2020 Manoella Vinhas Velhas (VV) 95WA
Wine & Soul
Douro Valley, Portugal

95 pts Wine Advocate

Manoella is another of Portugal's great red wines and vineyards. The fruit from Manoella used to go to many of the large Port houses (mostly Taylor's) before the younger generation of the Borges family. Led by Jorge and his wife Sandra, they decided to buy the vineyard from their family to take it to the next level and make table wines from these super old vines.

- From bush vines planted in 1900 (118-119-years-old)
- The best vintage of this wine to date (2019) - though both are extraordinary!
- A classic representation of Douro Valley terroir
- Field blend of 30+ grapes
- Steep schist hard rock terraces
- 20 months in only 30% new French oak (70% 1 year used)
- Like a Rhone wine and a fresher Carignan heavy Priorat in style
- Will age for 20+ years easy
- Decant 1-3 hours, though optimal with a few more years of age

95 points Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2020 Quinta da Manoella Vinhas Velhas is a field blend (over 30 grapes) from centenarian vines aged for 22 months in 35% new French oak. It comes in at 14.5% alcohol. This seems a surprisingly good competitor for the 2019, although this is not quite as lauded a vintage. Still, the winery says they were able to pick the small production quickly, generally avoiding negative vintage conditions. This shows no problems. There is a fine backbone with controlled power, plus expressive and delicious fruit. This looks able to develop and age. At the moment, it needs more evolution, but there's no rush. We will see who wins in the end, but the 2019/2020 duo is certainly formidable.

A lot of people complain about the 2020 vintage, hot and difficult, but Wine & Soul had a fine year, often propelled by the ability to harvest small crops quickly. Consistency, even in difficult vintages, is often the sign of a great winery.