2004 Vintage Port
2004 Vintage Port
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"Muito fruto em geleia, alicorados, toque floral com leve químico e
mineral, bom carácter e elegância. Um bombom de fruto na boca, coeso e
apertado nos taninos, com muito fruto silvestre e com garra para
caminhar uns bons anitos." |
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"Intenso e refrescante no aroma, consegue desde já ter uma elegância
fantástica, com fruta muito fresca e vibrante, floral sedutor, que
confere até subtileza ao conjunto. Ainda fechado, irrequieto, tem
profundidade e muito para definir. Na boca apresenta-se com muita
estrutura, num registo de elegância e finura, taninos sedosos, e guarda
um volume de boca acentuado e profundidade assinalável. Final vibrante
de frescura da fruta, floral tal como no nariz, e muito mineral. É um
bebé. Deixemo-lo crescer com calma. |
 
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João van Zeller and the Symington family are pleased to announce the release of the 2004 Vintage Port from their acclaimed vineyard, widely regarded as one of the Douro’s finest estates.
The 150 hectare property is situated in a natural amphitheatre, surrounded by a high mountain ridge that curves down to the Douro River. All the grapes from the Quinta’s 42 hectares of vineyards are picked by hand and trodden by foot in the Quinta's seven stone lagares. A sizeable team of treaders, numbering up to 33 people at times, ensure the lagares are thoroughly ‘worked’, an average of 148 man-hours being put into each lagar. The wines are then aged in the Quinta's oak tonnels prior to bottling. Only the very finest Port produced at the property in 2004 has been selected for bottling after a rigorous tasting process over many months. Just 750 cases will be bottled, all of which will be released ‘En Primeur’.
The 2004 harvest followed an extraordinary viticultural year. After a wet winter in 2003, a very dry weather cycle set in and only 147mm of rain fell from January to the end of April 2004, less than half the ten year average. Concern grew as August approached, normally the hottest month of the year. The vines were in good condition, but excessive hydric stress was clearly going to occur at the Quinta unless rain came soon.
Much needed rain came in mid-August. In total, 77 mm of rain fell during the month, the highest August rainfall for 104 years. The rain was accompanied by relatively lower temperatures. As a result ripening slowed dramatically. Early September started with unsettled weather that could easily have caused serious damage to the grapes. At considerable risk, harvest was delayed until the 20th September to take advantage of a period of ideal weather that brought 25 days of uninterrupted sunshine. The entire harvest was safely completed in near perfect conditions just before the weather finally broke with heavy rain and strong winds on the 9th and 10th October. It is rare to have seen a vintage that could have so easily swung between near disaster or success.
As a direct result of the very unusual weather pattern, the vintage was exceptional and surpassed all expectations. The grapes were in excellent condition; Baumés were above average at around 13º. Yields were lower than average due to the very warm weather, but the colour of the musts in the lagares was superb.
The principal components of the Quinta de Roriz 2004 Vintage were drawn from the old mixed vines, the Touriga Nacional and the Tinta Roriz. Significant contributions were also made by the Tinta Barroca and the Sousão, the latter having been somewhat overlooked in the Douro although it continues to thrive at Roriz. It offers an extra dimension to the Quinta’s Vintage Ports, contributing great complexity, concentration and tannic structure.
The Quinta de Roriz 2004 Vintage Port has an immense deep purple-black colour, a rich and lifted nose of violets and spices. On the palate, it has complex flavours of rich black chocolate, ripe red fruits and a fine finish of peppery tannins that will give great ageing potential.
Oporto, Portugal
May 2006
