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Sogevinus Fine WinesDouro

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Vintage
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TECH SHEET

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Vintage
2020
Country
PortugalPortugal
Region
Douro
Type
Red
Producer
Sogevinus Fine Wines
Winemaker
Jean-Claude Berrouet
Grapes
Old Vines (+90 years old)
Alcohol
14% vol.
Bottle
750 ml

Wine profile

Red

Body
Tannin
Acidity
Alcohol14% vol
Sweetness

Tap or hover a scale

Wine profile · Red

Body

Level 3 of 5 — Medium and rounded – like whole milk

Below typical (3.8) · Typical: average of 711 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Body is the weight and texture of the wine in your mouth. It comes mainly from alcohol, extract (everything dissolved apart from water), glycerol and, in sweet wines, sugar.

Where you feel it

Across the whole tongue: how much the wine fills your mouth. Think skimmed milk, whole milk and cream.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: Vinogrande's tasting notes and wine description.

There is no single number for body. Labs measure dry extract (many wines are between 18 and 30 g/L) and alcohol, which WSET says has the biggest effect on body. Our scale rates the weight in the mouth.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Light: fluid and delicate
  2. 2Medium−: light-ish
  3. 3Medium: rounded This wine
  4. 4Medium+: broad
  5. 5Full: dense and rich

In practice, for this wine

The most versatile middle ground: from salt cod to white meat and pasta.

Wine profile · Red

Tannin

Level 4 of 5 — Firm – like strong black tea

Above typical (3.2) · Typical: average of 708 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Tannins come from grape skins, seeds and oak. They give red wines structure and ageing potential, and soften with time.

Where you feel it

On your gums, inside your cheeks and on your teeth: that rough, drying feel, like after strong black tea.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: the typical profile of the region (WSET), as we have no specific data. Estimate

Labs measure total polyphenols (the TPI index), but that figure is rarely published. Our scale rates the amount and texture of the tannins in the mouth.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Low: silky
  2. 2Medium−: soft
  3. 3Medium: present
  4. 4Medium+: firm This wine
  5. 5High: robust

In practice, for this wine

Shines with red meat and fat: protein softens tannin. Decanting helps.

Wine profile · Red

Acidity

Level 5 of 5 — Crisp and racy – like freshly squeezed lemon

Above typical (3.6) · Typical: average of 702 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Acidity is the wine's freshness: it gives energy, makes your mouth water and helps the wine age. Too little and it tastes flat; too much and it feels sharp.

Where you feel it

On the sides of your tongue, and in how much your mouth waters after you swallow. The more you salivate, the higher the acidity.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: Vinogrande's tasting notes and wine description.

Labs measure total acidity (grams of tartaric acid per litre; most wines sit between 4.5 and 8 g/L) and pH (usually 3.0 to 3.8; the lower, the more acidic). Our scale turns that into how it feels in the mouth.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Low: soft, little freshness
  2. 2Medium−: gentle
  3. 3Medium: fresh and balanced
  4. 4Medium+: lively, mouth-watering
  5. 5High: crisp, racy This wine

In practice, for this wine

Ideal with oysters, shellfish, sushi and fried food; it stands up to sharp, salty dishes. Serve cold, great as an aperitif.

Wine profile · Red

Alcohol 14% vol

Level 4 of 5 — Generous – warms the throat

In line with typical (4.2) · Typical: average of 716 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Alcohol is made when yeast ferments the grape's sugar. It brings warmth, adds to the body and carries the aromas.

Where you feel it

As warmth in your throat and chest when you swallow, and a slight burn on the nose when it is high.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: the alcohol stated on the label — On the label: 14% vol.

