Douro

Wine Description

Reviews and Scores

93 Points (2021 vintage review) -John Gilman, View From the Cellar

“2021 Douro Tinto- Filipe Ferreira   (Mary Taylor Selection)  The 2021 Douro Tinto from Filipe Ferreira is crafted from a cépages of sixty percent Touriga Nacional, twenty-five percent Tinta Roriz and fifteen percent Touriga Franca. The wine comes in at 13.5 percent octane this year, which is nicely measured for the Douro. The bouquet is deep, black fruity and complex, wafting from the glass in a mix of dark berries, cassis, saddle leather, cigar wrapper, dark soil tones and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, focused 47  and full, with superb depth at the core, excellent soil signature and grip, ripe tannins and lovely balance on the long and complex finish. The lack of new oak here is quite refreshing and fairly rare for most dry reds from the Douro these days. Like all of Mary Taylor’s producers, this is another simply outstanding value! 2028-2065+. 93.”

-John Gilman, published by View From the Cellar. Suggested drinking: 2028-2065+.

91 Points – Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast, winemag.com

“This rounded wine is softly textured, with great black fruits set beside the juicy acidity and ripe berry flavors. The balance is impeccable, with a fresh edge set against generous dark fruits. Drink now.” – Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast, December 1, 2022.

Vintage Notes

2019: A cold, dry winter. In the spring, except for the month of April, rainfall was lower than usual, and temperatures were mild, which provided good conditions for early growth. Summer temperatures were also mild, with the odd spell of rain and no peaks of temperature. This made for a long, balanced ripening period and ensured wines of top quality.

Mary Taylor Wines – Filipe Ferreira Douro 

The Douro wine region takes its name from the Douro River, flowing from its source in
north-central Spain (under the name Duero) across northern Portugal to its outlet at Porto, on
the Atlantic Coast. Known as the vinhateiro, this glorious winegrowing region was the first in the
world to have a formal demarcation (under the 1756 Portuguese charter protecting Port wine)
and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001.

The Douro River valley vinhateiro is sheltered from Atlantic winds by the Marão and
Montemuro mountains and has a hot, continental climate with hot dry summers and cold
winters. Terraced vineyards are a common sight along the steep, rugged river banks of this
idyllic winegrowing region. It is further subdivided into three subregions: Baixo Corgo, Cima
Corgo and Douro Superior.

Quinta da Foz is located at the junction of the Douro River and its tributary, the Pinhão,
in the Cima Corgo subregion. Here, in the center of the Douro Valley, steep terraces are cut into
the schist riverbanks, where vine roots seek out the pockets of moisture in the foliated sheets of
schist, bringing a great minerality to the final wine. As you pull into the iconic train station at
Pinhão, you’ll notice the beautiful hand-painted blue tiles (azulejos) depicting the grape harvest.
Quinta da Foz is just over the Pinhão River from the station. The Calém family acquired it in
1872, and today Filipe Ferreira is in charge of winemaking.

This small, 20 hectare property is classified by the IVDP (Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e Porto), who gives this Quinta an A-rating for its choice terroir. Everything is hand harvested. Alll of the wines are foot pressed in large granite lagares. This is truly authentic wine of the Douro!