Vista Alegre Vintage 2014

Vista Alegre Vintage 2014

Vista Alegre Vintage 2014 can be drunk now if you appreciate the power of the fruit. It has enormous potential for bottle aging. It is unfiltered, so lees will be there, like any great aging wine. If it is decanted, it will open up and reach its peak, which changes the flavor notes significantly.

Server for: Strong cheeses, Stilton, Roquefort, Danish Blue, desserts, red steaks. After the meal with sweets and chocolate and cigars.

The local grape varieties used are Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, Sousão, Tinta Barroca, Tinto Cão. They all come from Quinta da Vista Alegre in Cima Corgo. From vines over 80 years old, planted on old terraces with predominantly south exposure.

Winemaking:

Grapes are harvested manually in small boxes. Comes from a single harvest year. After partial stemming, the grapes are crushed in stone presses using treads. The fermentation of the must takes place under controlled temperature and is interrupted by the addition of brandy. This wine, as produced, has great aging potential. Practice storage in large wooden vessels, can be bottled between 2nd and 3rd year. As long as it is stored under ideal conditions, it has the potential to age in the bottle for over 30 years.

The bottle must be kept lying down at a constant temperature and protected from intense light. Over the years in the bottle, wines form natural sediments and must therefore be carefully opened and decanted before serving. Once the bottle is opened, drink it immediately.

Port wine house Vallegre:

Vallegre is owned by the Cunha Barros family, who have been deeply involved in port wine production for four generations. The family's activities originate primarily from Quinta Vista Alegre, which is located deep in the Douro Valley near the town of Pinhão. The Quinta's vineyards cover an area of around 55 hectares. It is planted with the region's best grape varieties, i.a. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Roriz and Tinto Cão. The vines are very old, some are close to 100 years old. At Quinta Vista Alegre, they still use the old "Lagars", where the grapes are trodden with bare feet for several hours, for the absolute best port wine qualities. Vallegre also owns the old family property Quinta Valle Longo and two other small properties. The family focuses on the production of port wines, but also makes a good proportion of table wines of the highest quality every year.