Wine History:

Grape Origins
A blend of more than 25 different traditional Douro grape varieties, predominately Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca, but also Rufete, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Francisca, Sousão, e many other, all proceeding from old vines and more recent plantations of Quinta Vale D. Maria, vineyards ranging from 25 to more than 60 years old, and facing South, Southeast, Southwest, East and West.

Conditions
The viticulture year of 2013 started in the winter of 2012 with quite a bit of rain, particularly during January and February. March saw the strongest rainfall (176mm of rain). The soil had water replaced after two years of very dry weather. April and May were quite cool, which delayed the vegetative cycle for almost two weeks. June, July and August were nearly completely dry months, with higher than average temperatures. The little rainfall did not affect the vineyard too much, as the Douro vines are very adaptable to adverse circumstances and are able to find water in very deep soils. The grape maturation delayed almost 10 days in relation to the average annual registries and we began the harvest for our white wines on the 13th of September and for our red wines, a week later than average, on the 20th. The Harvest happened under great sunshine for the first few weeks. By the end of September it rained, which made us stop picking for a few days. Picking restarted after Eastern winds dried up the grapes and the harvest continued under sunny weather.

Vinification and aging
Grapes are crushed by foot, before the fermentation, together with 15% of the total grape brandy which would be added to the final Port., allowing for maceration of grapes at cooler temperatures and for a longer period before fermentation. When must is ready for the addition of the remaining grape brandy, the fortification is made in one single moment, adding all brandy to the must and skins in the lagar. Some more treading ensures good homogenization and that the fermentation is stopped. The blend of must and brandy stays in the lagar for some more 2 to 4 days, with very slight treading twice a day (10 minutes each time). It is then racked to the storage vat together with all the press wine (we use traditional basket presses). The wines aged in very ancient (more than 100 years old) wood Port casks and small stainless steel vats until the beginning of April of 2015.

Bottling
May 2015, in 5.824 75cl bottles. Unfined and unfiltered.

All Quinta Vale D. Maria wines