Ramos Pinto Vintage Port 2004

Tasting Profile: An intense and very opaque violet colour. It has a complex aroma that combines red fruits with spices and notes of dark chocolate and pepper. On the palate it is well-structured, very full-bodied and joins with a flavour of ripe but very intense fruit and energetic tannins that give it great ageing potential. An extremely persistent and intense finish.

Grape: Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz

Serving Tips: The wine benefits from being served between 17ºC to 18ºC. It is ready for drinking and does not require decanting. Once open, it should be consumed within 2-3 months. Served after dinner, it pairs well with cheeses from the Serra da Estrela region of Portugal, Stilton, Gorgonzola and other full-fat cheeses. An ideal accompaniment to a strong cigar.

Winemaking: Total precipitation during the 2003 wine-growing year was within the normal range, despite being marked by highly irregular distribution. From early spring to late May, there was no rainfall at all. Bud burst occurred in March and was normal. Flowering took place in the second half of May under excellent weather conditions. Ripening progressed during a very hot and dry period, with average temperatures of 45°C. This caused an increased concentration of different components and contributed to a perfect state of health for the grapes. Temperatures remained high during harvest, producing small grape berries with a good concentration of sugar, aromas and smooth tannins. Despite all this, it was a good year with slightly irregular temperatures, but one which ultimately produced rich, concentrated wines. The grapes are trodden by foot in troughs. Fermentation lasts four to five days, producing an excellent extraction.