Quinta da Gaivosa Douro
One of the most emblematic wines from the Douro Valley in Portugal, this gorgeous Gaivosa from awarded producer Alves de Sousa is said to be the "Cheval Blanc" of the Douro Valley. Bold and complex, it is a fine blend of twenty varieties of eighty-year-old grapes. Subtle to the nose and palate, every sip reveals new flavours. Pair this wine with grilled meats and vegetables.
- €50.50
One of the most emblematic wines from the Douro Valley in Portugal, this gorgeous Gaivosa from awarded producer Alves de Sousa is said to be the "Cheval Blanc" of the Douro Valley. Bold and complex, it is a fine blend of twenty varieties of eighty-year-old grapes. Subtle to the nose and palate, every sip reveals new flavours. Pair this wine with grilled meats and vegetables.
Tasting Notes from Celtic Whiskey Shop and Wines on the Green
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| Nose | A subtle set of aromas, including floral notes, red cherry, plum, red fruit, vanilla, leather, and cocoa. |
| Palate | Smooth, elegant, and deep, with an harmonious and long finish, this wine has fruity flavours of dry plum, blackberry, and fig with floral notes, and touches of graphite and liquorice. |
| Colour | Deep ruby |
Fact Sheet
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| Fluid | 75cl |
| Grape Variety | A blend of 20 varieties of grapes, including Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, and Tinto Cão. |
| Maturation | Aged in 50% new French oak barrels for 20 months |
| Alcohol % | 14.5% |
| Style | Bold and nicely complex, with smooth tannins |
| Estate/Producer | Alves de Sousa |
| Country | Portugal |
| Region/AOC | Douro Valley |
| Vintage | 2017 |
| Closure | Cork |
| Cellaring/Ageing Potential | Very harmonious to drink now, but can keep for 10 years + |
Food Matching
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| Food Matching | Finely pair this wine with red meats, and grilled meats or vegetables. |
Awards and/or Press Quotes
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| Robert Parker | 94 /100 - "This estate red is a beauty with big fruit. It is also caressing in texture and fairly sexy. Then, the hammer drops. It is nicely structured, although the tannins are not too hard. It is nicely concentrated without destroying its finesse. There is focus and a nice finish as well. If there is a problem, though, it is far too oaky in its youth, the vanilla rather dominating the wine and sometimes giving it a one-dimensional demeanor. This should pull in some wood nuances in time - it usually does - but it is hard to get a read on it just now, even after hours of aeration. Even though the tannins aren't too hard, this is going to need a few years in the cellar to show its best. If you like vanilla milkshakes, you can drink it sooner. Its peak moments might be more around 2026-2030. It looks like a winner, however. Let's lean up for its potential." |