IN BOND
"Quite marked violet aromas with a touch of orange blossom and Mediterranean shrub with kirsch and blackberry notes completing the bouquet. On the palate, simultaneously full and silky. Luxurious mouthfeel with sumptuous black fruit and ripened, velvety tannins. Touriga Nacional (43%); Touriga Franca (38%); Sousão (11%); Alicante Bouschet (8%)."
Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira is situated in the remote, hot, dry Douro Superior sub-region and commands a magnificent position on the north bank, overlooking a broad sweep of the Douro River. The schist soils, challenging conditions, and high proportion of old vines result in very low yields – amongst the lowest of any wine- producing region on earth. Yields can be as low as 500g per vine and are rarely above 1 kg. The late ripening Touriga Franca, which thrives in abundant sunshine, is particularly suited to the southern orientation and is a key component of the Senhora da Ribeira Vintage Ports. The finest Touriga Franca parcels are found in the Pedreira vineyards, surrounding the house and winery and descending to the river. The other essential part of Senhora da Ribeira Vintage Ports is Touriga Nacional. The best Touriga Nacional parcels are in the Vinha Grande, planted in two swathes behind the house, rising to 400 metres. Not as resilient as the Franca, the Touriga Nacional benefits from this cooler east-facing aspect and the higher altitude. This is crucial in delivering the acidity that gives Senhora da Ribeira Vintage Ports their freshness, balance and staying power.
Abundant rainfall during the first half of the winter reversed the severe drought of 2022, replenishing soil water levels satisfactorily. Although February to April was an exceptionally dry and mild period, generous late spring rainfall in May and June sustained the vines over the ripening cycle. While much of Europe was blasted by extreme heatwaves during the summer, July temperatures in Portugal were close to normal and in the Douro fractionally below average. Although there was virtually no rainfall in the Douro during July and August, reasonable soil moisture, combined with comparatively moderate temperatures, favoured good levels of acidity, balanced maturations, and good phenolic development. Perfectly timed rain in early September provided a great start to the vintage, and we picked under fine conditions during the first half of the month. From mid-September, excessive rainfall affected later ripening grapes, but many of our finest vineyard parcels had been picked before the rain, enabling us to produce some very fine wines.
Charles Symington, Head Winemaker
"Our ability to maximise the potential of the 2023 conditions depended on a well-planned picking schedule, agile teams, and favourable weather. Our reward is these beautifully balanced 2023 Quinta Vintage Ports, which represent the finest expression of the year - terroir-driven Quinta Vintage Ports with great ageing potential."
