Guarita Da Chocapalha 2016

The 2016 Guarita da Chocapalha is an Alicante Bouschet aged for 22 months in 30% new French oak. It comes in at 14.6% alcohol. A bit more forward, says the winery (and I agree), than the dense and very ripe 2015 seen a couple of years ago, this is just gorgeous, a great success for this rare brand. This opens emphasizing its freshness and structure. It's bright and just a little piquant, relative to Alicante. The tannins make this gripping and lively, but they are never harsh or particularly astringent. Once past the fresh opening, this very elegant Alicante opens up and shows off its strong personality. It becomes very Alicante-ish, if I can put it that way. The big finish is filled with flavor, including some classic hints of beef. It is very expressive. The structure supports this well, the controlled power gripping the palate while the fruit asserts itself. This brand hasn't had a chance to develop much of a track record, but this looks like it can age. It is also drinkable now, although nowhere near peak. This will not be made every year, but the 2017 is already planned. This is sourced from a single parcel with 32-year-old vines. Drink date: 2021-2036. Score - 96. (Mark Squires, robertparker.com, Dec. 30, 2021)