Love the story behind this vineyard. When first opened, this was too cold and even though it screamed for air, it was already showing its colors (black and red berries with a mineral streak). 2 hours slow-ox didn't have it evolve much so I decanted for another 2 hours. At that point it had opened up but clearly this needs more time to mature. Nice nose of ripe plums, blackberries and strawberries, almost jammy. But there are also some dried herbs and rocks (slate?) adding complexity to the nose. The palate starts juicy with all those berries but remains fresh with plenty of acidity. It's dense and chewy with medium tanins and noble bitterness on the finish. This feels too young but you keep going back for another glass since the whole package shows enough fruit and freshness. This would be nice to revisit in 10+ years. Not cheap so I'm on the fence about buying 3 more to cellar... Glad to have tried it though.
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It was a nice wine. It took a while to open up. Maybe I drank it too young. Initially, it was very closed. After about 3 hours it opened up nicely - dark fruits, leather, wood. It was very nice after 3 hours. Not sure that it's worth the $90 CAD price tag though. I have had much better wines in the $50-60 CAD range. Usually Portuguese wines have very good QPR but I would not buy this again based on the QPR. We drank it with cold cuts, cheese and ribs.
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14.5% abv. Different than so many wines in best way possible. Dark garnet, fruit on nose and palate, rocks, limestone, fresh and earthy, finishes long and spicy/savory. Wonderful wine, drank in old Lisbon restaurant. Could drink this every week!
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What a great wine! The nose is fruity, complex and intense. On the palate it's full of flavours, very concentrated and complex, and has a long finish. Doesn't need more time, unless you like old wines.
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Rich grape and underbrush nose. Gobs of blackberry fruit then tar and ebony wood. Smooth, sexy and classy. Lack of edges does give a too international feel and a bit rootless, albeit still sexy. Quite good.
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"Uma vinha a passar os 80 anos de idade, com várias falhas derivadas de um parcial abandono durante alguns anos. Numa zona de intensa exposição e com enormes afloramentos de xisto à superfície onde nem uma única erva subsiste. As gentes da Quinta depressa a apelidaram de 'Vinha do Abandonado'. Durante anos tentamos recuperar a vinha e replantar as videiras desaparecidas. Até que desistimos. Apesar de todo o nosso cuidado apenas as cepas mais velhas eram capazes de subsistir em condições tão extremas." O texto acima foi retirado do site do produtor, pois achei impossível deixar de compartilhar. Considero as vinhas velhas portuguesas fascinantes e essa é uma das mais especiais, até pela sua recente redescoberta. O vinhedo possui 20 castas autóctones. Esse 2013 foi barricado por 19m em carvalho francês e português novos. O resultado é um vinho fantástico, ainda muito jovem e com estrutura para longa guarda. Compartilhei essa garrafa com os confrades em 17/08/2018.
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Impressions from "Perspektive Wein" fair (Wizeman Areal, Stuttgart): *** brief notes from wine fair, primary for my own memory *** Glas: Stölzle white wine The young vintner explained us the place where this wine comes from: Top of the hill, pure stone, almost no soil, extreme terroir where almost no vine will survive. They tried hard to replant, but had no success and wanted to abandon this place (hence the name). Around 30 different grape varieties in this wine, very old. You can feel this in the wine. Complex, not too much extract and alcohol, quite balanced. Wonderful stuff. 92-93++
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Decanted for 10 minutes and it was ready. Special teste of this 'terroire' of Quinta da Gaivosa, more present after visiting this wineyard plot named ABANDONADO.
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Terroir-istes International - Portugal, Douro (Groot Constantia): (Tasted Blind): Deep black-blood red in the glass; the nose is lifted with aromas of buchu, lavender cream, dried spices, potpourri, and dried herbs like thyme and bay leaf. The palate mirrors the nose, offering a lovely coolness on entry with a mix of lavender, menthol and fresh herbs. Thickly textured, there is a juicy pristine acidity, clear stem inclusion highlighting white pepper and crunchy tannins that are ripe but firm. Plenty of extract present gives density, although the finish feels chewy and awkward, giving the impression that the wine is perhaps trying too hard. Still, an interesting wine. From 80-year-old vineyards of Tinta Amarela, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca that are located on shale outcrops that were once abandoned.
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9/19/2021 - philmtl Likes this wine:
Love the story behind this vineyard. When first opened, this was too cold and even though it screamed for air, it was already showing its colors (black and red berries with a mineral streak). 2 hours slow-ox didn't have it evolve much so I decanted for another 2 hours. At that point it had opened up but clearly this needs more time to mature. Nice nose of ripe plums, blackberries and strawberries, almost jammy. But there are also some dried herbs and rocks (slate?) adding complexity to the nose. The palate starts juicy with all those berries but remains fresh with plenty of acidity. It's dense and chewy with medium tanins and noble bitterness on the finish. This feels too young but you keep going back for another glass since the whole package shows enough fruit and freshness. This would be nice to revisit in 10+ years. Not cheap so I'm on the fence about buying 3 more to cellar... Glad to have tried it though.
