Alves de Sousa Abandonado 2019
€ 115.85
| Producer | Alves de Sousa |
| Region | Douro |
| Grapes | Tinta Amarela, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Sousão |
| Ageing | In new and used French and Portuguese oak barrels |
| Alcohol | 14.5%vol |
| Serving | 16-18°C |
| Drinking window | 2019-2040 |
| Scores | 19/20 Revista de Vinhos 94/100 Falstaff |
Abandonado 2019: from an abandoned vineyard over 80 years old, where only the toughest vines survived.
Tasting note
Deep ruby. Great aromatic complexity and freshness, with the balsamic and tar notes typical of the Abandonado vineyard, liquorice and black berries (after the producer’s description).
The story
A vineyard over 80 years old, on a slope with fierce sun and large slabs of schist at the surface. After years of partial neglect it had many gaps, and the quinta’s people called it the ‘Vinha do Abandonado’, the abandoned vineyard. For years the family tried to replace the lost vines, but only the oldest, toughest ones survived. In 2004 the grapes were vinified separately for the first time, and the wine immediately showed a unique character. Abandonado is a tribute to the Douro’s old vines, and is made only in the best years.
Quinta da Gaivosa lies in the Baixo Corgo, on the right bank of the Corgo, not far from Vila Real. It is the family’s home base, with old vineyards where dozens of varieties grow together. The winery, designed by architect Belém Lima, has won several architecture and wine tourism awards.
Food pairing
Fantastic with Iberian ham, roasts, game, smoked meats and other Mediterranean meat dishes. Lovely with salted goat’s cheese.
The producer
Winemaking is a family tradition for Domingos Alves de Sousa: his father Edmundo and his grandfather Domingos were already Douro winegrowers. Trained as a civil engineer, in 1987 he devoted himself fully to the quintas he had inherited. For years he supplied grapes to big houses such as Casa Ferreirinha and Borges. After the crisis of the late 1980s and the disastrous 1988 harvest, he decided to make and bottle his own wine. He built a winery at Quinta da Gaivosa and in 1992 released his first wine, the Quinta do Vale da Raposa Branco 1991.
Revista de Vinhos named him Producer of the Year in 1999 and 2006: he was the first ever to win the title twice. Since 2002 his son Tiago, who holds a doctorate in viticulture, has been the winemaker. The family uses only grapes from its own six quintas: Gaivosa, Vale da Raposa, Caldas, Estação, Aveleira and Oliveirinha.
Critics & Awards
19/20 Revista de Vinhos
94/100 Falstaff | Tasted: Sep 2021
Powerful and finely spiced, with ripe plum, integrated yet lively tannins and a mineral, salty finish. A full-bodied food wine with ageing potential.
Powerful and finely spiced, with ripe plum, integrated yet lively tannins and a mineral, salty finish. A full-bodied food wine with ageing potential.
Reviews
No reviews were found.