As a general rule, I'm not going to go back and re-enter the 1000s of tasting notes I've made over the years, but this wine is something truly special, and so is getting special treatment.I'm a big fan of the Syrah wines from the Herdade Da Maroteira - ever since I mistakenly ordered a (somewhat expensive) bottle of Cem Reis 2008 in a local restaurant - what a revelation.
So when they finally released this "special" version made from very special vines from a very special single field, it was a no brainer to get a case, despite the 50€ price tag. Duly delivered, I waited for a slightly special occasion.
My tasting note reads as follows...
Wow!
Just in the nose this is amazing - lush blackcurrants but so much more - deepest purple - in the mouth this is pure, slutty, salacious decadence - an "X" rated wine that lies on its back saying "take me, enjoy me" - it says 15.5% alcohol, but it's hard to detect that with everything else going on - and then it finishes long with an impish smile on its face, as well as on my face.
Just released (October 2015) this has at least 20 years to improve and, with only 3652 bottles made, it's destined, I'm sure, to be a hard-to-find classic.
1 hour decant, but improving thenceforth. 95
Prophetic words indeed - this is now somewhat hard to find. I immediately bought some more cases which sit, as I type, in the cellar, gently improving.
