About this winery

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...

See the QUINTA DO VALE MEÃO detail page for more information on this brand

Product notes

After the end of the harvest in 2011, the rainy weather did not arrive and Autumn was unusually hot and dry. Rain came in late November 2011, not surpassing 100mm, around 25% of the average for this region. The rest of the winter continued with the trend and we started the growing season with almost no water content in the soil. This hindered the bud break of the vine, which was therefore very irregular. Only in late April, early May some rainfall came, about 120 mm, which was important for the survival of plants in a very dry year. However, the average temperature in 2012 was lower than normal in the Douro Superior, with only two heat spikes, one in June and the other in late July. This situation prevented the evolution of vineyard diseases.

In years with these features, plants adapt to conditions and hence this was a year with little vegetative walls, low growth and consequently clusters and smaller berries. This resulted in a yield loss of about 20% with the highest incidence in old vines.

Interestingly, the maturation was slow and no additional production losses occurred as a result of dehydration of grapes. The harvest began on September 4 with Tinta Amarela, followed by Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca. The latest were the Tourigas, National and Franca that were harvested on 27 September. The average quality of the musts 2012 is very high.

Production notes

After being crushed, the grapes were cooled down and trodden by foot during four hours in granite lagares and then transferred to small refrigerated stainless steel vinifying vats. Each grape variety is vinified separately. This wine was matured in second and third year French Allier oak barriques.

Tasting notes

38% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca, 20% Tinta Roriz and 12% Other Varieties. Lively color. Floral scents combined with red fruit aromas. Fills the mouth with intense fruit notes, showing a long, very fresh and complex after taste.