Deep purple color; black fruits, blueberry, opulent nose; black fruits, blueberry, blackcurrant, plum on the palate.
Dry; medium body; richly fruity. Blend of 51% touriga nacional and 49% touriga franca produced by joint venture of the Prats family of Bordeaux and the Symington family of Portugal. The grapes come two P+S Duoro estates: Quinta de Roriz and Quinta da Perdiz. The same vineyards provide the grapes for the pricier, more oaked Chryeia label.
Notoriously low yielding, touriga nacional often is regarded as Portugal’s prestige red grape and is used in red blends such as this, as well as Porto. Because of it tolerance for heat, it also is finding its way into vineyards in Bordeaux, California, and Texas as a response to warmer temperatures in the vineyards.
Touriga franca has been called the cabernet franc of Portugal, which is why this drinks very roughly similar to a quality Bordeaux. Touriga franca formerly was known as touriga francesca—they are the same grape—and DNA testing indicates touriga franca is the parent grape for touriga nacional.
This is Prats & Symington’s second label to their highly acclaimed Chryseia (the name means “golden” in ancient Greek). Post Scriptum de Chrysia sells at less than half the Chryseia price and is ready to be enjoyed at a younger age. The Symington family is major force in both Porto and the Douro—the Symingtons own the Porto houses of Dow, Graham, Warre, and others; they dominate the Porto market.
The Prats are quality producers in Bordeaux, so this is an partnership (created in 1999) between heavy hitters in the Portuguese and French wine world. They began making Post Scriptum in 2002. The winemakers are Bruno Prats and Charles Symington assisted by Pedro Correia and Luís Coelho.
This is lush and very approachable with some tannic punch. That is expected with touriga nacional, but the tannins are nicely integrated, not bitter or harsh. Decanting smooths things out. There are very pleasing flavors in the mid-palate and a long finish that includes hint of mint. Medium body; restrained use of oak through the use of large French barrels (400 litres—106 gallons); 14% ABV.
P+S Prats & Symington Post Scriptum de Chryseia, Duoro 2017 is both smooth and big and bold. Definitely find this if you have not experienced a Portuguese red blend with its extraordinary quality-to-price ratio (QPR in vino lingo). Pair with barbecue beef; grilled pork sausage; beef tenderloin with blue cheese; lamb; pork and beans; wild game; roasted cauliflower; lentils; black beans; pinto beans; mozzarella cheese; gruyere; Swiss cheese. $22-26
Symington website with nice harvest video that showcases the steep vineyards of the Duoro
