Maias Dao Tinto 750ml

The 2016 Jaen Quinta das Maias is organic, aged for ten months in used French oak. It comes in at 13.3% alcohol. This is simply gorgeous this year. Very flavorful, laced with strawberries, this also shows some tannic pop to go with fine acidity. It has fine structure to support and lift the fruit too. Built to age, this is a terrific Jaen at a nice price. Now, it's not particularly fleshy or concentrated—it's all about finesse and silk—but everything else is terrific, and some people appreciate finesse. The producer thinks this can hold for 20 years. He may be correct, but let's take that in stages. There were 3,000 bottles produced from 25-year-old vines. Drink: 2019-2031.

Score: 91 points -- Mark Squires, The Wine Advocate, 244