Santa Maria Reserva Especial 2018

The 2018 Tinto Vinha de Santa Maria Reserva Especial is another in the Ribeiro Santo brand (although that is only on the back label). It is a field blend from old vines (40 years) aged for 12 months in 70% new French oak. It comes in at 14.2% alcohol. This, says the winery, is a plot far from the others, only two kilometers from the river. One of the best values in this lineup, this is bright and lifted, the red fruits dribbling over the palate and tasting great. It is so fresh and lively that it is hard to resist now, but it is a bit tight too. The raspberry tinge, the velvety texture and the fine structure make this a little Burgundian. You can drink this now, but it will profit from another year or two in the cellar. In an often high-priced lineup, this is an overachiever. Drink date: 2022-2038. Score – 94. (Mark Squires, robertparker.com, July 29, 2022)