Heads up on a mature Douro red: Quinta da Manuela 2000, exclusive to The Wine Society (UK)

Like Port, Douro wines have become increasingly refined.

A few years back when I sampled the first (2009) Vinhas Velhas wine from Quinta da Manuela to be made under his Wine & Soul label (and which Wine & Soul spell Manoella) winemaker Jorge Serôdio Borges told me, because of the region’s port winemaking background and where “port is high in everything,” the emphasis was originally on extracting as much colour, tannin and ripe fruit as possible, as soon as possible for Douro red wines too.

And surprise surprise, the older school wines especially benefit from time in bottle. So it’s a bit of a coup (indeed a UK exclusive) for The Wine Society to secure a parcel of mature Quinta da Manuela 2000 which Borges made back in the ‘old’ days before he inherited the vineyard. Sure enough, while still powerful, it’s drinking really well now – mellower, I would say than The Wine Society’s previous 2001 vintage listing. Here’s my note.

Quinta da Manuela 2000 (Douro)

A glossy plum hue with just a hint of brickiness to the rim. Quite mature, Porty even, on nose and palate with rich, spicy plum/fruitcake, dried fig and chocolate notes (a sweetness); a Rioja-like cured leather/kid glove savouriness too. Anchoring us back in the Douro are its pronounced gum cistus, liquorice and mineral notes. This (the minerality), its attractive juicy acidity and supple, sweet tannins make for a lingering, very balanced finish. Decant this powerful but mature wine half an hour or so beforehand and it’s just raring to go. Not being a meat eater, I’m craving mature hard cheese tasting this! 14.5% £18/bottle at The Wine Society. Click here for details.