THE WINE

Ferreira Vintages are unique and exceptional Portos, at the pinnacle of excellence. With over 250 years of this tradition for excellence, Ferreira has one of the Porto sector’s top cellars for vintage Portos, with wines dating back to 1815 and serves as a benchmark for the industry. Vintage Portos are exceptional wines from a single extraordinary year, selected for their huge potential for bottle ageing.

TASTING NOTES

This wine is the deepest crimson, almost opaque in colour. It displays great intensity, complexity and harmony on the nose. A prevalence of floral notes, especially rock-rose and heather as well as warm cedar hints from its time in oak. Spices such as pepper, with an undertone of curry, as well as some mineral notes are also in evidence. On the palate it has a lively attack, with balanced acidity, and robust and distinct tannins. Red fruits and spices, especially pepper, come to the fore during tasting. It has a long and supremely well-balanced finish.

WINEMAKER: Luís Sottomayor VARIETIES:

45% Touriga Franca, 40% Touriga Nacional, 10% Tinta Roriz, 5% Sousão

WINEMAKING

The grapes were hand-picked at the optimum stage of ripening and were vinified in accordance Porto winemaking’s traditional practices. Gentle crushing and partial de-stemming of the perfectly ripened fruit was followed by a very intense period of maceration during the alcoholic fermentation. To achieve the optimum skin extraction that delivers the colour, flavour, tannin components for a Vintage Porto Wine, the grapes were pressed in the granite lagares at controlled temperatures of 28oC.

MATURATION

Only the most exceptional wines were chosen for the final blend of this Porto Ferreira Vintage 2011 and were taken to the Ferreira lodges at Vila Nova de Gaia. Here they were aged in large oak wood vats, in keeping with the Ferreira style, under ideal temperature and humidity conditions. Their gradual evolution was constantly monitored by the winemaking team who, after numerous tastings, confirmed the wines were of vintage quality and prepared the final blend. This magnificent Porto Ferreira Vintage 2011 was bottled in April 2013 with no further treatments.

STORE

Porto Ferreira Vintage 2007 was bottled in a black-glass bottle sealed with a natural cork to provide the effective seal for extended bottle-ageing. Ferreira 2007 Vintage Porto is an extremely young wine that will develop its full potential over the coming decades (15 to 20 years). The bottle should be kept horizontally, under a constant temperature of between 16oC-18oC and sheltered from intense light.

SERVE

Over time Vintage Porto develops a natural deposit, and it should be opened with care and decanted prior to serving, ideally at between 16oC-18oC. Once the bottle has been opened, Ferreira 2011 Vintage Porto should be enjoyed within 1-2 days.

ENJOY

When mature, it is ideal on its own or with dried fruits. It goes well with rich cheeses such as Queijo da Serra.