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Wine Description
The Story
Barca Velha has been chosen numerous times by Portuguese bodies for official receptions of civilian, military and religious world dignitaries, including the Pope.
Vinified in the Quinta da Leda winery, using selected grapes mainly from this estate, but also from elevated areas in the Douro Superior. After destemming and gentle crushing, the grapes were put into stainless steel vats, where alcoholic fermentation took place. A long, gentle maceration was carried out at a controlled temperature in order to extract the compounds that contribute to the colour, aroma, flavour and longevity of the wine. It was matured in barrels of French oak for a period of about 18 months. The final blend was made based on the careful selection of the best wines, resulting from the numerous tastings and analyses carried out on the different existing blends and barrels, throughout this period. It is in this selection that the "secret" of Barca-Velha lies. So as to preserve the highest quality, it was subjected to filtration only before bottling.
The name Barca Velha ("Old Boat") is associated with a(n old) boat which in those days crossed the Douro, near the farms where the wine was produced.
There is only one bottle of the first Barca Velha harvest left- a magnum from 1952, of incalculable value today.
In more than half a century of existence, Barca Velha had only 16 harvests and three winemakers: Fernando Nicolau de Almeida, the mythical creator of this precious wine, was able to pass on a deep love of the Douro to José Maria Soares Franco and Luís Sottomayor, the latter now the winemaking director for all Sogrape Vinhos’ Douro region wines.
It should be placed vertically the day before drinking and opened 2 to 3 hours before serving. With so many years in the bottle, the wine should be carefully decanted to separate its natural sediment. Ideally, it should be served at 16ºC-18ºC.
Food Pairing:
It is suggested that it be savoured calmly, paired with more elaborate meat dishes, game and even some cheeses, with exquisite, well integrated flavours.
Wine Information
Barca Velha is the epitome, the pinnacle, the unquestionable symbol of the highest quality of Douro wines.
Classic, intense, complex, elegantand rich it has also been, since its creation in 1952, the most celebrated Portuguese wine. Barca Velha is the basis upon which Casa Ferreirinha´s reputation has grown, the latter
being the quality brand in the Douro and one of its main world-wide standard-bearers. Barca Velha is declared only in truly exceptional years (16 in all).
Barca Velha is vinified at the Quinta da Leda wine centre, where the selected grapes are vinified by variety or in lots, hand-chosen at the vineyard and/or on arrival at the wine centre. The grapes, after full stem-removal and soft crushing are moved into stainless steel vats and/or robot-operated presses, for maceration and alcoholic fermentation, with intense pumping-over, under automatically controlled temperature. A long maceration was performed to allow the quality components of the ripe grape skins to pass into the wine. Finally, and at the moment required by each variety/blend, the wine was stored and the masses pressed, with the wine resulting from pressings kept apart from the remaining yield.
Vintage 2000
The 2000 vintage in Portugal, particularly in the Douro Valley, which is known for its production of Port wines, is considered a very good to excellent vintage. This vintage is often highly regarded for both Port wines and table wines produced in various regions of Portugal. Here are some key characteristics of the Portugal wine vintage 2000:
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Quality: The 2000 vintage is generally regarded as producing high-quality wines. Both Port and table wines from this vintage are often well-balanced and have good structure.
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Port Wines: In the Douro Valley, where Port wines are produced, the vintage 2000 is considered outstanding. The conditions during the growing season were favorable, resulting in grapes with excellent ripeness and concentration.
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Aging Potential: Wines from the 2000 vintage in Portugal, particularly top-quality Ports and red table wines, are known for their aging potential. They can continue to develop and improve with extended cellaring.
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Varietal Characteristics: The vintage expressed the characteristics of traditional Portuguese grape varieties, such as Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz, with rich fruit flavors and complexity.
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Longevity: Many of the wines from the 2000 vintage are still drinking well today and are considered excellent choices for those seeking mature Portuguese wines.
It's important to note that the quality and characteristics of wines can vary depending on the specific region, producer, and grape varieties used. While 2000 was generally a successful vintage in Portugal, individual wine selections and labels may have their unique qualities and aging potential. As always, for specific wines or producers, it's advisable to consult wine experts, reviews, and recommendations to make informed choices.
