Casa Ferreirinha Reserva Especial 2017 released after 9 years of ageing
Time has revealed the wine; altitude defined its style. Casa Ferreirinha Reserva Especial 2017 is now released after around two years of ageing in wood and almost seven years of bottle ageing. It is made primarily from grapes from Quinta da Leda and high-altitude parcels in the Meda region, in a vintage characterised by very hot and dry conditions, with temperatures around 5°C above average. In 2017, the accelerated pace of ripening demanded particularly close attention in both vineyard and winery, while maintaining Casa Ferreirinha’s customary rigour.
“Releasing a Reserva Especial is a rare privilege and a decision that never follows the calendar, only the wine. It is one of the few moments when we choose to stop and make a statement, which is why we approach it with great joy and, above all, with a deep sense of responsibility”, says Fernando da Cunha Guedes, President of Sogrape.
Casa Ferreirinha Reserva Especial 2017 shows a deep ruby colour. On the nose, it reveals excellent intensity and complexity, with ripe black and red fruit intertwined with notes of cocoa, chocolate, truffle and the classic sous-bois, complemented by spices such as pepper and clove. On the palate, it stands out for its excellent volume, firm, high-quality tannins and perfectly integrated acidity. The finish is powerful and extremely long.
“2017 was a very hot year in the Douro Superior — and that is precisely why this wine surprised us from the outset. Its balance was achieved, not given by the year: altitude, along with vineyard and cellar work, allowed us to preserve freshness in an extremely challenging context. Even so, the year left a clear mark: a profile of great delicacy and elegance. In tasting, it clearly belongs to the Barca Velha universe; nevertheless, its structure and expression of the vintage pointed towards Reserva Especial”, says winemaker Luís de Sottomayor.
Lourenço Charters, who has been working closely with Luís de Sottomayor and further developing the same oenological philosophy, adds:
“Technique provides guidance, but it is experience that decides. There comes a moment when the wine ceases to be process and becomes intuition.” The blend, composed of Touriga Franca (48%), Touriga Nacional (35%), Sousão (7%), Tinto Cão (5%) and Tinta Roriz (5%), aged for around 18 months in French oak barrels. At Casa Ferreirinha, tasting determines timing: before release, the wine continued to evolve in bottle under the close supervision of the winemaking team, until it began to reveal its true form, with harmony and definition. That moment has now arrived.
From this point on, it will continue to evolve positively in bottle: it is expected to reach its peak in 15 to 20 years and to maintain its highest quality for decades.
More than a new release, Reserva Especial 2017 reaffirms Casa Ferreirinha’s place among the great wines of the world and reinforces the Douro as a region of global reference.