It is the one axis that is always measured: it comes from the % vol on the label. Still and sparkling wines: under 11% = 1, up to 12.4% = 2, up to 13.4% = 3, up to 14.4% = 4, 14.5% or more = 5. Fortified wines (Port, Madeira…) have their own scale: under 16.5% = 2, up to 18.4% = 3, up to 19.9% = 4, 20% or more = 5.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Low: under 11% vol
  2. 2Medium−: 11–12.4% vol
  3. 3Medium: 12.5–13.4% vol
  4. 4Medium+: 13.5–14.4% vol This wine
  5. 5High: 14.5% vol or more

In practice, for this wine

Avoid very spicy food, which boosts the heat. Serve slightly below room temperature.

Wine profile · Red

Sweetness

Level 1 of 5 — Dry – no sugar you can taste, just fruit

In line with typical (1.0) · Typical: average of 720 reds at Vinogrande

What it is

Sweetness comes from the grape's natural sugar that did not turn into alcohol (residual sugar). A dry wine has almost none; a Port or a late-harvest wine has a lot.

Where you feel it

On the tip of your tongue, right from the first sip, and as a richer, oilier feel in the mouth. Acidity can mask it.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: the sweetness category recorded on the product sheet (dry, off-dry…).

It is measured in grams of residual sugar per litre. General EU bands: dry up to about 4 g/L, off-dry up to 12, medium-sweet up to 45, sweet above that. On our scale: under 4 g/L = 1, up to 12 = 2, up to 45 = 3, up to 100 = 4, more = 5.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Dry: no noticeable sugar This wine
  2. 2Off-dry: a touch of sweetness
  3. 3Medium-sweet: clearly sweet
  4. 4Sweet: rich and fruity
  5. 5Very sweet: luscious

In practice, for this wine

Goes with the whole meal, from savoury to mildly spicy. Avoid sweet desserts: they make it taste bitter.

Critics & awards

Serve & enjoy

Temperature 16–18 °CIf the room is above 20 °C, 15 min in the fridge
GlassBordeaux glass
Open ahead 15 min · No decanting

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Pairings, alternatives and advice in seconds

Description

Quinta da Boavista Vinha do Ujo 2020 is an outstanding top-of-the-range Douro red, made from a historic vineyard planted in the 1930s. It's a genuine old-vine field blend of more than 25 interplanted native grapes, grown on pre-phylloxera terraces held up by schist walls. 

The Wine Advocate
RP 96

Reviewed by: Mark Squires

The score of 96 points given by Mark Squires in Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate clearly conveys the sophisticated, austere identity of Quinta da Boavista Vinha do Ujo 2020, an old-vine wine marked by precision and elegance.

Far from an exuberant or overripe style, it stands out instead for its restraint, freshness and depth. On the nose it shows remarkable purity of fruit wrapped in dark mineral notes, delicate floral touches and subtle spice that unfold slowly in the glass.

On the palate it impresses with the tension and liveliness of its acidity, supported by extremely fine, well-sculpted tannins that give it structure and distinction. The finish is long, intense and persistent, leaving an enveloping, captivating impression.

Despite the youth and austerity it still shows, the critic expects remarkable development in the cellar, predicting great longevity and a majestic ageing path.

The score given by James Suckling to Quinta da Boavista Vinha do Ujo 2020 was 98 points.

James Suckling's tasting team describes Quinta da Boavista Vinha do Ujo 2020 as a wine of great precision and sophistication, marked by impressive aromatic depth and structural balance.

AromaOn the nose it shows intense aromas of ripe black fruit such as blackberry and blueberry, wrapped in notes of damp earth, fine spice and delicate mineral nuances evoking crushed schist.

PalateOn the palate it's medium to full-bodied, with an elegant texture and flawless construction. The tannins are firm yet extremely polished and silky, while vibrant acidity adds freshness and tension.

FinishThe finish is long and persistent, carried by successive layers of perfectly integrated fruit and spice.

According to James Suckling, it's a refined, precise and distinctive wine, offering immediate pleasure but also remarkable potential to develop in bottle over several decades.

What to serve with this wine

Dishes calculated from this wine’s profile, grapes and region.