2016 Passágem Douro Tinto

This is a kitchen sink blend of native red Portuguese varietals, led by Touriga Nacional. The fruit is estate grown on schist soils and handpicked. Aged for 12 months in French barrique. 14.0% alcohol.

This is a fantastic value on a perfectly aged bottle of full bodied but rustic Douro red. Quite complex, showing both Douro’s traditional power but also a softer, fruitier side. Tons of red cherry and blackberry fruit alongside leather, cedar and spice. Still medium tannins and acidity after 8 years in the bottle.

Passagem is a beautiful 250 acre estate nestled along the serene riverside banks of the Douro Superior, a renowned sub-region celebrated for making some of Portugal’s best wines. The estate derives its name from an abandoned mountain railway line that runs through its grounds. Owned by the Bergqvist Family, descendants of the Feueheerds, with a legacy in Port production since 1815, Passagem is a joint-venture with acclaimed winemaker Jorge Moreira, twice awarded Portugal’s Best Winemaker.

The estate has 75 acres under vine, planted with all traditional Port varieties – Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Sousão, Arinto, and Rabigato. Thriving in this continental climate, marked by hot, dry summers and cold winters, the vineyards range from sea level up to 1500’ in altitude. These sun-drenched west-facing slopes, with schist soils and limited water resources, nurture low-yielding vines. The combination of these factors making up this complex terroir, imparts remarkable concentration to the wines.