Symington Estates unveil single vineyard 2011s

Symington Family Estates has unveiled two single vineyard vintage Ports as part of its 2011 declaration.

Graham’s Port Arthur vineyard

Graham’s The Stone Terraces and Capela do Quinta do Vesuvio are new additions to the portfolio, The Stone Terraces having never been made before and Capela making its debut only in the 2007 vintage.

The Stone Terraces is produced from two tiny plots at the Quinta dos Malvedos, the east-facing Port Arthur vineyard (1.2 hectares, 1,379 vines) and the north-facing Vinha dos Cardenhos (0.6ha, 1,329 vines).

Capela meanwhile is produced from the pick of the crop at the Quinta do Vesuvio vineyards.

For the first time, Charles Symington decided to add Alicante Bouschet to the blend for colour and structure.

Speaking at the tasting of the new vintage in London last night, co-chairman Paul Symington, said that the wine was a “complete departure” and “a bit idiosyncratic” but added the reason the family had decided to make it was that they had “always loved the two little vineyards this is made from”.

Both wines have only been made in minute quantities, 250 cases of Stone Terraces and 200 cases of Capela – only 25 cases of the latter are being allocated to the UK. Both are an extra tier to the classic Graham’s and Quinta do Vesuvio and will cost more, with a bottle of Stone Terraces pushing over the £100 a bottle mark.

Speaking to the drinks business, Johnny Symington explained that another reason for the wines’ production was the desire to push the Douro’s terroir further.

Paul Symington has previously explained to db that single quinta Ports would be key to the Douro’s future and “reinforce” the region’s terroir story.

Johnny Symington added that while Stone Terraces and Capela were “extensions of the desire to further the Douro’s terroir,” there were no plans to extend the concept to the other properties in the Symington portfolio – for now at least.

“There is a limit to these things,” he said.