Quinta Da Roêda, DOC Douro Half Bottle ***94 Points – The Wine Advocate***

Very deep purple black at the centre, with a narrow purple red rim. Although the nose displays the seductive, opulent red fruit character which is a familiar feature of Roêda vintage ports, there are also intense, woodland berry aromas which add focus and finesse. As usual, the fruit is wrapped in an envelope of exotic balsamic, minty, eucalyptus scents. The first impression on the palate is of roundness and a rich, velvety texture but there is excellent acidity and well-integrated grippy tannins which emerge on the finish. The finish is powerful and very long with persistent crisp, red berry flavours. Although, as always, the 2018 Roêda Vintage is ripe and seductive, the characteristics of the year and the contribution of the wines from Roêda’s oldest vineyard plots has placed this superb single-quinta Vintage Port at the elegant and restrained end of the spectrum.

Adrian Bridge Managing Director
“The Quinta da Roêda estate produced excellent wines in 2018. The old historic terraces at Roêda consistently produce wine of vintage quality. They are now being joined by more recent plantings resulting from the investments made since we acquired Croft nearly thirty years ago. I am delighted that we will be bottling a Quinta da Roêda single-quinta Vintage Port from 2018. It displays the characteristic ripe fruit and scented herbal character that we associate with the Roêda wines but the year has added a thread of fresh acidity and firm, wiry tannins to give the wine structure. As usual, we will be bottling the wine in July. However, given the current economic circumstances, it will be held back for the time being and released early in 2021.”

Serving Tips & Storage When mature this port will need to be decanted to remove sediment. Serve at room temperature on its own or with steak and blue cheese sauce or vintage mature blue cheeses such as stilton Cashel Blue, Roquefort, Gorgonzola and Saint Augur Blue. Vintage port is also good with chocolate – a flattering accompaniment to top quality hand-made chocolates and artisan chocolate bars.
Please store on its side in a cool environment away from heat and light. Drink from 2025-2045+.