A classic red Douro blend - ripe and characterful.
Production
The indigenous red grapes are cultivated in fine soils with some schist in vineyards situated near Cambres, in the western part of the Douro valley and south of the river. The climate here is warm and dry. After fermentation a third of the wine spends 6 months in 2nd year French oak barrels, before the final blending and bottling.
Barão da Várzea do Douro, Reserva Tinto 2021 (6 bottles case)
Vivino ratings
Tasting notes
Complex aromas of red berry, bramble fruit and a touch of spice. The palate has blackberry and plum notes balanced by some savoury characters, bright acidity, a hint of pepper and ripe tannins.
Food match
Roast lamb and pork - perhaps a classic Portuguese bean and rice dish.
Info
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ABV
14%
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CASE/BOTTLE SIZE
6 x 75cl
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REGION/COUNTRY
DOURO, PORTUGAL
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GRAPE
TOURIGA NACIONAL, TOURIGA FRANCESA, TINTA RORIZ
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CLOSURE
CORK
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APPELLATION
DOC DOURO
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ALLERGEN INFO
CONTAINS SULPHITES AND NO OTHER ALLERGENS
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Meet the producer
Casa de Vila Nova is owned by the Lencastre family, of aristocratic Portuguese lineage (one of their ancestors became the first Baron of Varzea do Douro in the 1800s). This land has been in their family since the 12th century - the ivy clad tower that still remains from that time is now surrounded by Vila Nova (new house) that was built in the 1700s, and the property was gradually extended over the centuries.
The estate is near the town of Penafiel, close to the eastern border of Portugal's vinho verde wine region, around a 30 minute drive east from Oporto. In the late 1970s the family planted vines over 12 hectares - mainly local Portuguese varieties. In 2008 Bernardo Lencastre and his brothers took over the running of the property, revitalised the vineyards and began making vinho verde and bottling their own wines - the first generation to do so. They now have around 42 hectares of vineyard.
Here, in the Entre-Douro-e-Minho sub-region of Sousa, their vineyards are influenced by winds from the Atlantic Ocean - creating the perfect climate to ripen varieties such as Avesso, Loureiro and Alvarinho.