Portugal / Porto and Douro
Add to my wine list2018 Portal LBV Port
Quinta do Portal
Porto and Douro
With a beautiful ruby color, this wine shows excellent aromas of red fruit with some notes of spice and cocoa. Big on the palate but with round tannins. Complex bouquet and a harmonious and long finish.
Viticulture
After a dry Winter, we had heavy rains March, April and May sometimes very localized. The heavy Spring rain is always a challenge and causes a lot of pressure to control the late mildew in order to assure the crop, that due to the bad flowering conditions was already scarce. At this point we expected a significative delay in the maturation that at some point was higher than one month!
August arrived very hot with temperatures ranging, in some days, between 40 and 45ºC. The high temperatures continued through September.
October was milder and continued without any rain that allied to cool nights, allowed for a recovery of the maturation and better balance of the musts.
We started picking on the 10th September and finished on the 20th October. A slow vindima, that made possible to get an excellent balance on the white grapes and also wait for the very good maturation of the red grapes from higher altitude vineyards.
So, despite the low yields, we are therefore very happy with the freshness of the white wines and the concentration and balance of the reds.
Vinification
Maceration in stainless steel “Lagares” and vats at 24-26ºC. Four years in seasoned barrels. Bottled unfiltered. Bottled in November 2022 with natural cork.
Recommendation
To enjoy with your favourite red berries ice cream, soft cheeses, or on its own at the end of your dinner.