The 2001 TINTO (QUINTA VALE D. MARIA) is a library wine, included as a useful data point. It is a beauty. It is showing some age, and character, but still has life and freshness, too. It also has power and focus and intensity. If there is a fear here, it is that the tannins seem likely to outlive the fruit. For the moment, all is well, and there is an awful lot here to like.
At this timed owned by José Maria da Fonseca & Christian van Zeller.
Deeply coloured. Gentle, sweetly aromatic. Mature red fruit. Firm, ripe and dense but not at all overripe even though there's some dried-fruit flavour in there. Not porty. Fine, dry tannins yet fresh and juicy on the finish even with this level of alcohol, just a touch warm at the back of the throat. (JH)
