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.

“The latest release of this top wine is as impressive as ever, a rich medley of flavors enhanced by 16 months in wood. The black fruits combine with structure to give a wine with a great future. Drink from 2028.” – 98 points, Wine Enthusiast

“The eponymous red 2021 Quinta do Vale Meão was produced with grapes from the same five vineyards from the first year, fermented with some full clusters, which they’ve done since 2017. This year saw some 20%, a little like it was done in the past in the Barca Velha from the grandfather of winemaker Francisco Olazabal. It has the same character from the previous years, a strong personality, good tension and, as with the rest of the wines I tasted from them, a little less ripeness and extraction. They used some 30% new barrels, and they have been gradually using less toast and coopers who respect the wines. The wine is more elegant, tasty and spicy, with very fine tannins and a supple, almost salty finish—very long with nothing jammy about it. – 96 points, Wine Advocate

“There’s an effortless elegance to this focused red, with firm, fine-grained tannins seamlessly meshed with layers of ripe black cherry and mulberry fruit, dried violet and mint, and Earl Grey tea, plus a mineral-driven underpinning. Expands nicely on the palate before echoing on the lasting finish. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Alicante. Drink now through 2040. 1,800 cases made, 150 cases imported.” – 95 points, Wine Spectator