2006 Vintage Port
The total production of Port in the Douro in 2006 was 9.5 million cases, some 8 million litres less than the estimated annual sales. Generally difficult harvest conditions.
Drinking Status
These wines can be drunk young by those who enjoy a more fruit driven style, but will also age superbly over the decades to come.
Tasting Notes
The intense summer heat favoured thick skinned varieties, particularly the Touriga Nacional which produced intensely aromatic wines with an impressive depth of black fruit and great complexity.
Climatic Conditions
The 2006 viticultural year started very well with good winter rains that broke the two-year drought of ‘03 and ‘04. This was vital in order to replenish the water table and to support the vines through the hot Douro summer. Between 1st December and end April, 332 millimetres fell at Dow’s Quinta do Bomfim, more than double the rainfall (158 mm) in the winter drought of 2004/5.
Budburst came a little late on 3rd April followed by generally good weather for flowering in May, although strong winds at the end of the month reduced fruit set in the higher vineyards. May was very dry and hot, in fact the hottest May for over 40 years with an extraordinary 6 days delivering a daily average of 25° C or more.
In June, temperatures increased until a very severe hailstorm hit certain vineyards in the Pinhão and the Rio Torto valleys on the night of the 14th. In just 20 minutes several vineyards lost up to 30% or more of their crop. The vine leaves looked as if they had been blasted by shotgun pellets from a distance of a few yards. Many young and as yet green bunches of grapes were partially shredded. Fortunately the Douro is made up of many sharply contoured hills and valleys, consequently numerous vineyards were shielded from this onslaught and the storm only affected the above-mentioned areas, the rest of the Douro simply benefited from some timely rain.
After a very hot July, August started much cooler and a useful spell of rain fell on the 16th, 17th and 18th (47mm in all), usually an excellent omen for a good Port vintage. A return to hot conditions in late August and early September caused some raisining and crop reduction in the more exposed vineyards. After three years of harvesting grapes under very good conditions it was perhaps inevitable that we would have a slightly more difficult year.
Following regular maturation studies that started in mid-August, picking began in the Douro Superior on the 11th September.
Some unsettled weather occurred mid September as a result of the effects of Hurricane Gordon, a storm originating in the Caribbean. Rain fell on the 13th and then again on the 21st, 23rd and 24th September. The dry winds that occurred during this period helped to keep the bunches dry. Consequently no real harm was done and the daily anxiety of impending rain was relieved.
Vinification
Baumés were normal (12° to 13.5°) and the grapes were generally in good condition with some raisining. Cooling was not needed at most of our wineries after the first very hot week as the grapes arrived at the wineries at an ideal 20° to 21°C. Yields everywhere were down by at least 15%.
Winemaker's Comments
"While the last fermentations are ending at the time of writing, it is clear that there are some very fine tanks and casks of Port from the 2006 harvest amongst the total wine made this year. Overall it can be said that the average quality of wine made is reasonably good throughout the valley."
Charles Symington
16th October 2006