The 2007 DOMINI PLUS is a blend of Touriga Franca (60%), Tinta Roriz (30%) and Touriga Nacional (10%). Far too marked by sweet oak on opening, with most of its flavors and aromatics originating with oak, it is otherwise quite elegant, graceful in the mid-palate and rather bright. This has some chance of integrating some of its oak and showing better balance as time goes on as it certainly has the structure to allow it to hold a reasonable time in the cellar. It seems polished, with ripe tannins, but it has a real backbone. Tasted again the next day, it drank quite well—although it is worth noting that the sweet oak notes were still extremely prominent and a little troubling. Drink now-2020. Importer: Palm Bay Imports, Port Washington, NY; tel. (561) 362-9462

The 2005 DOMINI PLUS is a blend of Touriga Franca (45%), Touriga Nacional (15%), Tinta Roriz (30%) and Tinta Barroca (10%) aged in new American oak for 8 months before release. The American oak marks this blend more than on the regular Domini reviewed this issue. The vanilla and coconut notes are prominent on opening and persist for some time. With aeration, there is evidence that those nuances will moderate, thankfully, and the lushness, better depth and intensity of flavor of this wine, effectively the Reserva, wins out over the regular Domini. I suspect this will draw some “international style” criticisms, but it is well done in its style and comes into much better balance with decanting, showing more structured and less sweet. Drink now-2015. Importer: Palm Bay Imports, Port Washington, NY; tel. (561) 362-9462.

A young, powerful wine, dominated by bitter chocolate, cocoa and dense ripe black fruits. The wood element lifts this mix of flavors and gives a great sense of structure. Dark figs and herbs add complexity, while the tannins are powerful.——R.V.(4/1/2008)—— 92

The 2001 Domini “Plus” is essentially the reserve bottling from this partnership between Fonseca and van Zeller, and it is probably what the regular bottling should have been. It is a blend of vineyards from the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior sub-regions, and the Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca varietals. This bottle supplies a little of the intensity missing from the 2003 regular bottling reviewed here. The mid-palate is rather elegant in weight, has a nice mouthfeel, a juicy finish, and a refined feel. There is a hit of tannins on the end, but I’d expect this wine to round into form readily, with a bit of funk on the nose, but nothing particularly off-putting. Althout never quite entirely distinguished, it is pleasing and very Bordeaux-styled. There were approximately 1,283 cases made. Drink now-2013. This Southern Portuguese winery has holdings in several regions. They are most famous for Lancer’s Rose, although Periquita is also a signature offering. In fact, they make some nice table wines, so don’t let that Lancer’s thing get in your way. The Domini wines were made in partnership with Cristiano van Zeller, owner of Quinta do Vale D. Maria, and former co-owner of Quinta do Noval. The strip label at the bottom, however, only carried the Fonseca designation, so I have listed them here.Importer for Periquita and Domini: Palm Bay Imports, Port Washington, NY; tel. (561) 362-9462. No known American importer for the Hexagon and FSF.