Ramos Pinto Vintage Port
Douro, Portugal
Vintage:2015 (Past)
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Reviews
Wine & Spirits 92 Points
“This is an estate-grown Port from two properties—Bom Retiro, on the left bank of the Douro across from Pinhão, and Ervamoira, near Foz Coa in the Douro Superior. Both sites contributed touriga nacional, which benefited from the rains in mid-September; that and touriga francesa from Ervamoira are the main components in the blend, while other varieties, including barroca, bring complexity. It’s a muscular vintage from Ramos Pinto, almost completely shut down behind its tannins until the flavor bursts out in the finish, tingling with power. The dry, hot season shows in those tannins, but there’s also deep red-cherry power to the fruit, waiting to fill out the structure with time.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 Points
“With its highly perfumed character, this wine is intense with ripe tannins and delicious acidity. It almost needs to hold back on its ebullient aromas and fruitiness to balance out. The tannic structure could help, with a dry aftertaste that hints at the fruit to come.”
The Wine Advocate 94 Points
“The 2015 Vintage Port, the last from João Nicolau de Almeida’s reign as Managing Director at Ramos Pinto, is mostly Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca. It comes in at 94 grams per liter of residual sugar. This declared Vintage Porto was in bottle for a bit more than a month when seen. It seemed to have some room to grow and improve, to say the least. It looks like a fine 2015, showing plenty of power as it tightens and gets harder in the glass, plus very flavorful fruit. It has enough concentration, although no one will ever call this the most concentrated vintage. It is, however, focused and precise, bright and fresh, with that fine structure. This declaration was the right decision by Ramos Pinto (although early reports from winemaker Ana Rosas are that they do not have enough quantity to declare the 2016, anyway). Even so, this looks pretty fine. We’ll see what the future holds, of course, and there should be a long one here. This should age gracefully. It may also be approachable young, but if you really want it to be all it can be, cellar it for much longer than indicated, say, another ten years at least, maybe more. At that point, it just might be entitled to an uptick. There were 8,300 bottles produced, plus some large-format bottles.”
Wine Spectator 93 Points
“Well-built, with dark fig, boysenberry and blackberry confiture notes studded liberally with ganache, roasted apple wood and Black Forest cake flavors.”
Overview
Ramos Pinto was founded in 1880 and, for several decades, its history has been marked by a balance between innovation and respect for tradition. In addition to producing wines of exceptional quality, the House is known for its knowledge of terroir and for its pioneering viticulture. Through its strict production policy, the selection of the best Douro grape varieties and the systematic technical and technological research, the House is positioned as the reference for the production of superior quality wines in Portugal.
Ramos Pinto has four estates in the Douro Valley: Quinta do Bom Retiro and Quinta da Urtiga, located in Cima Corgo, as well as Quinta dos Bons Ares and Quinta de Ervamoira, in the Douro Superior. These four Quintas cover an area of 890 acres. The grapes of Quinta de Ervamoira give structure, intensity of fruit and body to the vintage ports. However, it is in Quinta do Born Retiro and Quinta da Urtiga that these wines acquire complexity and elegance.
Committed to improving its bond with nature and the environment, Ramos Pinto is working towards this achievement by implementing organic farming and increasing biodiversity in the vineyard. This is a legacy which the House is proud to leave to future generations.
Winemaking
Crushed by foot in the winepress, the grape fermentation process lasts around 4 to 5 days, producing an excellent wine. In the making of a vintage port, the finest wines of the Quintas are selected, Bom Retiro and Ervamoira, to create a full-bodied, intensely fruity and complex wine. The total ripeness of the grapes produces a particular style of port without the hard tones of less ripe tannins. The fruit characteristics and velvety texture will make it appealing in its youth, while the ripe tannins will preserve it for development over the next 20-30 years.
Tasting Notes
This wine is a deep purple color, typical of a young classic vintage. It has an elegant and fragrant aroma, a denoted fresh and fruity nose of raspberry and ripened plum, with a touch of resin and mint. In the mouth, it is soft yet full-bodied, a solid structure of polished tannins supports the ripe red fruit with a touch of mineral and freshness, as well as notes of mint and dark chocolate. Powerful and very tasty end, this is a classic vintage.
Food Pairing
Best served with cheese at the end of a meal such as Serra, Stilton and Gorgonzola, as well as other fatty cheeses. This wine is the ideal accompaniment to a strong cigar and should be decanted at least 2 hours before serving. Serving temperature is between 17 ºC and 18 ºC. The bottle should be stored flat, in a cool, dry place, shaded from light.
Technical Information
Varietals: 50% Touriga Nacional, 32% Touriga Franca, 5% Sousão, 3% Barroca, Blend of old vines 10%
Wine Alcohol: 19.5%
Titratable Acidity: 4.91
pH: 3.68
Residual Sugar: 90 g/l
Aging: 20 months in oak or chestnut vats
Aging Potential: More than 30 years
Suggested Retail Price: $139.00