Smith Woodhouse Madalena Vintage Port

Description

Smith Woodhouse Madalena Vintage Port is a Single Quinta vintage Port made by the Symington Family in the Douro.

Compared to its Symington stablemates (Dow, Graham, Croft et al.), Smith Woodhouse Port is not very well known and production is small. The company can trace its origins back to 1784 when Christopher Smith MP and Lord Mayor of London founded a small Port shipping company. Smith was later joined by the Woodhouse brothers and the Symington Family acquired ownership in 1970.

The tiny Quinta de Madelena (vineyard property) covers just over 5 hectares of vineyards which have the highest “A” quality rating. It is located in the Rio Torto district, acknowledged as one of the finest Port growing areas. The maturation pattern in the Torto Valley is typically later than in most of the other areas of the Douro region, bringing about an extended ripening cycle, which produces very well-balanced wines with superb aromas and great finesse. The majority of the Smith Woodhouse Madalena vineyard is composed of Vinha Velha or “old vines”. Planted many years ago these include around 35% Touriga Franca whilst the rest is composed of mixed Douro grape varieties such as Touriga Nacional, Tinta Cao, Tinta Francisca, Tinta Amarela, Sousao and Tinta Roriz.

Single Quinta Ports are made in a year that is not classified as a vintage (i.e. a vintage is not declared), but they are vinified in exactly the same way as vintage Port and can offer brilliant value for money. Single Quinta Vintage Port tends to mature more quickly than classic Vintages but otherwise shares the same characteristic rich, opulent Smith Woodhouse style: berry fruit aromas, hints of chocolate and mint balanced by fine and elegant tannins. Smith Woodhouse Madalena produces very well balanced wines with distinctive floral aromas reminiscent of roses and violets.

Winemakers are Charles Symington and João Pedro Ramalho.

Smith Woodhouse Madalena Vintage Port will require decanting, read our guide to decanting Port here.