Rita Marques Conceito Bastardo 2017

“The 2017 Bastardo is unoaked and comes in at 13% alcohol. Light in color, not particularly fleshy, a touch funky and acidic, this is certainly a summer-styled red in many respects, but it does have some power to go with the intensity of flavor. The finish is laced with bitter chocolate nuances. It’s a bit different, but I am warming up to this bottling. Even Rita Marques is not quite sure how well this will age, but she reports that the 2007 is still doing fine. Let’s be a little conservative just now.” – Mark Squires, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate