Sogevinus Fine Wines Port Houses prepares market launches for the last quarter of the year
In keeping with each brand’s identity and the profile established throughout their history, Kopke, Burmester, Cálem and Barros are launching Vintage Ports loaded with character and enormous ageing potential, translating secure values.
It was a particularly challenging year. We really had to make use of our profound knowledge of the grapes and vines, as each variety and each plot of vineyard developed at a different pace.
Generally speaking, the 2016 Vintage Ports are brimming with colour and full of structure, with a profile that is more concentrated, robust and intense when compared to the 2015 Vintages. A classic style for a Vintage.
Being patient and waiting for the right time was worth it, as demonstrated by the exceptional results we achieved with our various wines”
Carlos Alves, Port winemaker at Sogevinus.
November and December 2015 were dry months, but the remaining Winter saw high levels of rainfall, especially during January and February 2016. Temperatures in December and January were above the average of the last 30 years.
Spring came with lots of rain and cold, which delayed the vine growth cycle. With higher temperatures and humidity in late Spring, it was necessary to increase the maintenance and care of the vineyards, acting at precisely the right time. Summer was very hot and dry, with thunder and hale occurring in July, which resulted in substantial yield losses in some specific locations.
Harvesting began around 10 days later than in 2015, a consequence of the delay in the vine growth cycle – a cold early Spring followed by a very hot Summer. Most of the grape bunches were smaller than normal, but that was offset by a good pulp/skin ratio and by a richer and more complex fruit.
Different ripening paces in different vineyard plots made it necessary to plan the harvest meticulously, something our viticulture team, lead by Márcio Nóbrega, did to perfection. The picking was done according to the optimum ripening point of each variety, plot by plot. The harvest of the white Port wine varieties began on September 12th and the red Port wine varieties a day later, with grapes from the Douro Superior.
The best performing variety was Touriga Franca, followed very closely by Touriga Nacional.
Grape varieties: Old vines (60%) [more than 50 years old from Quinta de S. Luiz, subregion of Cima Corgo] and Touriga Nacional (40%)
A deep black colour. An intense and complex nose, laden with very ripe black fruit – plums, blackberries and cherries. Notes of cocoa, black pepper and a soft hint of violet. Unctuous and vigorous, it has several layers of flavours, firm tannins and excellent balance between sweetness and acidity. A long, deep and fresh finish.
Grape Varieties: Touriga Nacional (50%) and Touriga Franca (50%), from vines more than 25 years old from Quinta do Arnozelo, Douro Superior.
Ruby colour. Exuberant aromas of red fruit, black currants, rock-rose and light peppermint notes. Extremely elegant and delicate, keeping with the profile of the house, it has firm structure, excellent flavours of ripe fruit and excellent acidity. A long and harmonious finish.
Grape Varieties: Touriga Nacional (30%), Touriga Franca (30%), Tinta Roriz (30%) and Sousão (10%), subregion of Douro Superior.
Purple colour. Subtle on the nose, with notes of very ripe black fruit, dark chocolate and spice. With a powerful and intense structure, it shows a balance between acidity and sweetness that confers creaminess and sophistication. A long finish, with lingering fruit.
Grape Varieties: Touriga Franca (40%), Tinta Roriz (30%), Touriga Nacional (20%) and Tinta Barroca (10%) from Quinta da Galeira, subregion of Cima Corgo.
Dark ruby colour. A fragrant nose, combining notes of fresh fruit, notes of peppermint and hints of balsamic. Succulent, with a firm structure and delicious fruity character. An incredibly long finish.
