LEGADO 2021, DOC DOURO
Some stories are not told through words alone; they call for silence, patience and wisdom. Legado is one such story — a deeply symbolic wine for the Guedes family, born in 2008 as Fernando Guedes’ tribute to the legacy he received from his father, to the centenary vineyard that inspired him, and to the determination to perpetuate the history and values from which it originates.
At the heart of this narrative lies the old vineyard of Quinta do Caêdo, just under eight hectares planted on steep terraces in the Ervedosa do Douro area. In this natural amphitheatre, where more than 25 grape varieties coexist and preserve a rare genetic heritage, time moves at a different pace. It is here that the family legacy meets the land, giving rise to a wine that expresses authenticity, depth and memory.
For Fernando da Cunha Guedes, President of Sogrape and son of the creator of Legado, “each new vintage evokes memory, celebrates recollections, and reaffirms the responsibility to honour the project my father dreamed of. Legado is a project of profound personal meaning for our family: a wine that speaks of people, pays tribute to the land, and embodies the knowledge of generations.”
With an attractive ruby colour, Legado 2021 reveals an aroma of extraordinary complexity, marked by floral notes of rockrose and heather, wrapped in vibrant red fruit and spices such as pepper and clove. The oak is perfectly integrated, allowing a subtle minerality to shine through. On the palate, the wine stands out for its good volume and firm tannins, balanced by a vibrant acidity that enhances its floral and fruity character. The finish is marked by exceptional elegance and longevity.
Legado 2021 is the result of a year of mild temperatures and slow ripening, which enhanced the elegance and harmony that define this wine. Reflecting this symbiosis between climate and the human hand, winemaker Luís de Sottomayor highlights the consistency of this journey: “In its 14th vintage, Legado 2021 maintains the style that has defined this wine since its inception, precisely reflecting the unique character of Quinta do Caêdo and the vision of its creator, Fernando Guedes. Shaped by a temperate year, it reveals harmonious elegance, combined with great complexity and aromatic intensity, in a faithful expression of terroir and time.”
With limited production, Legado 2021 presents itself as a wine for ageing — vibrant and profound — with a complexity that only time will finish writing.
