Quinta da Boavista Vinha do Oratório 2018

Quinta da Boavista Vinha do Oratório 2018 is a top-of-the-range, highly prestigious Douro red, made from an almost century-old vineyard. This iconic plot is named for its impressive curved terraces, up to 8 metres high.

The Wine Advocate
RP 95+

Reviewed by: Mark Squires

The 2018 Vinha do Oratório Vinhas Velhas is a field blend from a single plot of very old vines in the Cima Corgo. It aged for 18 months in French barrels, 25% new, and comes in at 14.6% alcohol. This is now a Sogevinus property.

In this vintage, this single-vineyard red was the only Boavista red to reach the market. It's delicious, a much more restrained wine than those I saw under the previous management. That is, less structured, but also less rustic. The fruit, on the other hand, is a beautiful expression of the Douro: not just delicious, but full of nuance, with a slight herbal touch and plenty of complexity.

While structure isn't its greatest strength, it's still clearly there. This is a deliberate change of style to make the wine a little more refined. How that's received will vary from person to person, and another question is how this approach will affect its development in bottle. Still, this wine is truly superb.

Though it seems quite different now, one thing hasn't changed: it's still absolutely brilliant. It also has lots of potential to develop. It can be drunk now, but a few more years in the cellar will bring further improvement.

Published: 29 July 2022