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Wine Details
Price:
$25.00 per bottle
Description:
The 2003 vintage Port comes exclusively from our estate Fault Line Vineyards. The Bastardo is harvested from Jasper and Cross blocks, the Tinta Roriz from South Slope, and the Tempranillo from Southeast Block. In this warm vintage all three varietals attained exemplary ripeness simultaneously and were fermented together in a small open-top bin. Dense, rich, and finely textured, the wine’s natural balance of tannin and acid will allow graceful aging over the next 10-15 years. This is hedonistic liquid that begs for fare with particular grandeur like strawberries Foster with roasted pecans or a Partagas AA.
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Varietal Definition
Tinta Roriz:
This grape is also known as Tempranillo in Spain and is the only key 'Port' variety that is widely planted outside of Portugal. Tinta Roriz produces large crops that can vary widely in quality depending on the vintage and the vineyard site. Its wines can range from light in body to full bodied with heavy tannins. It is not a grape that makes very good wine on its own but it can be useful when used as a 'spice grape' in a blend.
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Tempranillo:
The Tempranillo is to Rioja what Pinot Noir is to Burgundy. By far Spain's most noble indigenous grape it has similar characteristics to the Pinot - strawberries when young, earthy vegetal when mature - and it ages very well. It ripens early ('temprana' is the Spanish for 'early') is thick-skinned and gives good colour and extract but low alcohol and acidity. In Rioja it is blended with the more fiery Garnacha and a little Mazuelo and Graciano. It is grown throughout Spain but very much as a grape for blending as opposed to a straight varietal. Outside Spain the grape is quite prolific in Argentina and to a lesser extent in California.
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