2015…A Very Promising Year for Ramos Pinto!

Ramos Pinto have reported excellent conditions for the 2015 Harvest, with very positive results in terms of quality and quantity.

Leaves on the vine remained very green at the end of July. The soil managed to retain a lot of water, despite a drought caused by low rainfall throughout the year. Although new vines suffered during maturation, well-established vines produced firm, aromatic and balanced grapes.

The harvest began on the 10th August (a week later than 2014) with the Viosinho grape planted in Ervamoira. Cool temperatures recorded during that week slowed maturation of the rest of the white grape varieties, especially Rabigato.

The reds began to be harvested on the 24th August (5 days later than the previous year) and had a high alcohol content, particularly for Touriga Nacional.

Harvest took place in the first two weeks of September in sunny, stable weather conditions. In general the grapes were well balanced and expressive.

The start of the harvest at Quinta dos Bons Ares was brought forward a week, and the white grape harvest began on the 25th August. Red grapes were harvested from the 3rd September and ended on the 29th. Rainfall on the 15th September was a blessing which allowed the Touriga Nacional and Touriga Francesca to reach full maturation.

Grapes were in perfect health from Quinta do Bom Retiro, thanks to well-timed rainfall and ideal maturation conditions.

Harvest ended on 30th September.

The Ports…

The White Port has been very successful, fresh and fruity.

The Red Ports of special categories were vinified in lagares and have revealed exceptional quality, concentration, beautiful colours and great aromatic expression. The Touriga Nacional from Ervamoira and Bom Retiro, and Touriga Francesca from Ervamoira, have played the leading roles.

All in all this has been a very promising year!

The Wines…

The Whites presented very ripe aromas, average acidity and high alcohol levels. They are full-bodied and structured wines.

For the Reds we can foresee an interesting level of quality with concentrated, fruity wines with mature tannins.

 

Contact Christine to find out more about the 2015 harvest at Ramos Pinto.

Ramos Pinto: Decanter’s Top Port for Christmas

Ramos Pinto Ports have been awarded outstanding scores in Richard Mayson’s “Top 20 Ports for Christmas”, for Decanter Magazine.

Richard Mayson began his career at The Wine Society and specialises in the wines of Iberia, especially fortified wines. He is the author of four books, including “The Wines and Vineyards of Portugal” and “Port and the Douro”.

Richard recommended Ramos Pinto’s Late Bottled Vintage and 20 Year Old Tawny as some of the best Ports to enjoy over Christmas, scoring the LBV 90 points and 20 Year Old Tawny an outstanding 98 points.

Mayson described the LBV:

“Ripe nose yet showing attractive restraint, with a touch of lavender. Rich and full of deep and dark sensuous fruit with lovely freshness and firm, ripe tannins giving good grip. Serious yet vibrant LBV.”

And the 20 Year Old Tawny:

“From a single estate where a quarter of the vines are more than 80 years old. Soft and seamless, boasting waves of dates, dried figs, brazil nuts and toasted almonds. Suave silky texture and wonderful savoury- sweet length. Supremely good.”

 

Contact Christine to find out more about these high scoring Ports.

Christie’s Champagne Masterclass: Cristal in Magnum with Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon

London, 2nd December: Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, chef de cave at Champagne Louis Roederer, hosted an intimate masterclass at Christie’s lining up 14 different Roederer vintages en magnum, including nine vintages of Cristal.

The event, held at Christie’s in central London, took their annual Champagne Masterclass to new heights this year, showcasing an exceptional range of wines from Champagne Louis Roederer, as part of their education series.

This was the first time in history that such a round-up had been brought together of such wines in magnum.

This unique Masterclass, “Cristal in Magnum”, was hosted by Master of wine Nancy Gilchrist and celebrated oenologist Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, from Champagne Louis Roederer. Over the course of the evening, Jean-Baptiste guided guests through the evolving characteristics of Cristal, shaped by the unique climate profile of each vintage, explaining how these factors would sculpt the wines’ development over time.

The discussion turned also to disgorgement times, and the impact it can have on the wines, demonstrated by the two vintages of Roederer 1990 – one disgorged in 2007, the other in 2015 (on 28th Sept).

Vintages included Cristal 2000, 1999, 1997, 1996, 1995; Cristal Rosé 2002, 1999, 1996, 1995; Roederer Brut Vintage 1999, 1997, 1990 (two different disgorgements); and Roederer Vintage Rosé 1993, tasted exclusively in magnum.

 

For further information about the event please contact Marinel FitzSimons.

 

Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru 2013 scores 18.5/20

Sixteen Domaine Faiveley wines have been highly praised in “The World of Fine Wine” review, in particular the outstanding Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru which was awarded 18.5/20.

“The World of Fine Wine” described it as “A sublime wine, as in 2012. Elegant, pure and refined on the nose, with black and red fruit and gentle spice. A gloriously flowing silk texture[…] A brilliant expression of this special site.”

A love of winemaking has been passed from one Faiveley family member to the next for more than one hundred and eighty years. The Domaine has always remained in the family and continues to be completely independent. The Domaine is run today by Erwan Faiveley, one of the youngest directors of a Burgundy Domaine on record.

Contact Christine to find out more about the outstanding wines produced at Domaine Faiveley.

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