2017-C Quinta da Romaneira Petit Verdot, IGP Duriense, Portugal (750ml)
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A Red Cellar Trio Wine Club Selection
An old estate with a long history, Quinta da Romaneira began producing port in 1872, but was not legally allowed to bottle under its own name until 1986 when DO changes gave single quintas the ability to do so. Romaneira really became of note in 2004, when the new owner, Christian Seely brought on winemaker Antonio Agrellos. The duo (behind the much-celebrated rebirth of Quinta do Noval) took over with plans to bring Romaneira “shoulder to shoulder with the Douro’s top wineries in terms of reputation and quality.” Since then, the vineyards have been overhauled, retaining the best old vines and implementing a replanting program for the rest. In 2005 a new winery was constructed—two-thirds of it underground—allowing for a state-of-the-art production facility and a naturally cool wine cellar.
Quinta da Romaneira is widely considered one of the Douro Valley’s most breathtaking estates, boasting 1,100 acres stretching along 3 kilometers on the Douro riverfront. 86 hectares are under vine, planted primarily to Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz and Tinto Cão, along with a considerable proportion of white grapes (Gouveio, Viosinho, Boal and Rabigato). They also have several hectares planted to Syrah and Petit Verdot which produce noteworthy wines with exceptional character and finesse. The vineyards are terraced on the steeply sloping hills of the property. With its many valleys and promontories, Romaneira has several microclimates and various southeast, southwest and southern facing slopes. Their wines are made exclusively from estate-grown fruit. Several bottlings are site-specific, and are sourced from individual parcels; while others are comprised from various sites throughout the Quinta to reflect the complexity and diversity of the vineyard as a whole. The entire estate is classified ‘A’ (the highest mark that can be obtained in the Douro), and produces a number of unfortified dry wines and vintage-style ports.
100% Petit Verdot vinified utilizing traditional techniques in specially designed conical stainless-steel, temperature-controlled vats. The resulting wine was aged for 14 months in French oak barrels before bottling. Considered an “outlaw Douro” due to Petit Verdot being a non-indigenous varietal, this remarkable red wine carries the IGP Duriense.
Dark purple. Inviting aromas of bramble berries and currants. Flavors of blackberry, olallieberry and black cherry. An engaging wine with remarkable freshness, purity of fruit, and beautifully integrated oak. Powerful, with an elegant structure and a charm all its own, each sip is like sinking into a deep, velvet couch—albeit one built on a fine hardwood frame.
Cellaring Recommendation: 7 – 10 years