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Chryseia by Prats and Symington is a world-class Portuguese red wine born from a unique partnership between Bruno Prats (former owner of Château Cos d’Estournel) and the Symington family. Blending French winemaking elegance with the rich heritage of the Douro Valley, this sophisticated Douro DOC red wine is a blend of Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, combining the structure and character of the Douro with the elegance and precision of Bordeaux-inspired winemaking.
Chryseia is produced from a rigorous selection of grapes sourced from Prats and Symington’s two Upper Douro Valley vineyards, Quinta de Roriz (acquired by Prats and Symington from the van Zeller family in 2009) and Quinta da Perdiz. Another property called Quinta da Vila Velha, which is privately owned by father and son James and Rupert Symington, also contributed some of its best grapes, as it has for every vintage of Chryseia.
The 2022 vintage is a blend of two of the Douro’s most important indigenous red grape varieties:
After careful grape selection and vinification, the wine was matured for 15 months in new 400-litre French oak barrels. The larger-format barrels allow the oak to integrate with the wine while adding subtle spice, toast and structure without overwhelming the character of the Douro fruit.
Bottling takes place at Symington’s modern bottling centre in Vila Nova de Gaia. The Chryseia winemaking team includes Bruno Prats, Charles Symington, Pedro Correia and Miguel Bessa, bringing together generations of Douro experience and international winemaking expertise.
Chryseia 2022 can be enjoyed now after decanting, but its concentration, freshness and fine tannins also give it the structure to develop further in the bottle, perhaps 15+ years. For the best expression, serve at around 16–18°C and decant before serving.
This extraordinary Douro red wine is the product of an exceptional partnership between the Symington family, renowned for their centuries of Port mastery in the Douro, and Bruno Prats, former owner and winemaker at Bordeaux’s esteemed Château Cos d’Estournel. Uniting noble Portuguese heritage with Bordeaux expertise, they set out to craft a contemporary classic. First released with the 2000 vintage, Chryseia helped spearhead the modern resurgence of still Douro DOC wines and made history as the first Portuguese table wine to earn a place in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the World.
The name derives from the ancient Greek word for “golden”, a nod to the Douro River itself. Chryseia remains steadfast in its signature style. Elegance and balance take centre stage, offering rich depth without heaviness and full-bodied structure without sharpness.
As well as Chryseia, the fantastic second wine, Post Scriptum by Prats & Symington is also available to buy at Fareham Wine Cellar.
The 2022 Chryseia is a deep, opaque ruby colour.
The nose is extraordinarily layered and vibrant, opening with balsamic aromas, rich cherry liqueur, and complex, subtle touches of forest floor and dried leaves.
On the palate, the wine is energetic and highly focused. The Touriga Nacional provides a precise, powerful core of black cherries and dark plums, while lively acidity drives the wine forward.
The texture is refined, framed by silky, polished tannins that give way to wild herbs and crushed rock minerality on a remarkably long, clean finish.
This fine Portuguese red wine pairs well with roasted red meats like lamb and beef, game dishes such as venison or duck, and rich stews or casseroles, which complement its powerful structure and complex flavours.
For the cheeseboard, pair with strong, aged cheeses such as Gouda, Manchego, or mature Cheddar.
Serve at approximately 16–18°C for the best balance between fruit, structure and freshness.
2022 Vintage
94 Points by Revista de Vinhos
Historically, Chryseia boasts an unparalleled pedigree; it was the first Portuguese non-fortified wine to ever feature in the Wine Spectator Top 100, a list it has appeared on multiple times, famously reaching the #3 spot worldwide for the 2011 vintage.
Chryseia is a traditional Douro blend heavily dominated by Touriga Nacional (typically around 75%), which provides floral aromas and structure, with the remainder being Touriga Franca, which adds elegance, fresh fruit, and approachability.
Given its youth and intense concentration, we highly recommend decanting the 2022 vintage for at least 2 to 3 hours before serving to allow its tight structure to soften and its complex aromatics to fully open up.
Chryseia is renowned for its longevity. While approachable now with decanting, the 2022 vintage possesses the acidity and tannin structure to age gracefully in a cool, dark cellar for 15 to 20 years, developing tertiary notes of leather and spice.
It is a joint venture between Bruno Prats (formerly of Bordeaux Second-Growth Château Cos d’Estournel) and the Symington family, who have centuries of experience crafting the finest Ports in the Douro Valley.
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