Even bigger is the 2007 VX Cuvee Primo, a blend of Sousón, Cai?o Longo, Cai?o da Terra, Carabu?eira (Touriga Nacional) and Mencía which undergoes an extended aging (bottled in May 2011) in brand new 300- and 500-liter French oak barrels. This is a wine that does not carry the official Ribeiro appellation with marked balsamic aromas of charred wood, cigar ash, end-of-the-nineties style incense notes with some volatile hints. The palate is full-bodied with plenty of tannins and a dry finish, enough acidity and plenty of dry extract. It feels like the winemaking and aging marked the wine much more than the place or grape. It comes through as a modern, well-made, highly extracted and well-oaked red in an XXL style that feels a little anonymous, but is very good within its style. It could be a red for the long haul, but if it shows such aggressiveness at this age, I have my doubts that are represented by the question mark. 2,500 bottles produced.