Douro Vintage Port
2012
$68.28*
Out of stock
While Quinta do Vale Meão only began bottling under its own label in 1999, the estate has an incredible history. Vale Meão was one of the shrewd acquisitions of the celebrated Douro landowner Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira. In 1877 she purchased 270 hectares of land near Vila Nova de Foz Côa in the Upper Douro, and over the course of the next decade established a model winery, planting all the vineyards from scratch. The Quinta remained in the family and is owned today by Francisco Javier...
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For the second year in a row, after a cold and dry Winter the rain appeared in the beginning of the Spring. This was crucial to restore the water levels of the soil. The Summer was uncharacteristically mild for this region with occasional rainy days in June and July. There are no records of temperatures above 37 ºC and even these were rare. These conditions allowed a very slow and perfect maturation. As a consequence we were able to harvest very slowly, choosing carefully block by block as the different grape varieties achieved the ideal maturation. We started picking Tinta Amarela on the 2nd September, followed by Tinta Barroca, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Sousão, Touriga Nacional and just finishing on the 10th October picking the Tinto Cão. Weather conditions during the vintage remain dry with the exception of one insignificant showery morning in late September, enabling us to produce remarkably dark and concentrated wines, with excellent acidity and firm tannin structure and powerful fruit notes.
The grapes pass through a quality control before being crushed, in order to avoid mainly raisins, and in some varieties possible Botrytis problems. After being crushed, the grapes are cooled down and periodically trodden by foot in granite “lagares” until the sugar contents of the must reaches the required level. This process lasts in average for three days. The must is then racked to the storage vats and wine brandy is added to stop fermentation.
While this vintage was not generally declared by all producers, it has resulted in some very fine Ports from the great quintas. This is grandiloquently rich, layering thick tannins with dense black fruits. The texture is full and outwardly rounded—the result of the stone lagar fermentation—but underneath it is impressively structured.
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Ripe with succulent black fruits, this wine is also immensely structured by a core of solid tannins. Bright acidity gives the essential contrast to this power and contributes to its great aging potential.
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An initial impression of open fruits soon gives way to the firmness of seriously ageworthy tannins. This Port has an impressive structure and dark fruits that leave it on the dry side. It has so much potential for long-term aging.
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Vivid and energetic, featuring a mix of raspberry, plum, fig and blueberry fruit that gives this a kaleidoscopic feel, as violet, singed sandalwood, chai spice and alder notes skitter through. Grippy but fresh, with the acidity playing a prominent role, allowing the fruit to ripple along on the finish.
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Juicy and wiry, with tension in its display of raspberry, blackberry and plum pâte de fruit notes thanks to riveting underlying acidity, this drives along with great cut, ending with a flourish of anise, bramble and juniper. Feels pretty tight too, so bank on this needing a little extra time. Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Amarela and Sousão.
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This gets your attention, with ebullient açai, blueberry and plum fruit aromas and flavors. Light, brambly grip is well-embedded throughout, while hints of melted licorice and milk and baker's chocolate fill in. Shows rock-solid grip through the finish.
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