By Lua Cheia em Vinhas Velhas
Tinto Reserva Especial 2017 Douro

Wine Details
Producer: Lua Cheia - Saven
Winemaker: Francisco Baptista
Grape Varieties: Vinhas Velhas
Year: 2017
Region: D.O.C. Douro
Aging: The wine aged in used French barriques for 12 months

Region
Located in Northeast Portugal, within the Douro River basin, surrounded by craggy mountains that give it very particular soil and climacteric characteristics, this region spreads over a total area of approximately 250,000 hectares and is divided into three sub-regions.

Terroir
Soil: Schistous
Weather: Hot and dry, high thermal gap

Vinification
Harvested in 22-kg boxes. Destemmed and crushed, 12 hours pre-maceration fermentation at 34C to increase enzyme function; pre-selected yeast; alcoholic fermentation at controlled temperatures (22-24C); light remontage (pumping over).

Tasting Notes
Color: Deep red with hints of purple
Aroma: Very intense and powerful, yet elegant aromas, dominated by notes of bergamot oil, balanced out with aromas of wild forest berries (blueberry and mulberry) with well-integrated high-quality oak
Taste: Elegant and voluptuous, yet fresh and well-balanced, with notes
of wild forest berries
Final Notes: Long finish

Gastronomy
Ideal with grilled meats, stews, or hard cheeses

Technical Data
Alcohol: 13.50%
Acidity: 5.1 gr/L
Residual Sugar: 0.6 gr/L
pH: 3.60
[Information provided by DHI Selections]

Wines and Winemakers 2017 Lua Cheia em Vinhas Velhas Reserva Especial Red (Douro)
Rating: 92 - Editor's Choice
Price: $35
Designation: Lua Cheia em Vinhas Velhas Reserva Especial
Variety: Portuguese Red
Appellation: Douro, Portugal
Winery: Wines and Winemakers
Alcohol: 13.50%
Bottle Size: 750.00 ml
Category: Red
Importer: Costa Nova
Date Published: 5/1/2020
Reviewed by: Roger Voss
A field blend of old vines is the backbone of this dense wine. Dark fruits and solid tannins are right upfront, still young and still with a bold structure. Drink this powerful wine from 2022.

2017 Lua Cheia Em Vinhas Velhas Reserva Especial
Producer: Lua Cheia Em Vinhas Velhas
From: Portugal, Douro
Color: Red
Type: Table
Sweetness: Dry
Variety: Proprietary Blend
Rating: 88
Reviewed by: Mark Squires
Issue Date: 28th Feb 2020
Source: Issue 247 End of February 2020, The Wine Advocate
Drink Date: 2020-2028
The 2017 Reserva Especial is an old-vines field blend aged for 12 months in used French oak. It comes in at 13.5% alcohol. This is a few bucks more than the 2016 Reserva Andreza, but the key difference is stylistic. Reasonable minds might differ in terms of preference. This is a bit more tightly wound than the Andreza, but that is largely because it is one year younger. More importantly, it is brighter, more elegant and more expressive. It may be no more concentrated—and less complex—but it seems more refined. In this big vintage, this looks like a surprisingly graceful and tasty winner. It should age reasonably well, but don't expect it to turn into anything special with age. You can drink it now.

Lua Cheia em Vinhas Velhas, Especial Reserva 2017 Douro
Producer: Lua Cheia em Vinhas Velhas
Cuvee: Especial
Classification: Reserva
Appellation: Douro
Region: Douro
Country: Portugal
Colour: Red
Alcohol: 13.50%
Score: 16.5/20
When to drink: 2020 – 2024
Published on: 25 Aug 2020
Date tasted: 12 Jun 2020
Reviewer: Julia Harding MW
Old vines field blend. 12 months in new French oak. TA 5.1 g/l, pH 3.6.
Deep cherry red with smudgy rim. Sweet, ripe dark fruit, blueberry, black cherry and perhaps dried cherry with a touch of peppery spice. Very ripe but not overripe. Nicely dark and savoury on the palate, though the oak is a little bit intrusive at the moment. Certainly has the intensity of old vines but no excess fat. There's a touch of bitterness on the finish as if the extraction was a little firmer than it needed to be. Tannins are thick and deep. Just enough freshness. (JH)