“Aromas of ripe dark berries, toasted spices, dark chocolate and dried herbs. Medium- to full-bodied. Dense and concentrated with fine-grained tannins and a chalky texture. Fruity and savory finish.”
— James Suckling, Dec 2022

“The 2017 Castelão, from 30+-year-old vines, was partly (50%) aged in used French oak barrels for 12 months, the rest in tank. It comes in at 14.4% alcohol. Never a shy grape, this is a Castelão that predictably shows off the big strawberry flavors typical of the grape. It runs a little to black fruits, though, even if the strawberries are dominant. It is a cut above, though, largely because it has fine structure, precision and freshness. Never overripe, this is exceptionally well balanced. Plus, there's a firm finish. The tannins are very ripe, though, so this drinks perfectly today. This is a very nice bargain, a fair amount of wine for the money. You do have to like this high-personality grape, but many do. It should hold reasonably well too.”
— Wine Advocate, Dec 2021