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6/21/2021 - Brunello12345 wrote: 90 Points
It was a nice wine. It took a while to open up. Maybe I drank it too young. Initially, it was very closed. After about 3 hours it opened up nicely - dark fruits, leather, wood. It was very nice after 3 hours. Not sure that it's worth the $90 CAD price tag though. I have had much better wines in the $50-60 CAD range. Usually Portuguese wines have very good QPR but I would not buy this again based on the QPR. We drank it with cold cuts, cheese and ribs.
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5/6/2020 - Zitan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dense, pure, and rich. Terrific bottle with potential for 95+ but still too young to show all its layers and nuance. Check back in 3-5 years.
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5/26/2019 - ThalesGaspar Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine is so good, what a pleasant experience!
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11/29/2018 - dclaggett Likes this wine: 94 Points
14.5% abv. Different than so many wines in best way possible. Dark garnet, fruit on nose and palate, rocks, limestone, fresh and earthy, finishes long and spicy/savory. Wonderful wine, drank in old Lisbon restaurant. Could drink this every week!
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11/7/2018 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Fascinatingly, I actually liked this bottle brought home from Portugal more than what I had at the winery. Richer, more vibrational.
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10/28/2018 - ThalesGaspar Likes this wine: 93 Points
What a great wine! The nose is fruity, complex and intense. On the palate it's full of flavours, very concentrated and complex, and has a long finish. Doesn't need more time, unless you like old wines.
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9/25/2018 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Rich grape and underbrush nose. Gobs of blackberry fruit then tar and ebony wood. Smooth, sexy and classy. Lack of edges does give a too international feel and a bit rootless, albeit still sexy. Quite good.
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8/17/2018 - fredfta Likes this wine: 94 Points
"Uma vinha a passar os 80 anos de idade, com várias falhas derivadas de um parcial abandono durante alguns anos. Numa zona de intensa exposição e com enormes afloramentos de xisto à superfície onde nem uma única erva subsiste. As gentes da Quinta depressa a apelidaram de 'Vinha do Abandonado'. Durante anos tentamos recuperar a vinha e replantar as videiras desaparecidas. Até que desistimos. Apesar de todo o nosso cuidado apenas as cepas mais velhas eram capazes de subsistir em condições tão extremas."
O texto acima foi retirado do site do produtor, pois achei impossível deixar de compartilhar. Considero as vinhas velhas portuguesas fascinantes e essa é uma das mais especiais, até pela sua recente redescoberta. O vinhedo possui 20 castas autóctones.
Esse 2013 foi barricado por 19m em carvalho francês e português novos. O resultado é um vinho fantástico, ainda muito jovem e com estrutura para longa guarda. Compartilhei essa garrafa com os confrades em 17/08/2018.
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11/10/2017 - NoTrollingerPlease Likes this wine:
Impressions from "Perspektive Wein" fair (Wizeman Areal, Stuttgart): *** brief notes from wine fair, primary for my own memory ***
Glas: Stölzle white wine
The young vintner explained us the place where this wine comes from: Top of the hill, pure stone, almost no soil, extreme terroir where almost no vine will survive. They tried hard to replant, but had no success and wanted to abandon this place (hence the name). Around 30 different grape varieties in this wine, very old. You can feel this in the wine. Complex, not too much extract and alcohol, quite balanced. Wonderful stuff. 92-93++
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10/24/2017 - pgartner Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 10 minutes and it was ready. Special teste of this 'terroire' of Quinta da Gaivosa, more present after visiting this wineyard plot named ABANDONADO.
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7/24/2017 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 90 Points
Terroir-istes International - Portugal, Douro (Groot Constantia): (Tasted Blind): Deep black-blood red in the glass; the nose is lifted with aromas of buchu, lavender cream, dried spices, potpourri, and dried herbs like thyme and bay leaf. The palate mirrors the nose, offering a lovely coolness on entry with a mix of lavender, menthol and fresh herbs.
Thickly textured, there is a juicy pristine acidity, clear stem inclusion highlighting white pepper and crunchy tannins that are ripe but firm. Plenty of extract present gives density, although the finish feels chewy and awkward, giving the impression that the wine is perhaps trying too hard. Still, an interesting wine.
From 80-year-old vineyards of Tinta Amarela, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca that are located on shale outcrops that were once abandoned.
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