Douro
2017
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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The winter of 2017 was extremely hot and dry. From November to March, precipitation values were very low when compared to the average. These values healthy phyto-sanitary conditions with an absence of diseases (mildew / powdery mildew), but the lack of rain brought less vegetative expansion than what would be desired, both in the development of foliage and in the development of the bunches. With such low values of water being recorded in the soils, plant development was limited, leading to an anticipation of about three weeks in the cycle. As the levels of sugars and acids soon approached the intended values, it became clear that is was necessary to anticipate the harvest. We started harvesting the white wines on August 16th with the Rabigato grape variety, and the red wine harvest began on the 17th with the entry of the Baga grape variety in the winery. This was followed by the Tinta Amarela and Tinta Roriz harvest (19 and 21, respectively). The first Touriga Nacional grapes entered the winery on August 24 and Touriga Franca on August 30. Having the harvest started earlier, it also ended a few days before the usual dates, with the last grapes being received on September 20th. Although the year was hot and dry, the plants resisted well to the extreme dryness recorded, keeping the foliage in good condition until the harvest. From the enologist point of view 2017 will be quite interesting allowing for wines with a very good structure, with a perfect balance of acidity, soft and harmonious wines, with a good potential for aging.
Each grape varietal is harvested and vinified separately. After being crushed and destemmed in granite mills, they are trodden by foot. Subsequently, they are transferred to vats where fermentation takes place for eight days. After fermentation, part of the wines undergo malolactic fermentation in barrels. The wine is aged 16 to 18 months in 60% new and 40% second-fill oak barrels.
Very concentrated in colour. Deep and complex nose with lots of aromatic nuances, yet maintaining the balance between them. In the mouth it is vibrant, in a set of great elegance, showing an excellent integration of the wood, a surprisingly large variety of flavours, and a very long aftertaste
This is the latest release from an estate that was founded in the 19th century by the legendary Dona Antónia Ferreira at a time when the upper Douro was almost inaccessible. This wine continues the line of magnificent wines created by her descendants. It is structured and dense yet poised. The rich dark fruit has melded with the tannins, although both will take much more time to fully develop.
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This is another fabulous vintage of this iconic wine, aged for 16 months in wood. It comes from the spectacular Olazabal family vineyard in the Douro Superior. It shows powerful structure and dark, dense black fruits. The tannins and the wine's concentration point to considerable aging potential.
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Aromas of plum, mulberry, blueberry, oyster shell, olive, cedar, mocha and oregano. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, velvety and chewy tannins. Layered and so supple with a beautiful, transparent and polished core of blue fruit. Racy. Very fine and long. A blend of 50% touriga nacional, 45% touriga franca, 3% tinta barroca and 2% tinta roriz. Delicious already, but better from 2022.
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This stellar wine comes from one of the grandest estates in the Douro, created in the 19th century by Dona Antónia Ferreira, whose family still owns it. For such a massive wine, it is surprisingly elegant. It is dense with tannins and black fruits but also sophisticated and certainly ageworthy.
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This is the estate wine of the grand vineyard founded by Dona Antónia Ferreira in the 19th century. It reflects the splendor of her concept, with its grand tannins and powerful black fruits. It is concentrated, with a streak of minerality and a dense texture. An impressive wine with aging potential.
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The latest release of this top wine is as impressive as ever, a rich medley of flavors enhanced by 16 months in wood. The black fruits combine with structure to give a wine with a great future. Drink from 2028
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The 2020 Tinto is a blend of 35% Touriga Franca, 60% Touriga Nacional and dollops of Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca filling out the blend, all aged for 16 months in 40% new French oak. It comes in at 14.5% alcohol. This is more the typical Touriga Nacional-dominant blend, as opposed to last year. This combines concentration and freshness, but with the Touriga Nacional ascendant again, it is also fruitier, lacing the palate with blue fruits. It remains elegant and polished, as well as delicious. Xito Olazabal said he liked this better than the 2019, and I'd tend to agree, if only for the flavor profile. They are both pretty fine, to be sure. Reasonable minds might differ.
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A powerful yet elegant red, offering a finely crafted array of steeped cherry, ripe raspberry and baking spice flavors, interwoven with violet, toast and schistlike minerality. Sinewy tannins and tangy acidity offer a powerful and refined structure, along with herb and smoky details on the seamless finish. Should age nicely. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Roriz.
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A touch lighter in hue and palate-weight than previous vintages, but no less confident, the 2018 is a vibrant, immensely appealing vintage. It reveals this estate’s exotic orange peel/blossom aromas, with juicily persistent black cherry, blackberry and pureed raspberry fruit, crushed coriander seed and smoky espresso and nutmeg nuances. Refined tannins and fresh acidity enhance clarity and flow. Lithe.
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2019 was a lauded vintage across many regions of Europe and this new resplendent expression of the Vale Meao tinto certainly displays wonderfully complex aromatics of pressed violets, sappy black currant, bramble berry spice, vanilla pod and an imposingly pronounced underlying minerality of graphite and crushed granite. The palate is incredibly focused and pinpoint with firm polished marble tannins, yet also weightless layers of black and blueberry fruit concentration all packaged and presented so meticulously. There is a delicious concentration and certainly no over ripe flavours but also a thrilling freshness to keep the whole palate texture glassy and sleek. The finish is stony, mineral and very serious suggesting that this wine could be one of the estate’s more age worthy examples.
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A beautiful red that shows both finesse and power, layering glossy ripe cherry, raspberry reduction and orange peel notes with spice, anise and dried violet accents. Enticing, with mineral, Earl Grey tea, mocha and wild herb details echoing on the long finish. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Roriz.
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