2022 Quinta do Vale Meão Monte Meão Vinha dos Novos

2022 Quinta do Vale Meão Monte Meão Vinha dos Novos is a finely crafted red wine from the far eastern Douro, near the Spanish border, where some of Portugal’s most iconic wines are born. Made primarily from Touriga Nacional grown on granite soils, this cuvée captures the intense character of the Douro while remaining remarkably refined and elegant. As one of the special Monte Meão bottlings, it stands apart from the estate’s classic Tinto through its unique vineyard origin, extended aging and distinct varietal focus.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Monte Meão Vinha dos Novos shows a vivid, lively color that hints at both concentration and freshness. The nose is strikingly individual, with lifted floral notes—think violets and wildflowers—intertwined with hints of citrus peel and bright, pure red and dark fruit. On the palate, the wine first impresses with its elegance and softness, carrying that floral profile through alongside precise, expressive fruit. There is a vibrant, refreshing acidity that gives energy and length, while the tannins are firm yet refined and finely woven, promising excellent development in bottle. The finish is long, focused and beautifully persistent. While already very appealing, this 2022 will benefit from several years of cellaring, gradually gaining complexity and harmony over 8–12 years or more under good storage conditions.

Production
The Vinha dos Novos parcel forms part of the Monte Meão vineyards, planted on poor, granite-based soils in the hotter, drier eastern Douro, a terroir that yields wines of intensity yet with notable finesse. Touriga Nacional grapes are carefully harvested by hand at optimal ripeness, then traditionally foot-trodden in granite lagares to achieve gentle yet thorough extraction. After this, the must is transferred to wooden vats where fermentation continues for around 10 days. The wine is then aged for approximately 20 months in used French oak barrels, a choice that enhances texture and complexity without masking the purity of fruit or the character of the site.

Food & Serving
This is a versatile, gastronomic Douro red that pairs beautifully with roasted lamb, slow-braised beef, game dishes, and richly spiced pork or venison. It also works well alongside mature hard cheeses and flavorful dishes featuring mushrooms or roasted root vegetables. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) for best expression. In its youth, the wine can be quite closed, so decanting for 1–2 hours is strongly recommended in the first few years after release to allow the bouquet and texture to fully open up; with bottle age, a shorter decant primarily for sediment will suffice.

Producer
Quinta do Vale Meão is one of Portugal’s most storied estates, located in the eastern Douro and founded by the legendary Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, who acquired the property in 1877. Today it is owned and run by her great-great-grandson, Francisco Javier de Olazabal, former director of the historic Port house Ferreira. From this exceptional terroir, the estate created Meão 1999, which was immediately hailed as Portugal’s best wine of that year, cementing its modern reputation. Often described as the most famous quinta in the country and a key member of the renowned Douro Boys group, Quinta do Vale Meão has played a central role in elevating dry Douro wines on the world stage. Its wines, based on classic native Douro varieties, are widely considered among the finest expressions of the region, uniting depth, intensity and remarkable refinement.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.