2023 Quinta da Pacheca Reserva Vinhas Velhas 6 x 0.75L 6 Bottles Douro Region WINEMAKER: Maria de Serpa Pimentel. AWARDS/RECOMMENDATIONS 92 Points, Wine Enthusiast (2021 Vintage) 89 Points, Decanter World Wine Awards (2021 Vintage) 16.5 Points, Jancis Robinson (2018 Vintage) 17 Pontos, Vinho Grandes Escolhas (2014 Vintage) WINE VARIETIES: Old Vines. VINIFICATION The grapes were harvested into 25 kg boxes, after careful selection for their best health status, and sent to the winemaking center where they were completely de-stemmed. Fermentation took place for 9 days in a 7 ton granite press, with foot treatment and gentle pumping over the blanket cut and extract for phenolic and aromatic compounds. At the end of alcoholic fermentation, the wine was transferred to second and third year French oak barrels where malolactic fermentation took place and aged for around 12 months. TASTING NOTES Pacheca Vinhas Velhas reveals good aromatic intensity, very complex with elegant notes of chocolate and black fruit, such as blueberry and blackberry. It’s very balanced in the mouth with present tannins and well-integrated wood, long and persistent finish. SERVING These wine pairs with meats, cheeses, and generally Mediterranean cuisine. Store in a horizontal position, in a cool and dry place, protected from light and temperature fluctuations. Serves at a temperature between 16ºC and 18ºC. Consume in moderation. HISTORY Among the valleys of the Douro River, near the left bank, in the village of Cambres, Lamego county, in the heart of the first Pombaline demarcation of the Region, is Quinta da Pacheca, one of the most prestigious and recognized properties in the Douro Demarcated Region. The history of the vineyard on this property dates back to the 16th century when it was a collection of vines that belonged to the Monasteries of Salzedas and St. João de Tarouca, as referred to in a document dating 1551. The estate is mentioned for the first time in a document dated from April 1738 where it is referred to as “Pacheca”, a feminine form of the family name Pacheco for being owned by a lady, Da. Mariana Pacheco Pereira, an imposing woman who took care of the property by herself. It was in 1903 that D. José Freire de Serpa Pimentel bought the property and began to work on the modernization of the vineyard and structures among which are eight granite stone tanks where red wines from Pacheca are still vinified, resulting in limited annual productions of special categories Douro DOC wines and Port wines. With around 75 hectares of own vineyards planted in the Humanity World Heritage, classified by UNESCO in 2001, Quinta da Pacheca has always been focused on the production of quality Douro DOC and Port wines and was one of the first in the region to bottle DOC wines under your own brand. It was in 1977 that the commercialization of DOC wines with the brands of Quinta da Pacheca and Quinta de Vale Abraão started, which vineyards still belong to Quinta da Pacheca today, under the leadership of the pioneer D. Eduardo Mendia Freire de Serpa Pimentel who was the first in Portugal to produce white wines from Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Gewurztraminer. PLEASE NOTE: This is a recurring auction. The seal number(s) you see on the photos might differ from the one(s) on your bottle(s).