2023 Quinta do Vale do Meao

In the eastern part of the Douro, near the Spanish border, we find Quinta do Vale Meão, the birthplace of Barca Velha, the most famous and highly praised wine in the Douro region. The quinta is owned by Francisco Javier de Olazabal, the great-great-grandson of Dona Antonia Ferreira, who bought it in 1877. In 1998, the former director of the Ferreira Port House and his son, oenologist Xito (Francisco) Olazabal, began producing wine from this exceptional terroir. Their first wine, Meão 1999, was immediately named the best Portuguese wine of 1999. It is Portugal's most famous quinta and is also part of the renowned Douro Boys. All the wines they now produce guarantee an authentic Douro wine experience, naturally made from the typical Portuguese grape varieties of the Douro region. Quinta do Vale Meão is among the best in Portugal, and you can taste why!

Quinta do Vale do Meão is the flagship wine of one of Portugal's finest wineries. This wine is a blend of authentic Portuguese grapes: 35% Touriga Franca, 60% Touriga Nacional, and a blend of Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca, all matured for 16 months in 40% new French oak and 60% second-year oak. The grapes come from vines that are 45-50 years old. This is a wine that is wonderfully balanced and exceptionally elegant. Nothing is too much or overpowering, and the Wine Advocate also speaks of the "wow moment" at Quinta do Vale do Meão. This wine is simply irresistible. It has a complex nose with numerous aromatic nuances that don't overlap with other aromas. Red fruit, leather, espresso, a hint of tobacco, and spices are on the nose. The wine is medium to full-bodied with excellent (read: not overpowering) oak integration. While any comparison with this wine is somewhat flawed, it's best compared to a good, elegant Burgundian that also combines freshness and elegance. The Meao was ranked in the top three in Winespectator's Top 100 of the world's best wines!