Quinta do Vallado’s 65 hectares of vineyard are planted in south and west facing slopes of schist soil. Most of the vineyards were planted in the 1990s, but 10 hectares are comprised of old vineyards planted between the 1920s and 1950s. As was the customary practice, a large number of different varieties were planted in the same plot, producing what is now called a “field blend”.

Quinta do Vallado Vinho Tinto Douro DOC is a blend of Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Sousão, and old vineyards (field blend). 20% of the grapes are harvested from the old vineyards. De-stemmed grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks for one week. 70% of the wine is aged for 12 months in stainless steel tanks and 30% of the wine is aged in neutral French oak barrels for 16 months.

“The 2020 Tinto is one-third a field blend from old vines (over 80 years old), with the rest being 30% Touriga Nacional, 20% Touriga Franca, 20% Tinta Roriz and a dollop of Sousao. It is mostly unoaked, being only partly (10%) aged for 16 months in used French oak, the rest in stainless steel. It comes in at 14.1% alcohol. Another solid regular Tinto, this is pure and focused, showing fine mid-palate finesse and firmness on the finish. It’s precise rather than jammy and well structured for its level. Of course, it is very young, so you’d expect a little bite on the finish. There is that, but it is very little and doesn’t get in the way of enjoying it today. It might be better next year, though. It will then hold well for the rest of the decade, maybe more, but extended aging is not really the point here. This understated and elegant wine will be great as a house pour or a restaurant wine.”
89 points, Mark Squires, Wine Advocate, March 2022