Quinta do Vale Meão 2001 – Rare 3rd Vintage – Douro DOC – 75cl

Quinta do Vale Meão 2001 is an early and increasingly collectible vintage of one of Portugal’s benchmark Douro reds. The 2001 represents only the third vintage of the estate’s flagship Quinta do Vale Meão wine, placing it among the formative releases that established the modern reputation of this historic Douro property. Quinta do Vale Meão occupies a remarkable place in Portuguese wine history. The estate was created by the legendary Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira — “Ferreirinha” — in the late 19th century at Vila Nova de Foz Côa, in the Douro Superior. The property subsequently became intimately connected with the history of Portugal’s legendary Barca Velha before emerging as an independent estate under the Olazabal family. The 2001 was produced from 65% Touriga Nacional, 25% Touriga Franca, 5% Tinta Roriz and 5% Tinta Barroca, as confirmed directly on the original back label of this bottle. Produced under Francisco de Olazabal with Nicolau de Almeida, it represents the powerful yet refined character that made Vale Meão one of the reference wines of the Douro. Traditional production included vinification of individual varieties, foot-treading in granite lagares and approximately 16–18 months of maturation in oak barrels. Now 25 years from vintage, this is not simply an older bottle of Vale Meão but an example from the very beginning of the flagship wine’s history.