Vintage Port by Nicolau de Almeida is a powerful and elegant expression of Quinta do Monte Xisto in the Douro Superior. Sourced from north- and south-facing plots, it blends Touriga Francesa, Touriga Nacional, and Sousão to create a wine of intensity, volume, and remarkable finesse.
The grapes are hand-harvested and fermented whole bunch with stems in traditional granite "lagares" by foot treading. Fermentation takes place over six days with indigenous yeasts and is stopped by the addition of wine brandy. The wine is aged for 18 months in a mix of 600L barrels and cement vats in Vila Nova de Gaia, where the cool, humid Atlantic conditions shape its final profile.
On the nose, this Vintage opens with serious aromatic weight: wild rockrose, resin, lavender, and ripe red fruits. The palate is rich, smooth, and packed with layered concentration. Firm yet integrated tannins support a long, unfolding finish of blackberries, cherries, and forest berries. Despite its 19% alcohol, the wine remains balanced and elegant—the sweetness and warmth are subtle, allowing the natural freshness and precision of the fruit to shine. This is a vintage built to age, best enjoyed now with structure—or with patience over decades.