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Douro Meao
2019
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...
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Aromas of plum, mulberry, blueberry, oyster shell, olive, cedar, mocha and oregano. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, velvety and chewy tannins. Layered and so supple with a beautiful, transparent and polished core of blue fruit. Racy. Very fine and long. A blend of 50% touriga nacional, 45% touriga franca, 3% tinta barroca and 2% tinta roriz. Delicious already, but better from 2022.
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This stellar wine comes from one of the grandest estates in the Douro, created in the 19th century by Dona Antónia Ferreira, whose family still owns it. For such a massive wine, it is surprisingly elegant. It is dense with tannins and black fruits but also sophisticated and certainly ageworthy. Drink from 2026.
A touch lighter in hue and palate-weight than previous vintages, but no less confident, the 2018 is a vibrant, immensely appealing vintage. It reveals this estate’s exotic orange peel/blossom aromas, with juicily persistent black cherry, blackberry and pureed raspberry fruit, crushed coriander seed and smoky espresso and nutmeg nuances. Refined tannins and fresh acidity enhance clarity and flow. Lithe.
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A beautiful red that shows both finesse and power, layering glossy ripe cherry, raspberry reduction and orange peel notes with spice, anise and dried violet accents. Enticing, with mineral, Earl Grey tea, mocha and wild herb details echoing on the long finish. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Roriz. Best from 2022 through 2035. 2,400 cases made, 200 cases imported. — GS
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An enticing red, from the fragrant nose of garrigue and graphite to the creamy texture and fine-grained tannins, with ripe black raspberry and currant, hot iron and cigar box flavors that unfurl on the palate. Marries concentrated power with sculpted form and grace. Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Roriz.
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The 2018 Tinto is a 50/45 blend of Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, with dollops of Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca filling out the blend, all aged for 16 months in 50% new and 50% second use French oak. It comes in at 14.3% alcohol. Creamier and more sensual than the Meandro this issue, this mostly shows off its oak right now. That will get better as this ages and pulls in the wood. Even now, though, it drinks fairly well. The tannins are ripe, although this does show more power with extended aeration. It tastes great and retains the elegance for which this bottling is famed. It should age well and it should improve more. I do think it is a step or two behind the 2017, though, granting that they were not both here together.
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