Ramos Pinto Vintage Port 1997

Wine information: Ramos Pinto Port Wines are prepared in their vinification centre of Quinta do Bom Retiro. The case of LBV and Vintage, the grapes are trodden in the traditional lagar as this age-old technique allows for the juice of the fruit to be extracted more efficiently and not as harshly as mechanical treaders. After the winemaking at Bom Retiro, the wines are transported to the historical wine cellars at Vila Nova de Gaia, where they undergo a long ageing process. Vintage port is a wine from one single harvest, representative of the growth cycle of one single exceptional year. After two years of ageing in oak barrels, it is then bottled for a long life (which can be 40 years or more for a very good vintage). When a Vintage Port is aged it develops a crust, or sediment, and should always be placed upright for a few hours (or a few days if possible) to allow for the sediments to settle at the bottom. Depending on the age of the Port it can then be decanted a few hours before serving. The 1997 vintage is a wine of complete ripeness, good acidity, tannin and concentration. The growing season consisted of a sunny winter, adverse weather in spring, and favorable, sunny growing conditions in summer. While there were some weather difficulties, Ramos-Pinto fared well. The 1997 vintage will start to reach maturity in 10-15 years. The grape varieties for the wine are Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Roriz. The wine has good colour and is starting to show signs of maturity. On the nose there are elegant floral notes with hints of rose and black cherry. The palate has a smooth, well-balanced attack. Robust tannins endow the wine with hints of ripe fruit, showing plenty of promise for good aging. Serve after dinner, it pairs well with cheeses from the Serra da Estrela region of Portugal, Stilton, Gorgonzola and other full-fat cheeses. An ideal accompaniment to a strong cigar.

 
     

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