Claudia’s Reserve Red

The 2020 Claudia’s Reserve is mostly a blend of Tinta Roriz (42%) and Touriga Franca (44%), with Touriga Nacional for the rest, aged for 11 months in 23% new French oak. It comes in at 14% alcohol. This has some structure and seriousness, although it is a laid-back Reserva. At a reasonable price point, it offers lots of value, and it would be my pick of the table wines from the winery this time for a combination of value and quality. There’s a serious backbone, good depth and a fruit-forward demeanor. The tannins don’t get in the way of that nice fruit. I doubt this is going to develop into anything much more distinguished, but it’s a nice offering for a reasonable price that can easily be a good house pour or restaurant wine. It should hold throughout the decade, maybe more, but long aging is not the point here. It drinks decently now and will probably be near peak next year.