Ferreira 1991 LBV Porto (Port)

http://eng.sograpevinhos.eu

Legacy.

Every parent, from the moment they set eyes on their first child, yearns to leave a legacy. I don’t imagine that history would show anything else and I don’t imagine that the future will either. No, when I look at my daughter, I too feel the pull; the tug at my heart to create something that will stand-up to time.

Dona Antonia Ferreira did just that. In the 1800′s, in a time when women weren’t allowed to vote and the “Rule of Thumb” meant a man could beat his wife with a stick as long as it wasn’t wider then his thumb (that’s a fact), this brave soul bucked traditional, reversed roles, and took the reins of her family business. She had been left a widow at age 33, had a young daughter to look in the eyes, and had a legacy already of four generations of family owned, family run wine in the Duoro region of Portugal.

Antonia took that legacy on a journey that has lasted centuries and shows every intention of lasting centuries more.

She built roads, cared for the workers, expanded vineyards, fought the dreaded phylloxera and traveled throughout Europe to find ways to save her crops. In short, Antonia lived for more then just herself. She came from money but her father had squandered much of the family fortune by the time Antonia took control of what became one of the most influential port houses in the world.

So she rebuilt it. To what extent?

Dona Antonia’s daughter, Maria, eventually became the  Countess de Azambuja. Amazing for a woman who could legally be beaten by her husband and had only the shakiest of legal principles to own her family business rather then see it go to an uncle or male cousin.

And the wine? As always my friends, the proof is in the glass:

1991 LBV

91+ points

• visual:   clear; full intense garnet core, slight cherry rim
• nose:   clean; medium+ to fully intense developing aromas of dried blueberry, stewed blackberries, fresh black raspberries and Saksatoons, woodsy tones, savory herbs and tomato leaf, dark tea
• palate:   clean; sweet, medium+ crisp strawberry acid, medium+ chalky/chewy tannin, medium+ to full bodied, medium+ alcohol (20.5% ABV), fully intense developing flavors that are perfectly in-line with the aromas; bright red and black berry acids hit the palate full-speed and are followed by a plethora of herbaceous/floral tones… well-integrated oak follows with some dark cocoa notes. Very good balance, excellent structure and medium+ to long length; keeps developing up to 20 seconds
• conclusion:   a joy to drink now, but can be cellared for decades. Enjoy 2013-2023++
• FOOD PAIRING:   the high sugar level in this fortified wine cry out for balance! Consider then Roquefort infused croque-en-bouche with almond caramel, edible orchid garnish…. the savory tones of the cheese are a tried-and-true counterpart to Port’s naturally heavy fruit-induced sugar rush

Legacy.

Dona Antonia couldn’t have known how far her quest to ensure her daughter’s prosperity would take her family brand. The name Ferreira is synonymous with unwavering quality and brilliant value. The new head of the winemaking team, Luis Sottomayor, took up the mantle of command in 2003 and has since been nominated as the best winemaker in Portugal twice.

In December 2013, Ferreira port was also voted by Wine Spectator into the prestigious TOP 100 list for the year as well as receiving the highest scores per category for several of its fortified wines.

And what does all of this mean for you?

Value. Plain and simple. Here is a brilliant quality LBV (Late Bottle Vintage) which is considered to be inferior quality to a recognized Vintage Port. And yet, it has aged gracefully for 20 years and could have lived for many more had I the patience. It is not every port-house that can boast the same skill… under promise, over deliver – the creed of great business people the world over and obviously an unspoken mantra in the halls and on the slopes of Ferreira Porto.

As always, I look forward to your thoughts, comments and questions. Here, or:

on Twitter @AStudentofWine

on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/TheChefandTheGrape

Local Wineries in the Fraser Valley

Howdy all...

it was a rough week for yours truly and, as I have the most loving wife in the world, we ended up taking a day-trip through the Langley area & doing some tastings.

Wow were we impressed. A beautiful day filled with sunshine, good wines & unexpected joy. Thank you, my love.

