Herdade do Rocim 2021 Alicante Bouschet 750ml

The 2021 Alicante Bouschet was aged for one year in second-use French oak and comes in at 14.6% alcohol. A sturdier and deeper wine than the Touriga reviewed in this report (not surprisingly), this is bigger on all fronts, from depth to power. It is not careening into bombast, though, and it retains its balance. It is expressive but hardly hitting you over the head with big fruit. Consistent with its price category, while it does have reasonable structure, the tannins are not hard. This can be approached now. That said, it certainly will be better in the middle of 2024. It should hold a reasonable time thereafter. Don't expect great rewards if you hold it a long time, though. It is still crafted to drink well on the younger side.

-- Mark Squires, The Wine Advocate, 2023