Winemaker Notes
Serving Suggestions: A classical vintage port, to be enjoyed with Stilton or creamy cheeses, mild fruit, or just savored by itself by candlelight.
Alcohol: 19.4% by volume
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 1994 Vintage Port Quinta da Ervamoira is a 60/40 blend of Touriga Nacional and Tinta Barroca coming in at 89.2 grams of sugar. Ramos Pinto did declare that year, uncommon at the time. Today, of course, some specialty single-quinta Portos are often more expensive, not inferior. This was in honor of Jorge's father. It has a different profile than the regular Vintage Port. The regular Vintage Port is darker, with more cherries, said winemaker Ana Rosas. With nearly 25 years in the bottle, it is very soft, rich and jammy, with cocoa on the finish. When this opened, the tannins were modest. As it evolved, the difference was remarkable, with that soft, jammy character coming out. It is caressing in texture too. This is not great in structure, however, but it is a hedonistic Port that is simply delicious. The winery doesn't have a lot of experience with this much Barroca in the blend, but Ana thought this could last another 15 to 20 years. It's Port. It should hold well for an indefinite time—they decline gradually—but it is in a perfect place now, as good as it is going to get. It gives you the feel of why people like to age Port. Dive in now or soon. I wouldn't want it to get too old, frankly, which will destroy its delicious demeanor. That's a hint.
Founded by Adriano Ramos Pinto in 1880, Casa Ramos Pinto rapidly became noted, at the time, for its innovative and enterprising strategy. Associated with quality bottled wines, it began operating on the Brazilian market in the early 20th century and quickly became responsible for half of the wine exported to South America, whilst it was still conquering generations of loyal customers in Portugal and Europe. These were the natural results of a forward thinking strategy, based on the modernisation of selection, batching and ageing circuits, and the special care which Adriano Ramos Pinto devoted to the packaging and promotion of his wines.
Aware that the quality of its wines were confined to the earth of the wine producing Douro, Casa Ramos Pinto meticulously studied this Demarcated Region, and eventually became the owners of a number of estates with very special characteristics. The objective was to ensure the control and quality of the whole production process. By perfecting its wines, Ramos Pinto created unique nectars with its own signature.
In 1990, Casa Ramos Pinto became part of the Roederer Group, whose history has identical characteristics. The qualities that gave fame to Casa Ramos Pinto now took on an international dimension.
Port is a sweet, fortified wine with numerous styles: Ruby, Tawny, Vintage, Late Bottled Vintage (LBV), White, Colheita, and a few unusual others. It is blended from from the most important red grapes of the Douro Valley, based primarily on Touriga Nacional with over 80 other varieties approved for use. Most Ports are best served slightly chilled at around 55-65°F. To learn more, see our full Port Wine Guide
Best known for intense, impressive and age-worthy fortified wines, Portugal relies almost exclusively on its many indigenous grape varieties. Bordering Spain to its north and east, and the Atlantic Ocean on its west and south coasts, this is a land where tradition reigns supreme, due to its relative geographical and, for much of the 20th century, political isolation. A long and narrow but small country, Portugal claims considerable diversity in climate and wine styles, with milder weather in the north and significantly more rainfall near the coast.
While Port (named after its city of Oporto on the Atlantic Coast at the end of the Douro Valley), made Portugal famous, Portugal is also an excellent source of dry red and white Portuguese wines of various styles.
The Douro Valley produces full-bodied and concentrated dry red Portuguese wines made from the same set of grape varieties used for Port, which include Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz (Spain’s Tempranillo), Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca and Tinto Cão, among a long list of others in minor proportions.
Other dry Portuguese wines include the tart, slightly effervescent Vinho Verde white wine, made in the north, and the bright, elegant reds and whites of the Dão as well as the bold, and fruit-driven reds and whites of the southern, Alentejo.
The nation’s other important fortified wine, Madeira, is produced on the eponymous island off the North African coast.