Quinta Do Vale Meao 2017 Douro Red

Quinta  do  Vale  Meão  was  founded  in  1877  by  the  legendary  Dona  Antònia  Adelaide  Ferreira  and  is  owned  today  by  her  great-great-grandson  Francisco  “Xito”  Olazabal.  Vale  Meão  built  its  reputation  supplying  fruit  to  the  famed  250-year-old Port house Ferreira. In 1952, its vineyards were chosen to create a  revolutionary  wine,  which  for  decades  would  be  the  Douro’s  only  globally  recognized table wine. Vale Meão began a new life in 1998 when Xito realized his dream of  making his own wine from his family’s estate. Success came quickly, and in 2011, Portugal’s leading wine publication Revista de Vinhos named Xito Winemaker of  the Year. Three  years  later,  Wine  Spectator  awarded  the  2011  Quinta  do  Vale  Meão  97  points and ranked it #4 in their top 100 wines of  2014. Today Xito is recognized as a leading figure in the Douro table wine revolution, which has captured the attention of  the wine world.

Grapes for this wine are from Quinta do Vale Meão’s 247 acres of  estate vineyards in the Douro Superior. 55% Touriga Nacional, 40% Touriga Franca, 3% Tinta Barroca AND  2% Tinta Roriz grapes are crushed by foot in granite  troughs. Each grape variety is vinified separately in stainless steel and then blended, followed by aging in 80% new and 20% second-pass French oak barriques.


Wine Enthusiast Magazine scored this a perfect 100 points saying "This is the latest release from an estate that was founded in the 19th century by the legendary Dona Antonia 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. Drink 2023-2030."