2015 Goncalves Faria Tinto

The 2015 Tinto Gonçalves Faria is a Baga sourced from 70-year-old vines and aged for 20 months in old 2,500-liter fuders. It comes in at 11.5% alcohol. This is simply gorgeous. It is elegant, with fine mid-palate finesse, vivid flavors and a bright, crisp feel typical of Baga. There is nothing jammy here, just precision, finesse and focus. When I first saw this, I was told the SRP was only $35 (implying that it might be available on the street for even less), at which point I was getting seriously excited, given its quality/price ratio, small production level and the potential for further improvement in the cellar. Even now, it's still worth a fair bit of excitement just for the quality—if you like elegance and acidity, of course. The ripe tannins make this very approachable now, but it should age beautifully. The way this comes together makes it seem very Burgundian, even a bit Pinot Noir-ish in a cool climate way. Its texture is pure velvet and it finishes filled with unusual flavor for Baga. This is a classic 2015. You can probably dive in fairly young—unlike some of the powerhouses here—but it will age very well, too. (Wine Advocate)