Smith Woodhouse 1999
Quinta da Madalena
Single Quinta Vintage Port
Only 1500 cases of the very finest Port from the property were selected for bottling.
Description
The maturation in the "Torto" valley is typically later than in the Pinhão valley bringing about an extended ripening period leading to the production of well balanced fruit and giving rise to wines of great finesse and structure.
The vintage began at Madalena on the 30th September, two weeks later than most other Upper Douro Quintas and as a result had the added advantage of missing the rain.
Our Expert's Recommendation
"This Single Quinta Vintage is beginning to show some of the wonderful characteristics of bottle matured wine. It can be drunk now but will repay a few more years in your cellar."
Press Comments
“Raspberry, cherry and bramble, with ripe blackberry jam, quite spicy, not too complex yet with good structure and texture, well-rounded, light, lean mineral finish with slight nutty flavour”.
"…Smith Woodhouse often rises above people’s expectations in quinta vintages, when Madalena is allowed to shine on its own. And this is a remarkable example – especially at the price. The wine keeps getting better with air: At first, the chocolate richness contrasts or conflicts with the peppery heat. And even as it feels ungainly, the violet, liquorice and walnut-skin elements not yet completely formed, it also feels completely balanced. The black chunkiness slowly yields to a thyme component, the wine’s power deceptively gloved within that balance."
Additional Information
For more information about Smith Woodhouse, please visit
http://www.smithwoodhouse.com/
Click here to download the Quinta profile.