Quinta do Vale Dona Maria

http://www.valedonamaria.com

Former proprietor of Quinta do Noval, Cristiano van Zeller has always believed that the Douro has more to offer the world than port wine alone, regardless of how exceptional and dominant it may be. Convinced that small independent winemakers could find a place on the market, he encouraged them, and helped them showcase their wines’ unique character and develop a niche. He joined in the adventure himself in the mid-1990s and can now take credit for some of Quinta do Vale Dona Maria’s finest Portuguese reds, as well as port wines that prove his war is won.

 

The wines are from a single south facing vineyard owned by Cristiano van Zeller and his wife Joanna Lemos in the famous Rio Torto valley in the heart of the Douro. Renowned for it's fortified wines, the Douro also produces some excellent table wines taking advantage of the ideal location and quality of its vineyards

2000 Vintage Port (Alberta)

Picking of the grapes occurred late due to the the very hot and dry weather during the harvest of the grapes for the Douro table wine which allowed the small parcels selected for this Port to ripen to perfection for a traditional Vintage Port year. All grapes were continuously foot trodden in the lagares for 5 days before and during fermentation.

 

Quinta do Vale Dona Maria 2000 Vintage Port is deep purple red in colour, with very concentrated and still closed aromas of mature red fruit with a predominance of raspberries and black cherries. The tannins are very ripe and concentrated. It is a wine with great balance and a very long and fruity finish. A classic with only 1,000 cases produced. 

 

  90+ points  J. Suckling 

SKU 633073

2000 Vintage Port .375L (Alberta)

This is the half bottle - see above

SKU 709456

2005 Vintage Port

The Quinta Vale D. Maria 2005 Port is incredibly deep in color, violet, dark red and purple, has a tremendous concentration of mature dark red fruit aromas, with a very typical predominance of blackberries, black cherries and plum jam, cassis and esteva (rock rose). Very powerful, though very elegant, it is a Port with great balance and finesse and a very long and fruity finish. Remarkable quality and incredible value. About 800 cases were produced.

SKU 488205

2007 Vintage Port

   Score range: 92-95  "Gorgeous aromas of blackberry, crushed raspberry and flowers. Full-bodied, with soft, polished tannins. Very sweet. Layered and very rich. Long finish."  –JS

SKU 457549

Douro Tinto 2005 (Alberta)

SKU 528646

Douro Tinto 2007

After a traditional foot-trodden crushing and fermentation in lagares, the must was allowed further skin contact for two days prior to racking half into stainless steel and half into new French Limousin 620 litre oak casks where three months of malolactic fermentation took place. The final blending took place in June 2008 without fining or filtration.  It has bottled aged since then.

 

This deep coloured, full-bodied red wine, full of ripe, soft tannins, combines a long fruity finish with a predominance of mature red fruit. 500 cases made.

 

  93 Points

 

SKU 528646

Reserve Port Lote 06 (Unfiltered)

Produced from grapes of a single vineyard located in the far hills of the Douro, that has been in family hands for over a century, Cristiano van Zellar has bottled this Port, unfined and unfiltered, as his personal reserve. Issued from wines that were vinified foot trodden in old granite stone "lagares" and aged in old wooden vats, this unfiltered "Reserve" is bottled only once every year, on the date shown on the label.

 

Full bodied with a deep purple colour, this Port shows a great structure with intense fruity character and soft ripe tannins and a very long finish. It was specifically bottled to age in bottle for many years to come but it can be thoroughly enjoyed now. It will throw a deposit with bottle age. Please serve carefully.

SKU 546077