Quinta Do Vallado Tawny Port 20 Years Old
(Portugal) 500mL - [JS 96] [WA 93] [DM 92] [WS 90] [WE 90]

About the Winery:
Over the course of 300+ years, since 1716, Quinta do Vallado has been producing excellent wines in Portugal’s Douro Valley. It is one of the oldest and most famous wineries in all the Douro, started by the legendary Doña Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, and still belongs to the same family today. It is a sixth-generation winery, currently owned by João Ferreira Alvares Ribeiro and Francisco Ferreira. The estate produced Port wines exclusively, until the 1990’s when it expanded production into dry wines.

Vallado has 250 acres of its own vineyards in two sub-regions of the Douro. They are comprised 100-year-old field blend vines, single variety plots and certified organic vineyards. The terraced vineyards are hand-harvested with one row of vines trained to a double cordon trellising system, allowing for good drainage, air flow and erosion control.

Notes From the Winemaker:
The Quinta Do Vallado 20 year-old Tawny is rich and nutty with aromas of dried fruit and cigar. The palate is voluptuous and round, ending with a satin finish.

Ratings & Reviews

96 Points - James Suckling:
"Beautiful aromas of caramel and orange peel with some toffee and pomegranate follow through to a medium body with bright fruit, tangy acidity and a caramel finish. Fantastic! Drink now." (Jan 2023)

93 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 20 Year Old Tawny, bottled in 2013, was aged in very old oak casks and vats. It is an old-vines field blend with residual sugar of 119 grams per liter. Opening with a big, big rush of sugar, this shows more focus and far more complexity than I sensed on the first whiff. The finish is crisp and laced with a bit of brandy. This isn't big and thick, but it seems far richer than it is given the finish and the aromatics. The aromatics are very powerful for a 20. The remarkably concentrated flavors on the finish also seem often to exceed what many 20s deliver. This is quite an exceptional 20 Year from many perspectives, but that finish is particularly exceptional. There were a mere 1,000 bottles of 500ml produced." - Mark Squires (Feb 2015)

92 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"20 year old tawny is a style of Port worth seeking out. The extra age over a 10 year old results in more concentration and further development of the rich, nutty character. This example is intense and tarry, with caramelised nut and blood orange flavours. It has a full, intense character with a long finish." - James Button

90 Points - Wine Spectator:
"This takes a slightly flattering approach, with cinnamon, warmed fruit cake, dried plum and toasted pecan notes, finishing on the sweeter side. Drink now. 125 cases made, 35 cases imported." - JM (Sep 2019)

90 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"This has just the right balance between the fresh fruit of younger Ports and the wood and dried fruit of aged tawnies. It's a dry style of Port, with a lift of acidity. It's delicious and, like all aged tawnies, ready to drink now." - RV