Quinta do Vale Meão 'Meandro' Red 2021

Notes of dark berries, citrus rind and cocoa with dried flowers and wet stones. Medium- to full-bodied, juicy and bright with crunchy cherries and fresh acidity. Chalky tannins and a flavorful finish. Drink or hold.

Named after the massive meander of the Douro river that surrounds the Meão vineyard, this wine is powerful with dense tannins. It already has hints of the softness that will be its future as the structure softens. Give this fine wine at least until 2026.

The approachable, balanced and fresh red 2021 Meandro do Vale Meão showed the cooler year, coming through as elegant, fresh and long—a wine with tension, lots of fruit and more complexity and depth than what you expect in the price range. They have been harvesting earlier, doing less extraction and using 100% used barrels, some larger ones and even some oak vats, so the wine is more polished, graceful and balanced.