dense and concentratedQuinta da Boavista Vinha do Oratório
Terroir
Located near Pinhão, on the right bank of the Douro river, Quinta da Boavista has an extraordinary view over the river. It is one of the most iconic estates in the demarcated region, known not only for its historical connection with the Baron of Forrester, but also for its 36 hectares of high-quality vines.
The grapes for this wine come from a single parcel, named Oratório (Oratory) due to its impressive wavy terraces almost eight meters high.
Grape Varieties
The icon vineyard of Quinta da Boavista, the Vinha do Oratório is formed in high and curved terraces in the shape of an oratory that reach eight meters in height. This vineyard, facing east, has an altitude that varies between 80 and 175 meters and has a mixture of more than 25 Douro grape varieties. With an average age of over 80 years, these vineyards allow us to produce a wine of remarkable concentration and complexity
Vinification
To ensure the prevalence of the variety’s characteristics and the full control of the process, at Quinta da Boavista we use manual harvesting and manual grape sorting processes, followed by a gentle berry de-stalk and crush. Manual harvesting. Manual grape sorting. Gentle berry de-stalk and crush. As fermentation reservoirs we have the traditional granite wine presses with foot treading, and later the wine is aged in French oak barrels for at least 18 months.
All our wines are sealed under natural cork. Wines are not filtered or cold-stabilized and that is why they can produce sediment with age.
A deep ruby-red colour. Prevailing notes of berries on the nose, with hints of bergamot and notes of menthol which confer a heady freshness to the wine. Everything is harmonious in the mouth: silky tannins meandering through rich fruity flavours and spicy notes of wood against a background of impeccable acidity. A manifold wine that unravels its multiple layers during tasting.
Pefect with red meat, game or cheese dishes.
93+
/100 Pts
Refined and rather sophisticated (…). Very understated, this has a fresh feel with ample finesse.(..,) The expressive fruit and graceful demeanor will make this a pleasure to drink (…) It’s lovely. It may be a step short of truly distinguished.
94
/100 Pts
Cor granada intensa com nuance carmim. Violeta, caruma, massapão, orange zest, fruta vermelha compotada, cacau entre tostas e fumo. Terroso. Boca mastigável, tanino generoso, maduro, atualmente vivo e lavante. Prova longa e sempre fresca de um vinho de mesa rica.
94
/100 Pts
The 2016 Vinha do Oratório Vinhas Velhas (Quinta da Boavista) is a field blend from roughly centenarian vines aged in two-thirds new French oak for 20 months. It comes in at 14.1% alcohol. This is simply enticing in its finesse and its elegance. It is understated, without a lot of flesh, but with that old-school focus and precision. The tannins are evident but not too hard. There is plenty of flavor on the fresh and long finish, more than on the Ujo, its sibling. This is a rounder, fleshier wine, although not by a lot. It is not an attention-getter style in the lineup, unless you’re paying attention to its grace, its structure and its long finish, of course. It still has to prove that it can develop and become more special, but it should do exactly that. Let’s start here. We’ll see where it goes in a few years.
18,5
/20 Pts
Muito rico mas ainda fechado no aroma, de novo com a barrica de enorme qualidade presente ainda que sem a impressão esmagadora que tinha deixado em edições anteriores. Fruta madura para já em segundo plano mas muito fina e atractiva. Prova de boca de grande classe, taninos de filigrana sustentam um corpo muito elegante, coadjuvado por fruta fina. Puro luxo.
18,5
/20 Pts
Quinta da Boavista Vinha do Oratório 2015 / Grande pureza de aromas, com frutos maduros com muita classe, tenso, com um fundo vegetal e químico. Rico na boca, macio e com taninos de luxo, servido por barrica de grande qualidade. Textura de veludo com perfeito balanço ácido. Final macio e longo. Um tinto luxuoso.
93
/100 Pts
The 2015 Vinha do Oratório Vinhas Velhas (Quinta da Boavista) is a field blend from very old vines (90 years or so) aged in two-thirds new French oak for 20 months. It comes in at 13.6% alcohol. At least from this tasting, this is no better than the 2014, perhaps a step behind. It does add that flavor component that the 2014 lacked, but it doesn’t seem quite as powerful or as concentrated. On the happy side, the fruit is more vivid and it is notably less rustic. It seems a little understated—or perhaps a bit closed. It is still pretty beautiful, silky, bright, fresh and chock-full of flavor. It may well improve with a bit more time in bottle—it did tighten notably from my first to my third taste (…). There is a good chance this can wake up and flesh out. Stick it in the cellar for a few years. There is some upside potential and it may surprise us.
94
/100 Pts
The 2014 Vinha do Oratório Vinhas Velhas (Quinta da Boavista) is a field blend from a specific and small, old-vines (around 90 years) plot in the vineyard, aged for approximately 20 months in new French barriques. It comes in at 14% alcohol. This certainly seems like one of the finer successes of the 2014 vintage in this subregion. It is a tribute to the winery that it produced so many interesting 2014s. Granting that they are not side by side right now, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of difference here compared to last year’s beauty. This is tight and powerful, perhaps a bit drier and sterner than usual, but nicely concentrated. Some fruit does emerge with air, though. This hard-edged tinto really needs some time to develop in the cellar, moderate its tannins and acquire more harmony. Put it away for three to five years, at least. Its crisp edge, serious backbone and well-crafted mid-palate should give it a bright future. I say that even while always having some fear that, in general, wines in vintages like this often do not reward aging and fall off faster than one might suspect. This should go 30 years, but let’s take that in stages for the moment. It’s a new brand and a tough year.
94
/100 Pts
The 2013 Vinha do Oratório Vinhas Velhas (Quinta da Boavista) is a field blend from a single vineyard planted in 1930, aged for 18 months in new French oak (co-owner Tony Smith implied that will change–but at the moment, since this is their first harvest, new oak is all they have, he said). He added that this “contains some of the highest terraces in the Douro – some measuring over 8 meters tall.” It comes in at 13.5% alcohol. After acquiring this Quinta from Sogrape recently, Lima & Smith clearly intend to make a statement with the terroir. Crisp and fresh, this has big power and old-school mid-palate finesse. Laced with dark flavors, plums and blue fruit, this has fine grip on the finish, but it is just a bit too tight to approach now. It seems to have a bright future–almost as bright as the wine’s demeanor–but it is wholly unevolved. I’m leaning up for its potential, but it is all about the potential just now.
18,5
/20 Pts
Vinha virada a noroeste com mais de 25 castas 18 meses em barrica de carvalho francês Perfil fechado, perceção de juventude, enorme complexidade e potência, bosque, chocolate e café Taninos robustos e maduros, muito boa acidez geral, estruturado e amplo. Enorme prazer.