2020 Estate Tinto, Quinta de la Rosa, Douro, Portugal
Critics reviews
The 2020 Tinto is a roughly equal blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Touriga Franca this year, aged 12 months in 30% new French oak (the rest is well-used). It comes in at 13.5% alcohol. This is not a step up over the entry-level douROSA in this report. However, you get a different style of wine with pros and cons. They may have various admirers. The wood gives this a velvety rather than silky texture. The expressive and pure blue fruit is also muted slightly by the wood. There is more power and a bit more grip on the finish. However, the tannins are ripe here too.
This will likely age better, but neither is really a great wine to cellar for an extended time. I'm being cautious about each ageing curve, although they may do better. Which to get? I'd save the $5 and take the douROSA myself, but ultimately, it depends on your taste and intended use. This, for instance, may hold up a bit better to stronger food pairings.
Drink 2023 - 2028
Mark Squires, Wine Advocate (May 2023)
About this WINE
Quinta De La Rosa
Quinta de La Rosa is a small estate in the heart of the Port wine-growing region in Alto Douro, near Pinhao, owned and operated by the Bergqvist family: Tim, his wife Patricia, son Philip and his two daughters, Sophia and Olivia, with the aid of the talented winemaker Jorge Moreira since 2002
The Quinta and its vineyards were given to Tim's mother as a Christening present by her parents, the Feurheerds, who established the property in 1906.
It remains one of the few Single Quintas where the vineyards start at the bank of the Douro and rise 450 meters to the towering top of the mountain. From the river's edge to the top, one passes through 11 different microclimates. This gives La Rosa great flexibility to add variety and complexity to its Port.
La Rosa and Tim Berqgvist are special. In many ways they represent what the Douro is all about... pride, courage, tradition, and the determination to produce the finest product from in one of natures' most difficult climactic conditions.
Quinta de la Rosa produces small quantities of superb quality Ports and red wine (Val da Clara Douro label)
Vintage Port
Vintage Port accounts for only a small percentage of the total Port production - which includes Tawny, Ruby, Late Bottled Vintage, Single Quinta Vintage styles, among others - but is the finest, longest-lived and most expensive style that is produced. The best are as good as any wine in existence.
With the exception of legendary vineyards like Quinta do Noval Nacional and Quinta do Vesuvio, Vintage Port is made from a blend of wines from a producer's finest plots. It is aged for around 18 months in wooden casks before bottling; from then on the watch-word is patience. At least 15 years ageing – and for the top wines it will be significantly longer – is required before the tannins, spirit and fruit are fully integrated. Indeed, the finest examples can last well over 50 years.
Vintage Port is only made in exceptional years (normally around three times per decade) with considerable stylistic variation between different years and shippers. However, they all share a sweet, warming, spicy richness, power and complexity. In other good but not great vintages, many shippers produce a Single Quinta Vintage Port from their finest vineyard. These are made in the same way and have the same style as Vintage Port but tend to mature faster and are less profound. All Vintage Port throws a sediment as it matures, and thus requires decanting.
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Description
Quinta do Noval's red table wines offer something different. It is a particularly good vintage, highlighting its wild berry spicy core and crunchy fruits.
Rose Murray Brown, The Scotsman (December 2023)
The 2020 Tinto is a roughly equal blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Touriga Franca this year, aged 12 months in 30% new French oak (the rest is well-used). It comes in at 13.5% alcohol. This is not a step up over the entry-level douROSA in this report. However, you get a different style of wine with pros and cons. They may have various admirers. The wood gives this a velvety rather than silky texture. The expressive and pure blue fruit is also muted slightly by the wood. There is more power and a bit more grip on the finish. However, the tannins are ripe here too.
This will likely age better, but neither is really a great wine to cellar for an extended time. I'm being cautious about each ageing curve, although they may do better. Which to get? I'd save the $5 and take the douROSA myself, but ultimately, it depends on your taste and intended use. This, for instance, may hold up a bit better to stronger food pairings.
Drink 2023 - 2028
Mark Squires, Wine Advocate (May 2023)
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