Quinta da Fonte Souto 'Vinha do Souto' 2017
Temperatures and rainfall during the winter were close to the seasonal average for the region, but temperatures rose substantially during the spring and this accelerated the vines’ growth cycle. The considerable heat continued during the summer with virtually no rainfall from the middle of May. However, the advanced growth cycle and the good management of the water reserves accumulated during the winter and beginning of spring, and the diurnal temperature variation (hot days, cool nights), typical of higher altitudes, favoured balanced and complete ripening, all the more remarkable in such a hot, dry year. The harvest was one of the earliest in living memory and it was possible to harvest selectively, ensuring that all the parcels were picked at the right time. Low yields, combined with excellent maturations, paved the way for wines of great concentration and of exceptional quality.
Reviews
CELLAR SELECTION
A blend of Syrah and Alicante Bouschet, this is among the first releases from the Alentejo estate bought in 2017 by the Douro's Symington Family. This flagship wine is densely powerful with massive tannins that are masked by the concentrated black fruits. There is juiciness along with the richness and the promise of considerable aging.
The 2017 Tinto Vinha do Souto is a roughly equal blend of Alicante Bouschet and Syrah aged for 11 months in mostly new French oak. It comes in at 14.7% alcohol. This ups the ante on the regular Tinto in a few ways—there's more concentration, while remaining quite elegant, more oak impact, although that will get better, and more power. The intensity of flavor is far better, too, as the beefy nuances overlay the wine and supersede the wood. It shows nuance, understatement and finesse to go with the structure and concentration. This is lovely, a big and refined success for the debut vintage. Obviously, there is no track record, but this seems poised to age well. Let's start here.
THE SPURRIER SELECTION
The first Symington Family venture outside the Douro. the 500m vineyards are planted to Alicante Bouschet and Syrah. Florality and robust fruit; polished tannins and depth for the future.
A perfumed red with aromas of dried currants, potpourri, cloves and chocolate orange. It’s medium-bodied with sleek, fine-grained tannins. Generous, juicy and delicious.
This selection of alicante bouschet and syrah is riper and richer than the Fonte Souto estate wine, also recommended here. Powerful in its blackcurrant crunch of fruit, spicy and honeyed in its oak, this is built for braised short ribs.