Quinta de la Rosa: the elegant side of Portugal’s Douro
Website: https://www.quintadelarosa.com/
I’ve been following the wines of Quinta de La Rosa for a long time. Owned by the Bergqvist family, it’s a beautifully situated wine farm situated on the banks of the Douro just above Pinhão.
I’ve written about the Quinta extensively here. The modern story of the Quinta begins in 1988 when Tim Bergvist and his daughter Sophia (the current proprietor) decided to bring wines and Ports to market under the name of La Rosa. Things moved forwards fast when they hired winemaker Jorge Moreira (who also makes wines under his Poeira brand), and the wines have kept getting better. They also bought and planted a second quinta in the Douro Superior in 2006.
Jorge says that they are trying to change the philosophy of the La Rosa wines, for example by planting a new 10 hectare plot on a north-facing site. The whites, planted higher, are being made in a mineral, austere style, while the red grapes such as Baga, Touriga Francesca and Alfrocheiro are helping to make reds that are lighter with more tension. It’s working.
THE WINES
Quinta de la Rosa Branco 2024 Douro, Portugal
Juicy and bright with some citrus drive, as well as some subtle richer notes and a bit of pithy detail. Lively, focused and quite lovely. 90/100
Quinta de la Rosa Reserva Branco 2024 Douro, Portugal
This is a typical Douro white blend but with a touch of Alvarinho, too, aged for 6 months in used barrels. Juicy and lively with nice energy, and a pithy twist. Lovely purity with nice texture and poise. 92/100
Quinta de la Rosa Gouveio 2023 Douro, Portugal
First release of this wine (although it was first made in 2021). Gouveio in a gully, north-facing, replanted in 2019. It’s a 10 hectare plot. Tight and focused with nice texture and weight. A minerally, grainy style. 94/100
Quinta de la Rosa Cerejinha 2023 Douro, Portugal
This was first released in 2021, and it’s a blend of Alvarinho (with some skins) and Arinto. Lively and fruity with nice texture and a bit of structure. Fine citrus fruit with some grip, and pronounced acidity keeping everything alive. Pear and grapefruit notes. 94/100
Quinta de la Rosa ‘Tim’ Grande Reserva 2023 Douro, Portugal
Jorge says he goes for acid and reduction in this wine, with quite a bit of Arinto in the blend. Complex and layered with nice depth, showing powerful pear and peach fruit with some lemons. Fresh and expressive with a good acid line. Combines freshness and depth. 95/100
Quinta de la Rosa Passagem Branco 2024 Douro, Portugal
This comes from the Douro Superior property, Bandeiras. They have replanted some buts at the top in 2019 (changing Rabigato for Arinto). Fermented and aged in stainless steel. Linear and focused with nice citrus and pear fruit, as well as hints of grapefruit. Nice acid line here. 92/100
Quinta de la Rosa Passagem Branco Reserva 2024 Douro, Portugal
A bit of skin contact for this, as well as a good dose of Rabigato, used barrels. Fresh, stony and nicely mineral with some depth to the citrus fruit. Quite textural with some sophistication. 93/100
Quinta de la Rosa Leve 2024 Douro, Portugal
This red is made from Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cão and a bit of Baga, picked early. Fresh, bright and stony with red cherries and plums as well as a hint of strawberry. Nice sappiness. This is really nicely balanced, and is juicy with a bit of grip. Massive drinkability. 92/100
Quinta de la Rosa DuoRosa 2023 Douro, Portugal
Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz. Aiming at freshness. Salty, slightly fishy edge to the bright berry fruits, with a touch of cherry. Bright and grippy with nice balance. Delicious. 92/100
Quinta de la Rosa Reserva Tinto 2022 Douro, Portugal
Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz. Lovely weight here. This is supple and elegant but also has nice fine-grained structure. This shows some nice spicy detail. Very expressive and drinkable, but it also has nice weight. 94/100
Quinta de la Rosa Tinto Cão 2021 Douro, Portugal
First made in 2019, and then again in this vintage. Bright, lively, stony and mineral with good structure under the supple cherry and berry fruit, with a bit of grip. Stylish and expressive with good poise. 93/100
Quinta de la Rosa Grande Reserva Tinto 2021 Douro, Portugal
Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, 18 months in oak. Nice concentration and balance with a savoury, stony edge to the blackberry and black cherry fruit. Fine-grained with nice refinement and some supporting oak. Classical style. 94/100
Quinta de la Rosa Vinha Vale do Inferno 2021 Douro, Portugal
Touriga Nacional from a remarkable plot with elaborate terracing. Lovely balance here: aromatic and refined with black cherries, spice and a hint of tar. So classy with everything in balance. Mineral, stony and expressive. 95/100
Quinta de la Rosa Passagem Tinto 2023 Douro, Portugal
Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca. Highly aromatic with tar, spice and floral black cherries. The palate is supple with lovely sweet cherry and raspberry fruit with nice detail. Lovely balance here: fruity and delicious. 93/100
Quinta de la Rosa Passagem Reserva Tinto 2023 Douro, Portugal
Juicy and supple, this is vivid and floral with lovely energy to the bright cherry and plum fruit with a hint of pepper and tar. So expressive with nice ripe fruit and good acidity. 94/100
Quinta de la Rosa Passagem Grande Reserva Tinto 2027 Douro, Portugal
Minty edge to the bright cherry and plum fruit with a hint of earth and spice. Evolving nicely, with a grippy finish. 93/100
