Quinta do Ataíde Red 2019, Douro DOC, Portugal, Organic

Quinta do Ataíde is the estate red from the Symington family’s property in the Vilariça Valley, in the Douro Superior. The vineyards here are unusually flat for the Douro, sheltered by granite escarpments, with schist and loam soils and very low rainfall, and they are farmed organically without herbicides. The wine is a blend of traditional Douro varieties led by Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca. The grapes are hand-sorted and fermented in small batches, and the wine is aged in French oak barrels for around 10–12 months.

Quinta do Ataíde Red is smooth and ripe, with aromas of dark plums, red fruit, rockrose and wild herbs such as thyme, plus a touch of exotic spice. The palate is savoury and supple, with peppery tannins, fresh acidity and a satisfying, spicy finish.

It is lovely with roast pork, grilled lamb, bacalhau, chorizo and bean stews or a mixed grill. Serve at 16–18°C. It is drinking well now and will keep for around 5–6 years.

Quinta do Ataíde is a historic estate in the Vilariça Valley of the Douro Superior, owned by Symington Family Estates, the family behind famous Port houses such as Graham’s and Dow’s. Unlike the Douro’s famous steep terraces, the vineyards here lie on unusually flat land between two granite escarpments, on schist and loam soils with very low rainfall. The estate has an 18th-century manor house and played a key part in the revival of Touriga Nacional: cuttings from its nursery were used to replant much of the Douro’s Touriga Nacional. Today the vineyards are organically farmed, with no herbicides, and head winemaker Charles Symington makes elegant, fruit-focused Douro DOC reds from the estate.