Quinta Vale D. Maria Dona Red 2015

Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Quinta Vale D. Maria
Label Name:
 
Dona Red
Vintage:
 
2015
Country:
 
Portugal
Region:
 
Douro
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
14.5%
Grape(s):
 
Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Francisca, Sousão, Rufete (field blend)
Acidity:
 
4
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
5
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
15-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Notable scores for Vale D. Maria single-vineyard and estate reds include: Vinha da Francisca 2015 – Robert Parker (95/100), Wine Enthusiast (94/100), Grandes Escolhas (18. 5/20). Estate wines also featured in Wine Spectator, James Suckling and Revista de Vinhos

Tasting Note
Concentrated black cherry, plum and blackberry with baking spice, dark chocolate, tobacco and cedar. Dusty, firm tannins, bright acidity and a long savory finish.

Food Pairing
Western: roasted lamb, grilled ribeye, venison, mature cheeses. Asian: Peking duck, beef bulgogi, Korean galbi, spicy Sichuan beef or Cantonese char siu.

Production Method
Hand-harvested, partial foot-treading in lagares, 7–12 day fermentation with manual pigeage; malolactic in oak and ageing 18–21 months in French oak barrels.

Vineyard Info
Quinta Vale D. Maria (owned by Cristiano van Zeller since 1996) works old, low-yielding Douro vineyards and produces single-vineyard and field-blend reds focused on traditional lagares and careful oak ageing.