TOWNSHIP 7

RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2007

• a bit bite-y, with fresh bright acids & light citrus

SEMILLON 2007

• a very Riesling nose of young stonefruit, brisk palate, lean

BLANC BLEND 2007 **BUY THIS AT $20

• beautiful nose of wild flowers & exotic fruit (papaya, kumquat, pineapple)
• incredibly well balanced acids and flavors of pineapple, lush apricots
• this was the only wine we bought here - a steal @ $20 !

SYRAH 2006

• nose is of the terroir; smoke, leather, a bit of "merde-de-poulet"
• the acids were a touch sharp but it had a beautiful body with long length in the palate

MERLOT 2006

• nose had alot of blackberry with light smokey-cherries
• big tannins, well balanced acids but a bit hot in the alcohol (it was 13.5% but I felt every %)
• it had a neat palate of bruised plums, black roses & a touch of pepper
• this is the only other wine I think I would really like to go back and buy - ($20ish) - but I would buy it to put it down for 12-24 months

MERITAGE 2006

• soft nose of rich, red berries
• long rich soft palate, but a bit flabby.... notes coming through of soft raspberries, black cherries. To me, it just lacked distinction.

DOMAINE DE CHABERTON

SYLVANER 2007

• nose of ripe pear & honeysuckle
• well balanced soft acids & palate of pear, apricot & grass - incredible value for $13

SIEGGERIEBE 2008 **BUY THIS AT $20

• nose of pink roses, grapefruit & clover honey
• 1 sweetness with very well balanced acids and a lovely palate of rich-lush stonefruit a papaya at the end

BAACHUS 2008 **BUY THIS AT $20

• an incredibly soft yet intense nose of apricots, gala apples & dandelions
• fully intense palate of pineapples, crabapples and a whole bouquet of flowers

BLUFF 2007 (merlot, zweigelt, one other I can't remember)

• interesting nose of cherry cola
• dry crisp acids & moderate tannins with a soft palate of spartan apples, early summer cherries & slightly green plums

SYRAH 2006

• a nose of red & black peppercorns, but also bell peppers
• soft acids & long tannins; palate of blackberries, leather and a hint of bergamot

ORETEGA 1998

• nose of rich Anjou pear and rich summer "mid-west" flowers
• complex mouth with developed/balanced acids. long luxurious mouth of melons, gala apples & a touch of tangerine zest

VISTA D'ORO

PINOT NOIR 2008

• moderate nose of peppery blackberries & mild leathers
• crisp acidic palate, moderate body of crabapples & cherries
• I found this very Gamay Noir style - I wanted to serve it cool (15C)

PINOT NOIR 2007 **BUY THIS IF YOU CAN FIND IT @ $22

• now this was my kind of Pinot! a completely different nose... currants were predominant
• palate also had strawberries & some really good funky barnyard (oh DJ - is this "merde-de-poulet" I taste? lol)

PINOT NOIR 2009

• we got to taste this from the barrel and oooohhh my but it tastes frikin phenomenal
• big bright cherry nose
• soft acids & rich tannins with a palate of blueberries & saskatoons
• this will be one to buy!

SYRAH 2008

• crisp nose with white pepper
• a huge long palate that included licorice of all things!

Of course, anyone who has visited these places will be able to tell you what was the star of the day... Vista D'Oro.

Patrick & Lee were stellar as they guided Thyra & I not only through their wines, but their winery as well. They were even considerate enough to sample my LimonBaci and say a few kind words... we finished a tour and tasting that lasted over 90 minutes with the D'Oro: a lushly rich port styled wine (and walnuts).... honestly one of the finest examples of port-style I have ever had. Those who know my father know that's saying alot!

D'Oro is $50/bottle, and is an incredible buy at that price. I cannot think of buying such quality anywhere else for twice the money.... difficult to find for three times the money. Yes, I'm serious. If you are serious about port - try this. If you can find similar quality under $150/bottle I want to know because I can't remember such a wine. We have bought one bottle, and I imagine that we will replace that bottle each and every time we finish it, which will be often.

Visit Vista D'Oro, and the other wineries of the Fraser Valley... there is a richness right outside our doors!

Cin-cin! Slainte!