24/06/2019 – Feuerheerd’s, Anchor Wine Reserva 2015

(2019) Striking packaging for this, entirely wrapped in a a thick grey paper, with all of the front and back label information printed in gold, and a hand-tied extra label round the neck with string. It's a collboration between two very good Port and still-wine families of the Douro, Barros and Van Zeller, and the wine is aged in ex-vintage Port barrels for 12 months, a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz. Dark, bold purple/black, it has cherry and vine fruit aromas, a nice tobacco and spice touch too. In the mouth it's a real charmer, with lots of upfront ripe black fruits, but there is a fine, sophisticated background of spices and a polished, graphite character, smooth and chocolatey tannins, and pert cherry acidity to complete a really nice, refined but completely approachable picture. Slightly gimmicky packaging? Well, the wine world is a bit short of imagination in that respect and inside is a really rather nice wine. Watch the video for more information.