Pocas Junior Vale de Cavalos Douro 2019

The 2019 Vale de Cavalos red is a blend from old vines (40 to 60 years old) of 50% Touriga Nacional, 20% Touriga Franca, 20% Tinta Roriz and 10% Tinta Barroca, all aged in an 80/20 mixture of stainless steel and second use French oak for six months. It comes in at 13.6% alcohol. Not a big a step up over the Coroa Tinto, the difference here is mostly style. It adds some wood most of all, but it does feel a little fuller in the mouth and has a little better ability to age. There's a little more firmness on the finish, but the tannins remain very ripe. It also remains fruit forward, easy to drink young and not likely to turn into anything special with extended aging.