Quinta dos Aciprestes Grande Reserva Sousao
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years from vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted lamb, wild boar stew, mature hard cheeses
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Quinta dos Aciprestes stretches gracefully along the left bank of the Douro River in the Cima Corgo subregion, where the estate's name pays homage to the historic cypress trees ('ciprestes') that dot the landscape. Under the stewardship of Real Companhia Velha, this estate has become a benchmark for terroir-driven still wines. The Grande Reserva Sousão celebrates one of the Douro's most distinctive indigenous grape varieties. Historically valued in Port production for its intense color and high natural acidity, Sousão shines here as a single-varietal showpiece. Sourced from selected hillside parcels planted on vertical schist slopes, the grapes undergo fermentation in stainless steel before aging in French oak barrels. This process tames the grape's rustic power, resulting in a deeply concentrated, ink-colored wine with complex aromas of dark forest fruits, balsamic undertones, and a striking mineral freshness characteristic of the Douro's rugged soils.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1756 by Royal Charter of King José I under the direction of the Marquis of Pombal, Real Companhia Velha is Portugal's oldest wine company, representing over two and a half centuries of uninterrupted Port and Douro wine production. Based in Vila Nova de Gaia with extensive vineyard holdings across the Douro Valley—including prestigious estates like Quinta das Carvalhas and Quinta de Cidro—the company combines deep-seated tradition with modern winemaking techniques. They are globally renowned for their exceptional Port wines, ranging from complex Aged Tawnies to structured Vintages, alongside a highly acclaimed portfolio of still Douro reds and whites that showcase the region's diverse terroir. Official website: https://realcompanhiavelha.pt. Address: Rua Azevedo Magalhães 314, 4430-022 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.