subtle and enrapturingQuinta da Boavista Vinha do Ujo
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.
Vinha do Ujo represents decades of commitment and attention to detail to ensure this wine displays its charismatic expression of a unique terroir.
Grape Varieties
Vinha do Ujo was planted before 1930 on pre-phylloxera horizontal terraces and the land is supported by small schist walls. With more than 25 grape varieties, diversity is ensured and is only achievable in vines as old as these. They are spread over small north-facing terraces with an altitude that varies between 180 and 210 meters. These vines are curated year after year by the experienced hands of those who have lived in the Douro for generations.
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. Grape fermentation takes place in new 500 litre French wooden barrels. After a period of maceration, the resulting wine continues its ageing for 16 months in 225 litre barrels also of French oak. All our wines are sealed under natural cork. Wines are not filtered or cold-stabilized and that is why they can produce a sediment with age.
It’s intense ruby colour is a prelude for the successive layers of red fruit wrapped in hints of forest and subtle notes of inkiness. Haughty and seductive, it is even more intriguing on the palate, evermore juicy at every sip thus revealing different layers of fruit and spice. A wine that enthrals us with its elegance and vibrant grace.
Perfect with red meat, game or cheese dishes.
95
/100 Pts
(…)[2017 Vinha do Ujo] simply coats the palate with lush fruit and velvety texture. Its finesse and precision make it seem very impressive. As with the rest, the tannins are surprisingly ripe here, making this easy to drink right now. (…).
92+
/100 Pts
The 2016 Vinha do Ujo Vinhas Velhas (Quinta da Boavista) is a single-vineyard field blend from very old vines, roughly centenarian. It was aged for 20 months in two-thirds new French barriques and comes in at 13.7% alcohol. Not quite as flavorful as the Oratório, this has more power and penetration and a steelier demeanor. Not a fat, fleshy or particularly ripe wine, this has a certain intellectual air to it, but its beautiful and long finish is gripping. This has to show some development, flavor and complexity as it ages, and it should in time, but it is a bit more backward and less expressive than its Oratório sibling just now. Let’s be a little conservative for the moment.
18,5
/20 Pts
O ambiente aromático traz-nos um tinto [Vinha do Ujo 2016] ainda um pouco fechado, a mostrar uma austeridade séria que nos dá também ideia sobre a longevidade do vinho. Especiado e balsâmico, excelente textura de boca, a acidez viva dá-lhe especial frescura. Um tinto muito aprimorado, com final longo e elegante, um Douro de primeira linha.
90
/100 Pts
This is fresh and intense with a spicy, woody edge to the sweet blackberry and black cherry fruit. It’s rounded with some oxidative hints, and juicy cherry fruit on the finish. (…)
95
/100 Pts
The 2015 Vinha do Ujo Vinhas Velhas (Quinta da Boavista) is a single-vineyard field blend from very old vines (around 90 years, but also, says the winery, including some over 100 years in age). It was aged for 20 months in French oak and comes in at 13.7% alcohol. More intense than its 2015 Oratorio sibling, this also has its fair share of stuffing and a long finish. It is tightly wound, precise and focused, with mid-palate finesse. A bit less rustic than its 2014 counterpart, this still doesn’t seem to lack power in any way; the tannins are just a little riper. It is still far too tight to drink anytime soon. A few years of cellaring will also let it pull in the oak. A few more will let it develop some complexity. Come back around 2022 or so for a better chance of enjoying the fine fruit flavor and more harmony. That won’t likely be its
peak. When this settles down, it might well be entitled to an uptick in score.
18
/20 Pts
Um pouco mais aberto de cor do que o seu “irmão” do Oratório [2015], fruta de grande pureza no aroma, com menos concentração e maior exposição das qualidades que tem. Grande elegância na prova de boca, com taninos de filigrana a sustentarem aqui um tinto de raro requinte. Um Douro de grande nível.