Description

Quinta do Vale Meão was founded in 1877 by the legendary Dona Antonia Adelaide Ferreira and is owned today by her great-great-grandson Francisco “Xito” Olazabal. Vale Meão built its reputation supplying fruit to the famed 250-year-old Port house Ferreira. In 1952, its vineyards were chosen to create a revolutionary wine, which for decades would be the Douro’s only globally recognized table wine.

Vale Meão began a new life in 1998 when Xito realized his dream of making his own wine from his family’s estate. Success came quickly, and in 2011, Portugal’s leading wine publication Revista de Vinhos named Xito Winemaker of the Year. Today Xito is recognized as a leading figure in the Douro table wine revolution, which has captured the attention of the wine world.

100 points “Cellar Selection” Wine Enthusiast! This is another fabulous vintage of this iconic wine, aged for 16 months in wood. It comes from the spectacular Olazabal family vineyard in the Douro Superior. It shows powerful structure and dark, dense black fruits. The tannins and the wine’s concentration point to considerable aging potential. Drink this impressive wine from 2027.

97 points Wine Advocate! The 2020 Tinto is a blend of 35% Touriga Franca, 60% Touriga Nacional and dollops of Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca filling out the blend, all aged for 16 months in 40% new French oak. It comes in at 14.5% alcohol. This is more the typical Touriga Nacional-dominant blend, as opposed to last year. This combines concentration and freshness, but with the Touriga Nacional ascendant again, it is also fruitier, lacing the palate with blue fruits. It remains elegant and polished, as well as delicious. Xito Olazabal said he liked this better than the 2019, and I’d tend to agree, if only for the flavor profile. They are both pretty fine, to be sure. Reasonable minds might differ. Drink 2022-2044

95 points Wine Spectator! A generous red in a graceful package, this seamlessly knits supple tannins and a rich loamy underpinning with flavors of blackberry confit, soft fig, dried thyme, lavender and violet. This has a balsamico tang to the expressive flavor range, with dark hints of espresso and smoke lingering on the long finish. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Alicante Bouschet. Drink now through 2035. 1,800 cases made, 150 cases imported.