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News
Recent Vargellas vintages from Taylors have been the fabulously intense 1995, the soft, figgy 1998 and now the lively and berry-like 2001: violets and tobacco leaves on the nose, great depth of fruit with freshness and spice, very much in vintage style.
Score:
Steven Spurrier, Decanter
Wine Description
The Story
Quinta de Vargellas is pre-eminent among the wine estates of the Douro. Located in the wild and hilly eastern reaches of the Douro valley, it has been prized as a source of the finest Port wines since the 1820s. Today it ranks among the great vineyards of the world.
In years when a Taylor’s Vintage is not declared, the decision may be taken to bottle a Single Quinta Vintage Port. This is made entirely from grapes grown on the Vargellas property and bears the name of the estate on the label.
A Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port is generally more early maturing than the declared Taylor’s Vintages. Often quite approachable when young, they will nevertheless mature well for many years if laid down.
The elegant and scented Port wines of Quinta de Vargellas are the most reputed Single Quinta Vintages. Regarded as more prestigious and collectable than many shippers’ declared Vintages, they often appear for sale at auction. Like a declared Vintage, a Quinta de Vargellas Single Quinta Vintage Port is released soon after bottling. However, some of the Port wine is generally kept back to be offered for sale when approaching drinking age.
Wine Information
The 2001-2002 Viticultural year was one of the driest years on record. During the winter almost no rain fell. Besides the dry winter, the temperature was extremely cold, with the Pinhão river at Cruzeiro completely freezing over at Christmas.
Just when we were waiting for the last ripening of the grapes to occur in early September, between the 15th and 22nd, we received 70mm (4.3 Inches) of rain across the Douro. If it had not been for the perfect health of the grapes this season, the effect would have been much more damaging.
The vintage started on our Quintas from the 23rd September, and clear hot weather resulted in very good Ports being made during the two weeks until the rains returned at the beginning of October.
