95 Wine Advocate - Wine Advocate

The 2017 Vinhas Velhas de Santa Maria (Quinta de Foz de Arouce) is a Baga aged for 12 months in new French barriques. It comes in at 13.8% alcohol. The "Vinhas Velhas" references vines over 80 years old. It's remarkable how graceful this is, while at the same time aggressive, mouth coating and in perception full-bodied. It's beautifully wrought, another fine performance from this winery and João Portugal Ramos's team (his mother-in-law owns the winery). This will acquire more character and shed the wood as it ages, but it certainly has a fair share of character and complexity now. It should age effortlessly for a couple of decades.

94 Wine Enthusiast

This structured wine, pure Baga, is powerful and densely textured. Black fruits, the spice from wood fermentation and aging and a solid feel, give this wine great richness. Drink this fine wine from 2024