Following the announcement, the time has come to welcome the 2015 Barca-Velha. Ready to be savored by connoisseurs of fine wines from Portugal and around the world, the 2015 Barca-Velha will hit the market in late June to continue honoring the very best of the Douro.
Barca-Velha is the result of a bold vision conceived by Fernando Nicolau de Almeida, rooted in the history of the Douro. Conceived in the 1940s, each release bears witness to the care devoted to its production and the art of knowing when to wait. From the meticulous selection of the grape varieties that compose it, to the aging period that attests to its uniqueness, to the winemaking decision to release it—which occurs only in truly exceptional years. After 21 vintages, the time has come to discover the latest expression of the Douro’s most iconic wine: the Barca-Velha 2015.
Grace, character, and persistence are some of the adjectives that winemaker Luís de Sottomayor—who has led the winemaking team at Casa Ferreirinha since 2007—uses to describe the wine, which has proven to have extraordinary aging potential. “The Barca-Velha 2015 reveals exquisite maturation, combining the excellence of its predecessors—a strong structure that echoes the grandeur of the Barca-Velha 2011, and vibrant acidity and elegance that evoke the distinctive character of the 2008 Barca-Velha,” the winemaker asserts. After 9 years of aging, the 2015 Barca-Velha is ready to be discovered by the world, promising to reach its peak up to 25 years after harvest. After all, many years of remarkable quality await this wine!
For Fernando da Cunha Guedes, President of Sogrape, “When it comes to launching such an iconic wine, the feeling is always a mix of great joy and enormous responsibility. Knowing that a series of truly special circumstances are required for this vintage, and that such magic does not happen on command, but rather when nature allows it, the launch of a new vintage of Barca-Velha is, in fact, a unique moment—for Sogrape, for the wine industry, and for the consumers who eagerly await the opportunity to taste the wine.”
Barca-Velha 2015 is the ultimate expression of the best that nature has to offer, honoring the history and glory of this flavor so typical of the Douro.
Casa Ferreirinha Barca Velha 2015, the 21st vintage of one of Portugal’s most iconic wines, will hit the market starting in late June.
Tasting Notes for Casa Ferreirinha Barca-Velha 2015
Deep ruby color. Very intense and complex aroma, with prominent herbal notes such as olive leaf, olive paste, black fruit, spices, pepper, balsamic, cedar, and tobacco box, along with stony undertones, complemented by subtle, very well-integrated oak. On the palate, it has a powerful attack, vibrant acidity, lively tannins, notes of spices and red fruits, with a very long and elegant finish.
2015 Wine-Growing Year
The year 2015 was dry throughout most of the growing season, with March recording half the expected rainfall and above-normal temperatures between April and May. June and July were very hot, but effective management of soil moisture and foliage allowed for steady and uniform ripening. The climate accelerated the vines’ growth cycle by about 1 to 2 weeks, and the temperature fluctuations experienced between August and September allowed for balanced ripening of the grapes, preserving their elegance and harmony.
Vintages released by Casa Ferreirinha Barca-Velha: 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2011, and 2015.