Vintage Report

1996 Vintage Report

1996 was a cooler year which produced lighter but more aromatic wines. With its hot south facing terraces, Agua Alta was in favoured position and as usual produced a stunning Port.

The 1996 Vintage has a deep blackberry colour, a delightful purity of fruit on the nose and is adequately structured with good tannins on the finish. It is a very stylish Port which due to the greenness of the year will age well, retaining its youth and vigour.

Following a wet winter (average rainfall of 10.5 in ), regular Spring weather proceeded in the Douro. The crop of grapes was larger than average and even though some cold weather in May resulted in “couleur” or poor berry setting, there was no serious damage.

By the middle of June most Douro vineyards were showing a good healthy crop although the grapes were about two weeks behind their natural maturity pattern. The summer was mild with none of the usual heatwaves and by the end of August it was evident that some hot weather was needed to ripen the grapes.

In view of its South facing hot location, the Agua Alta grapes were more advanced than most. With sugar readings over 12º beaumé we decided to start picking on 16th September. Although the rain was untimely, it could have been disasterous had it continued. As it was, it helped to cool down the grapes thereby delaying fermentation and allowing the “lagares” (fermentation tanks) to take more work.

With settled weather taking hold in the Douro, we decided to delay the vintage at Manuela, Fojo and the other quintas for another week. This proved to be the right decision and the hot weather brought the grapes to perfect maturity by the time of picking. The remainder of the vintage took place under ideal conditions, with dry days and cool nights.

The production was higher than average and I think we shall be pleasantly surprised by the quality. I shall be doing my first tasting at the end of November but it is only after the wines have had a chance to fall bright and to close-up during the cold winter months in the Douro, that their real potential can be assessed.

John Graham, 3rd June, 1998