QUINTA DE LA ROSA VINTAGE PORT 2000

Quinta de la Rosa Vintage Port 2000

Region: Douro, Portugal

Grape: Traditional Port blend including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cão, Tinta Barroca

Rating: 92 points - Wine Enthusiast, 91 points - CellarTracker Community Average

When to drink: Wine Enthusiast recommended drinking window: 2015-2030.

Tasting: This is an elegant Vintage Port in the signature La Rosa 'house style' - slightly drier than typical without cloying sweetness. The wine presents a deep, dark ruby colour with purple-black intensity. On the nose, it offers complex aromas of red and dried fruits, blackberries, and subtle spice notes. The palate is full-bodied with great complexity, featuring smooth, attractive spicy fruit character. Well-structured and concentrated tannins power through the fruit and sweetness, providing excellent backbone. The finish is stylishly dry with a nutty character that distinguishes La Rosa ports. This 2000 vintage shows superb balance between ripeness and freshness, with the concentration and intensity that marks this exceptional year.

Pairing: This powerful yet elegant Port pairs magnificently with Pont-l'Évêque or mature Fort Saint Antoine Comté. For a luxurious combination, serve alongside Iberico Secreto glazed with a Port reduction, or Cinco Jotas Presa with caramelised figs. The wine's structure complements game beautifully - try with Squab Pigeon stuffed with wild mushrooms like Trompettes and Ceps. For special occasions, pair with Black Truffle shavings over Parmigiano Reggiano, or finish a meal with Pecorino Sardo and quince paste. The Port's intensity also stands up to rich chocolate desserts made with Valrhona dark chocolate.

Producer: Quinta de la Rosa is one of the Douro's pioneering single quintas, owned by the Bergqvist family and situated on the banks of the Douro near Pinhão. Unlike most Port shippers who mature their wines in Vila Nova de Gaia, La Rosa was one of the first to produce, mature and bottle all their ports directly at the estate. This true 'Single Quinta' approach - not merely a second label used by larger houses - combined with traditional foot-treading in granite lagares alongside modern temperature-controlled technology, creates ports with a distinctive dry, stylish and nutty character. The estate's commitment to quality extends to producing table wines and olive oil, all grown, made and bottled on the quinta.

Vintage: The 2000 vintage is remembered as one of immense concentration and unusually small quantities. After an exceptionally dry winter, cool wet weather in April and May during flowering resulted in very poor fruit set, dramatically reducing yields. The summer remained drier than normal with few extreme heat days, allowing for slow, even ripening. The small berries achieved remarkable concentration with excellent sugar levels and maintained good acidity. Harvest began early in mid-September under perfect conditions, though some rain arrived between 15-21 September. The standout varieties were Touriga Nacional, which produced wines with excellent structure, and Sousão, delivering remarkable acidity despite the warm conditions. Wine Spectator rated the 2000 vintage in Douro at 94 points, noting it produced many exceptional wines as a new wave emerged in the region.

ABV: 20%

Vol: 75cl

Contains Sulphites