ProducerVallegre
RegionDouro
GrapesTouriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Sousão, Tinto Cão
AgeingColheita, at least 7 years in oak casks
ServingAt room temperature

Producer	Vallegre
Region	Douro
Grapes	Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Sousão, Tinto Cão
Ageing	Colheita, at least 7 years in oak casks
Serving	At room temperature Keeps 10 to 12 weeks once opened
Scores	94/100 Decanter

A 1997 Colheita: raisins, dried fruit and vanilla, in a wooden box.

Tasting note

Tawny in colour with orange hues. Well balanced, with good acidity and freshness and aromas of raisins, dried fruit and a touch of vanilla. Smooth and silky on the palate, with a firm texture and a long finish.

The story

Colheita is Portuguese for ‘harvest’: a tawny Port from a single good year, aged for at least seven years in wooden casks. By then it is tawny in colour and ready to drink. The harvest year and bottling year appear on the bottle.

The grapes from a single harvest are hand-picked and carried in small crates. After partial destemming they are foot-trodden in stone lagares. Fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature and is stopped by adding grape spirit.

Food pairing

As a digestif with coffee and chocolate. Lovely with fruit tarts, crème brûlée, mature and blue cheeses, or with a good cup of coffee and a cigar.

The producer

Vallegre is based at Quinta da Vista Alegre, in the Cima Corgo, on the right bank of the Douro between the mouth of the Pinhão and Covas do Douro. The quinta’s vineyards have been making wine since the 19th century. The quinta belongs to the Cunha Barros family, and in 1998 the company took the name Vallegre, a blend of its two main quintas: Valle Longo and Vista Alegre.

At Quinta da Vista Alegre the grapes for Port are still foot-trodden in old stone lagares. Besides Port, Vallegre also makes unfortified Douro wines.

Critics & Awards

Silver (Best in Class) – International Wine & Spirit Competition 2010
Commended – International Wine Challenge 2010
Grand Gold – Monde Selection 2010
Grand Gold – Vinalies Internationales 2010

94/100 Decanter World Wine Awards | Tasted: Jun 2018