92pts Wine Spectator
This is in a really good spot now, with a mature edge to a mix of warm plum cake and steeped blackberry fruit mixed with bittersweet cocoa and bramble accents. Nice singed alder hint frames the finish.
90pts Wine Advocate
The 2015 Late Bottled Vintage Port is a field blend aged for 48 months in old Portuguese vats. It was bottled in April 2019, unfiltered, with 84 grams of sugar and a bar-top cork. Powerful and intense, this opens up with concentrated, slightly jammy fruit supported by a serious backbone. If I tasted this blind, I might have assumed this tightly wound LBV was a Vintage Port, at least a modest one. The fruit is rich and expressive. The wine is nowhere near peak. Given its potential for aging and development, I'm surprised it does not have a normal, long cork. Barring cork issues, it should age well. The only remaining question is whether it will develop well. We'll be a bit conservative just now.
90pts James Suckling
A little advanced now with some dried plum, orange peel and candied lemon character, with just a hint of cedar. Medium body, sweet, and lightly chewy. An attractive LBV. Plump at the end
Winemaker's Notes
A deep ruby red in color, this LBV immediately reveals aromas of fresh black fruits such as blackberry and blackcurrant, followed by cherries, and displays a fine maturity. The palate develops complex flavors, amongst which cocoa and mint stand out. Meaty, very well balanced and with great length, it builds on a finely formed structure with elegance and superb volume. The full, fruity finish, lightly mentholated, adds great coherence to the whole.
Goes wonderfully well with sheep’s milk cheese and all kinds of dark chocolate or red fruit desserts.
History
Located in the central region of the Douro, Cima Corgo, Quinta da Côrte encompasses 25 hectares of classification A vineyards averaging over 60 years of age. The family produce primarily native varietals including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Barroca. Planted mainly on schist soils, the small production vines yield wines of elegant structure, with superb volume and complexity. Like most Quinta of the region, Quinta da Côrte produce two dry red wines, along with an exclusive late bottled field blend and a selection of premium tawny wines. In the very best of years, the family produces a masterfully crafted vintage port.
For as long as Quinta da Côrte Winemaker Marta Casanova can remember, she has been captivated by the beauty of nature and the transformation of indigenous grapes into exceptional and unique wines. "Above all, my passion for wine, the art of blending, the Douro region, and my profound respect for the generations of people who have tirelessly cultivated the land to shape it into what it is today have served as inspirations for my career choice," she reflects. Marta believes that with more women entering the industry, promoting inclusivity and equality is essential. "The increasing number of women winemakers brings invaluable diversity, creativity, and a distinct perspective to the industry. Their presence not only challenges longstanding traditional norms, but also fuels innovation and excellence in winemaking," she shares. "To encourage future generations in winemaking, it’s crucial to promote education, mentorship, and networking opportunities between wineries all over the world for aspiring winemakers of all genders."
