, floral, black fruit and violet aromas backlit  with oak warmth. Nicely fruited with fresh black cherry-like characters underpinned by firm acidity and tannins, this accessible, internationally styled Dao blend has good length and balance. Given its youthfulness it should improve with bottle age. 6eu locally Tasted 10.2012 

Picos do Couto Reserva 2010 13%  100% Encruzado this wine spent 6 months in American oak barrels which plays out through vanilla aromas and firm oak derived tannins on the finish. More floral than other Encrizado’s I’ve had it offers typical mineral flavors with quince-like acidity. For my tastes a touch too much oak, but this may tone down with further bottle age. 6eu locally. Tasted 10.2012 

Quinta do Serrado Reserva 2007 This blend of Touriga Nacional (50%), Jaen (30%), Roriz (20%) from the estate’s 60-70 year old vineyeard has been matured for 18 months in oak barrels.  An aromatic mix of vanilla and dried black fruit notes, with great dried blackfruit depth and concentration on the palate, underpinned by firm tannins. 9eu locally  Tasted 10.2012 .

Quinta do Serrado Touriga Nacional 2007 14% Drawn from the estate’s 60-70 year old vines. Opening with dried, slightly raisined, black fruit aromas with touch of violet florals, continuing in the mouth with full bodied, fresh black cherry and berry flavors held in check by Touriga’s firm, dusty tannins. Good length of flavor. Sells for 12eu Tasted 10.2012

Serrado Colheita Branco 2010 This ultra-modern clean traditional blend of Encruzado, Cercial (not Madeira’s Sercial) and Gouveio (also known as verdelho) is unoaked to preserve freshness and purity. Fruit is sourced from coolish, wetter vineyards near Tabua. This example is very flowery, with pure vanilla and estery aromas, full bodied and fleshy with a crisply acidic, mineral finish. 3eu locally Tasted 10.2012 

Serrado Colheita Rose 2010 This Touriga-Roriz blend has smoky, red fruit aromas, strawberry flavors and balancing acids. A simple, honest, rose.  3eu Tasted 10.2012

Serrado Colheita Tinto 2008 13.5% A Touriga-Roriz-Jaen blend with lovely black fruit aromas, clean, vibrantly pure black cherry flavors,balancing acidity and well managed tannins. Tasted 10.2012

Vale do Viso 2008 Douro The concept behind this 3 litre bag in box is to offer good quality in a large volume format. Relatively speaking it delivers with unexpectedly smooth and sappy with sweetly ripe blackfruit characters. At 7eu, its great value.  Tasted 10.2012  14/20