Quinta Do Vallado Tawny Port 40 Years Old
(Portugal) 500mL - [WA 95] [JS 95] [WS 95] [WE 92]

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 40 year-old Tawny has complex aromas of tobacco and dried fruit. This Port has excellent structure with a very concentrated palate with of English fruit cake, fig and dried fruits and a long and lingering finish.

The grapes come from Estate vineyards. After hand-picking, destemming and crushing, sugar is added and the resulting must is fermented in very old 600 liter oak casks and other oak vats.

A fine sipping Port, but also very tasty when served with dark chocolate or chocolate desserts.

Wine Composition Blend of Old Vines Tinto Roriz, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Fraca and others Alcohol 19.5%

Total Acid 6.97 G/L

Residual Sugar 196 G/L

pH 3.5

Ratings & Reviews

95 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 40 Year Old Tawny was aged in very old oak 600-liter casks and old oak vats. It is an old-vines field blend with residual sugar of 196 grams per liter. Even more so than its 20-year sibling reviewed this issue, its sugary with an endless finish. It adds a layer or two of depth to the 20, but it is so sexy and so rich that it seems a bit less complex, which is not always the way this works in comparing 20s and 40s. As it airs out and that first rush blows off, though, you do begin to get the complexity this has in spades. It is more piercing and gripping. You eventually taste the treacle and concentrated molasses underneath. You realize how fine it is when you notice that the powerful and sugary finish never seems to end. It is a rather decadent 40, taking no prisoners and going for the sex appeal, but it doesn't ignore other aspects. This will make you swoon, if you haven't already, from looking at the price point. Hopefully, it will get some steep discounts on the street as the listed price is only a SRP, but note also that the bottle is only a 500ml." (Feb 2015)

95 Points - James Suckling:
"Loads of toffee with some caramel and walnut undertones on the nose. Full-bodied with so much toffee and hints of peanuts and chocolate too. So flavorful and long. A beautiful 40-year-old tawny. Drink now." (Jan 2023)

95 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A flash of cherry gives way quickly to date, green tea, ginger and sandalwood notes, with an echo of persimmon through the finish. This has a rounded, viscous feel but manages to stay lithe and alluring as the flavors play out. Drink now. 125 cases made, 25 cases imported." – JM (Dec 2018)

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"It's old-gold color says it all. This luscious, liquorous wine has a tangy edge to go alongside the acidity, the raisin fruits and flavors of long wood aging. It's not so much fresh as still very alive and poised. Drink now." - RV