Text João Pedro de Carvalho | Translation Bruno Ferreira

The wine production in the family of Rui José Xavier Soares (Real Companhia Velha’s viticulture coordinator, place where he works since 1997) goes back to the time where his grandfather Fernando who was responsible for the plantation of the great majority of vines that give birth to the wines that Rui Soares creates nowadays. For many years the Quinta’s production was solely destined to Port wine and for own consumption. It was in 2002 that they decided to go one step further and get into the table wine’s market. The basis of the whole process are the old family vineyards, located in Valdigem (Lamego), where the red and white wines with brands Esmero e Mimo are produced.

Separating the tasting in two moments:

The whites – both wines come from 30 years old vines which are located in a terrain transition that goes from schist to granite. Both whites aged in stainless steel vats while the reds aged in wood. According to the definition Mimo (pampering) is something delicate, made with grace, beauty and perfection. The Mimo white 2014 is composed, mostly, by Moscatel Galego, Fernão Pires and Síria. It’s a fresh white, different and fun that has many clean and captivating aromas of which stand out the floral, ripe citrus, fresh vegetal on an average body set. Good freshness combined with the presence of fruit and slight dryness to the finish.

The Esmero white 2014 is the result of the extreme care in the work, the refinement and the thoroughness. It’s a serious white mainly composed by Viosinho and Gouveio with vigor where the well-defined notes of white fruit pulp with some citrus mingle with the slight notes of wood and mineral austerity background. Very present acidity that dominates the whole set with fresh fruit, tisanes, medium body with nerve and a beautiful structure supporting it.

Mimo white 2014 – Photo by João Pedro de Carvalho | All Rights Reserved

Esmero red 2013 – Photo by João Pedro de Carvalho | All Rights Reserved

The reds – both reds aged for 18 months in wood vats and their differences can be found not only by the age of the vines but also by the altitude at they’re at. The Mimo red 2012 is made from a 30 years old half slope vine, reveals very clean, fresh and tasty fruit (berries, forest fruits), pepper, cocoa and a very slight wood note that snuggles the set.

In the mouth it shows a lot of freshness and the liveness of a very clean and quality fruit. It’s pure with a medium presence, very balanced and tasty. A red that is easy to like. On another hand, the top of the range, the more serious one which is produced from a field blend vine with over 80 years old at low altitude. The Esmero red 2013 is dominated by the complexity, freshness and quality of the whole set, full of forest fruits, cherry (all very ripe and full of acidity), broad with much character, black pepper and wood in the background. The mouth shows bodied profile, vigor, persistence, and, the fruit and the barrel in full harmony which results in a wonderful Douro wine with many years ahead.