Vasques de Carvalho Vintage 2016
Vasques de Carvalho Vintage 2016 is an exclusive Vintage Port from the acclaimed 2016 vintage in the Douro. The wine is intense and concentrated with notes of ripe dark berries, plums, dark chocolate, coffee, and spices. A powerful Port with great elegance and impressive aging potential.
About the product
Vasques de Carvalho Vintage 2016 is produced from hand-picked grapes from selected vineyards in the Douro Valley. The grapes are vinified using traditional methods with foot-treading in granite lagares, before fermentation is stopped with grape spirit. After a short aging period in large oak barrels, the wine is bottled unfiltered, where it develops even greater complexity over many years of storage. The 2016 vintage is considered one of the strongest Vintage Port vintages in recent times and is known for its perfect balance of concentration, freshness, and structure.
About the region
Douro in northern Portugal is the world's oldest demarcated wine region and home to some of the world's most prestigious Ports. The steep schist terraces along the Douro River provide optimal growing conditions for classic Portuguese grape varieties such as Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz. Vintage Port is only produced in exceptional years and is known for its great concentration, complexity, and ability to develop in the bottle over several decades.
Taste
Nose: Intense aromas of blackberries, blackcurrants, ripe plums, cherries, violets, dark chocolate, coffee, and warm spices.
Palate: Full-bodied and powerful with concentrated notes of dark berries, cocoa, liquorice, spices, and silky tannins that provide excellent structure and balance.
Finish: Very long and persistent with dark fruit, coffee, spices, and an elegant mineral finish, which underlines the wine's great aging potential.
Serving
Best served at 16–18 °C. Vintage Port should be decanted 2–3 hours before serving to remove sediment and allow the wine's complex aromas to unfold. Preferably served in a classic Port glass or a smaller red wine glass.
What does it pair with?
Vasques de Carvalho Vintage 2016 pairs particularly well with:
- Blue cheeses such as Stilton and Roquefort
- Aged hard cheeses
- Dark chocolate
- Brownies and chocolate cake
- Berry-based desserts
- Roasted nuts
- As an after-dinner drink or meditation wine
FAQ
What does Vasques de Carvalho Vintage 201 6 pair with?
It pairs perfectly with blue cheeses, dark chocolate, nut-based desserts, or as a glass on its own after a good meal.
How long can Vasques de Carvalho Vintage 2016 be kept?
When stored correctly, this Vintage Port has an aging potential of 30 years or more, during which it will develop even greater complexity.
Why is 2016 a special vintage?
2016 is considered one of the strongest Vintage Port vintages in recent times and is recognized for its combination of intense fruit, fresh acidity, structure, and exceptional aging capacity.
