2012 VINTAGE REPORT
The small size of the berries and the freshness of the climate during the beginning of the summer characterise the wines of 2012: concentrated, fresh and aromatic.
Quinta de ERVAMOIRA:
The harvest date is within the average of the past 5 years, we started with the Viozinho, which was harvested with less degree than in previous years, but with aromatic maturation. The maturation of the Rabigato stopped altogether, due to the grapes being very wet having taken a long time for any sort of aroma to appear. In the end, the grapes were slightly phenolic. The Arinto matured slowly. The Codega was good and the Folgazão very interesting, with the aromas of spices, pine nuts and even minty.
The whites took long to ripen, harvest was slow and selective, with a good and fruity aromatic maturation and some tannin in individual cases. Sanity was great and screening was carried out solely in the vineyard.
As for the reds, also within the average onset of harvest, the Tinta da Barca was the first to ripen in very good condition: aromatic, with degree, and low pH. The Touriga Nacional presented fresher aromas than usual and generally matured slowly and smoothly. It was a great year for the Tinta Roriz, except in the most productive areas. The Barroca presented great quality and freshness; the Trincadeira Preta was very good. Good year for the Tinto Cão. The Sousão was a little ragged. The Touriga Francesa had some difficulty ripening in this harvest. The reds have concentration and freshness, and mild tannins. In general, the quality of the grapes of 2012 is very good.
Quinta dos BONS ARES:
The vintage of the whites in the Bons Ares began in early September, within the average. The Sauvignon Blanc presented an excellent balance between acidity and sweetness and aromatic expression. After a short thunderstorm, the rest of the whites followed, causing some dilution.
The reds started a bit earlier than usual. The Touriga Nacional was very expressive and with low pH. The Touriga Francesa, not very expressive but with some concentration and small berries.
In general, the quality of the whites of the Bons Ares was excellent.
Quinta do BOM RETIRO:
The start date of the harvest remained within the average of the last 5 years, it was a very quick harvest. The varieties Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional and Barroca had a very fast increase of probable degree in the week before harvest, and it was necessary to act swiftly and harvest everything before the September rains. The harvests of Bom Retiro and Ervamoira were joined. We had to define the parcels that would be cut and those that could wait, but, fortunately, the Ervamoira was delayed in maturation of the Touriga Nacional and Touriga Francesa varieties. So, in the meantime we harvested in the Bom Retiro.
Wines produced in 2012:
Port white: well-structured, rich and mature.
Douro white: serious wines, they are not very expressive, but are persistent in the mouth and with good structure and natural freshness.
Regional white: Sauvignon, expressive and very fresh, with aromas of red fruit, (cassis).
Port Red: very good wines for Lágima, Ruby and Tawny, fruity, with a lot of concentration, both the ones obtained from the grapes of Ervamoira, as the ones obtained from the Bom Retiro grapes. The wines made in the press show great potential, are firm and concentrated with fine tannins.
Douro red: concentration and smoothness are the main features, and given the freshness over the year, we do not have heavy wines. Touriga Nacional is exceptional, good quality on the Tinta da Barca and Roriz. At first glance, the wines are rich and balanced.
Conclusion:
Overall, we harvested a little earlier than the rest of the producers of the region. Especially in the Bom Retiro, we managed to do a selective harvest thus following the maturation of the grapes and we separated them in the cellar as much as possible in order to analyse the quality of the vineyard. It was a year of great concentration and at the same time freshness.