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| The oldest
demarcated wine region in the world,
the Douro valley has long been
famous for its port wines, produced
from Touriga Nacional, Touriga
Franca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Roriz, and
Tinta Barroca. Now, the emphasis is
shifting away from fortified port
wine towards elegant, modern red DOC
table wines, produced from the same
grapes that helped make port famous.
The Douro is remarkable for its
thick layer of schist that sits on
the incredibly steep mountainsides
bordering the Douro River, where
many of the region’s vineyards are
planted. The grapes from these
high-altitude vineyards are being
used to produce rich, complex wines,
both red and white. |
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Quinta de Maritávora’s
vineyards have belonged
to Manuel Gomes Mota’s
family for 150 years. In
2004, Manuel started
bottling his wines,
using grapes from his
incredibly old vines as
well as from newer
plantings. His property
is small, just nine
hectares, and the wines
are of the very best
quality, including his
reserva white made from
100+-year-old vines. All
of his reds are crushed
in old ‘lagares’, which
are still in use from
the family’s original
winery. Famed winemaker
Jorge Serôdio Borges is
the winemaker. |
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Maritávora Branco 2008
Varietal: Rabigato,
Malvasia Fina, and
Codega do Larinho
Winery: Maritávora
DOC: Douro
TASTING NOTES
Color: Medium gold
Nose: Citrus and honey
aromas with a beautiful
hint of floral
Palate: Honeyed citrus
fruit, hints of wet
stone minerality, and a
steely finish.
Aging: Unoaked |
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Maritávora Branco
Reserva 2007
Varietal: Viosinho,
Rabigato, and Codega do
Larinho and other native
varieties from 100+
year-old-vines
Winery: Maritávora
DOC: Douro
TASTING NOTES
Color: Bright gold
Nose: Rich and complex,
with aromas of honey,
toast, nuts, tropical
fruits
Palate: Dense and
exuberant, with rich
mouthfeel and a
beautiful freshness.
Incredibly rich and
Aging: Fermented in new
French oak barrels, then
aged in new French oak
for seven months,
including three months
of lees stirring
*96 points, Aníbal
Coutinho “240 Best Wines
of 2008"
*10 Best Wines of
Portugal, Rui Falcão |
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Maritávora Tinto 2005
Varietal: Touriga
Nacional, Touriga
Franca, and Tinta Roriz
from old vines,
foot-trodden in lagares.
Winery: Maritávora
DOC: Douro
TASTING NOTES
Color: Deep purple
Nose: Raspberry, black
berry, eucalyptus
Palate: Powerful and
balanced, with black
fruit flavors combining
with fresh acidity and a
velvety finish.
Aging: Aged in French
oak for 12 months
*87 points, Robert
Parker (Wine Advocate
#180, Dec 2008) |
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Maritávora Tinto Reserva
2005
Varietal: Touriga
Nacional, Touriga
Franca, and Tinta Roriz
from old vines,
foot-trodden in lagares
Winery: Maritávora
DOC: Douro
TASTING NOTES
Color: Deep ruby purple
Nose: Elegant and
refined, with black
pepper, ripe fruit, and
florals combined with
Palate: Intense,
complex, and harmonious,
with concentrated black
fruit, herbal, and
savory flavors. Long,
rich finish.
Aging: Aged in new
French oak for 17 months
*89 points, Robert
Parker (Wine Advocate
#180, Dec 2008) |
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