We have a limited release of two very good Portos from Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo.

(Kind of rolls of the tongue, doesn’t it?)

This is a relatively new producer in the Douro’s Cima Corgo sub-region whose focus is primarily dry Douro reds supplemented with a concise portfolio of fortified wines (they don’t make any Tawny, for instance). 

Owned by the Amorim Family (the owners of Amorim Cork, the largest producer of cork products in the world), the winery is named after Nossa Senhora do Carmo (Our Lady of Mount Carmel) and the nearby 17^th century riverside chapel dedicated to her.

From a relative terroir perspective, Quinta Nova is well situated near famed Quinta do Crasto.  It’s steeply terraced, schist soils are planted to traditional Douro varieties including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Cão, Souzão and Tinta Barroca. 

Francisco Montenegro and Pedro Pina Cabral oversee the winemaking.  Ana Mota tends to nearly 85
hectares of vineyards. 

Quinta Nova CLA Special Reserve Porto ($28.99) comes from 20 to 30 year old vines and is aged 4 years in a mix of stainless steel tanks and oak vats.  It sports a bright ruby rim and is medium-sweet with ample red raspberry and blackberry fruits nicely supported by complex vanilla and spice notes. It’s perfect with a handful of walnuts or an after-dinner cigar.

Quinta Nova Late Bottled Vintage Porto ($29.99, 2008 vintage) is a real eye-opener with deep purple color and a substantial structure.  Black raspberries, chocolate, holiday cake and well-integrated tannins show a wine with good density and finish.  It’s best to have this with Stilton or other blue-veined cheeses.  I believe it will also cellar well in the near term.

Jim Greeley, SW Florida Wine Supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @ABCWineJimG