Description

Casa Ferreirinha has carried the torch for creative, quality winemaking in the Douro becoming one of the region’s most historic and iconic house. Casa Ferreirinha wines range today from easy-drinking Esteva and Planalto through the richer Papa Figos and Vinha Grande to the exceptional Quinta da Leda, Reserva Especial, and Barca Velha which remains one of Portugal’s most long-lived, elegant and complex wines.

Vinified at the Quinta da Leda winery from grapes on the estate bursting with maturation, with a view to obtaining higher aromatic and polyphenolic concentration. After total de-stemming and soft-crushing, the grapes are transferred to stainless steel tanks or lagares, where maceration and alcoholic fermentation take place. Maceration is adapted accorded to each grape variety; temperature controls and “pumping-over” techniques tailored to their individual characteristics. After final fermentation, the wine is aged in French oak barrels (50% new and 50% used) for a period of roughly 18 months. The final blend is made after careful selection following numerous organoleptic tests and analysis undertaken during this period. In order to preserve the highest possible quality, the wine is only subject to light filtration prior to bottling. As it did not undergo cold stabilization, a natural sediment may form in the bottle over time. Blend on the 2016 vintage: 50% Touriga Franca, 25% Touriga Nacional, 15% Tinto Cão and 10% Tinta Roriz.

Trust me, this incredible red will completely redefine your impressions of any Portugese red you have experienced.  FINALLY!  The PROMISED 2016 vintage has arrived.  Only 50 six packs were imported.  We have 16 of them available for NorCal and the importer is giving me first crack at them to amend for the earlier confusion when we were sent the still very compelling 2015.  You know I love this wine and feel the aromatics are worthy of a top growth Pauillac – Bordeaux.  On the palate the structure is riveting, and I mean that in all the best ways.  Just be sure to decant and let it breath a little.  We had a memorable rack of lamb with the 2015.  I like to quote one of our customers who admittedly loves Cabernet Sauvignon, who quadrupled down on his first order and exclaimed “there ought to be a law against a wine tasting this good!”.  Same price at $75 a bottle.  If you want to go big?  NICE wooden box 6 packs.  Seriously world class Portugese Tinta at its finest, especially for the money!  Should not be missed and will be most memorable.  You will thank me.

96 points “Cellar Selection” Wine Enthusiast! The wine comes from a great estate in the Douro Superior that forms the basis for the blend of the iconic Barca Velha. It has a beautifully subtle harmony between the rich black fruits and the structured wood and tannins. There is balance and elegance in this impressive wine that demands aging. Drink from 2022.

95 points Wine Spectator! A generous red, packed with flavors and offering plenty of elegance to the raspberry reduction, violet and cherry gelée notes, underscored with olive, baking spice and mineral nuances. Polished tannins frame the rich, long finish, marked by vanilla and espresso details. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Cão and Tinta Roriz. Drink now through 2035. 5,250 cases made, 50 cases imported.

93 points, Wine Advocate  “The 2016 Quinta da Leda is a blend of 50% Touriga Franca, 25% Touriga Nacional and 15% Tinto Cão and 10% Tinta Roriz, aged for 18 months in an equal mixture of new and used French oak. It comes in at 13.5% alcohol. One of the prestige wines here, this rarely has the power of, say, Reserva Especial, but its elegance often makes it as much or more appealing, if not as attention getting. For instance, I’d take the 2009 Leda over the muscular Reserva Especial in that vintage. In any event, this is a particularly fresh version, sunny and lifted with a fine finish. This can be profitably drunk now, but it won’t hurt if you can give it a couple of years to come around, pull in just a bit of wood and show some complexity. I think this is a step behind some recent vintages, but it’s still early and this will have more time to develop. It is certainly very good, no matter what….” – Mark Squires – August 2019