Alves de Sousa - Douro // See wine map of Portugal below

Alves de Sousa - Douro // See wine map of Portugal below


 Alves de Sousa

Domingos Alves de Sousa was one of the pioneers of wine making from the Douro. He is the fourth generation of a family of grape growers in the Douro. He left as a young man to study engineering only to return to the land in the late 1980’s, determined that the Douro's unique vineyards could produce great dry wines in addition to their world famous ports. Alves de Sousa works only with grapes from the family’s estates: Quinta da Gaivosa, Vale da Raposa, Caldas, Estação, Aveleira and Oliveirinha. After graduating top of his class in Agricultural Engineering at the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Domingos’ son, Tiago, joined the winemaking team at Alves de Sousa in 2002. Currently, he is the head winemaker at the estate. The winery was named Portugal’s "Producer of the Year" in 1999 and again in 2006 by “Revista de Vinhos”, Portugal’s most important wine magazine.


 

Alves de Sousa Vale da Raposa Branco

Appellation: Douro DOC
Vinification: Total destemming. Soft pressing & decanting. Fermentation at 16 degrees C for 15 days. 3 months in stainless steel vats over the fine lees with battonage.
Alcohol: 12.5%
Grapes: Gouveio, Malvasia Fina
Visual: Pale yellow
Nose: Bright & citrusy. Very expressive bouquet, with hints of lime, fresh pineapple and grass.
Palate: Very fresh and full of character. Flavors of mango, melon, grapefruit and chalk with soft minerality
Pairings: Seafood, Asian dishes, fruit salsas.

 
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Alves de Sousa Vale da Raposa Reserva Tinto

Appellation: Douro DOC
Grapes: Touriga Nacional, Tinto Cão, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca
Aging: 12 months in 3rd year French oak
Alcohol: 14.5% vol.
Grapes: Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cão, Touriga Franca
Visual: Ruby
Nose: Black currants, violets, pine and dark chocolate
Palate: Smooth, very elegant and complex, showing dark plums and a very refined coffee hint.
Pairings: Roasted poultry, beef, lamb, charcuterie, and hard, strong cheeses.



 
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Alves de Sousa Vale da Raposa White Port

Appellation: Douro DOC
Grapes: Sousão, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca
Vinification: 3-4 days of fermentation on the skins. Fermentation stopped with the addition of “Aguardente” (wine spirit).
Aging: 7 years in concrete vats
Alcohol: 19.5%
Color: Amber
Nose: Herbs, spices, orange peel & marzipan
Palate: Very complex flavors. Full-bodied.
Pairings: Blue cheeses (Roquefort, Stilton), apple or apricot desserts

 
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Alves de Sousa Quinta da Gaivosa 10 Year Old Tawny Port

Appellation: Douro DOC
Terroir: Rough slopes. Rudeness of the soils. Almost 100 year old vines surrounded by olives trees, forest & Marão Mountains. Vineyards are 60+ years old.
Grapes: Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Barroca, others
Vinification: 3-4 days fermentation with indigenous yeasts at 20-25 degrees C. Fermentation stopped with the addition of “Aguardente” (wine spirit)
Aging: 10 years in old, French, oak barrels
Alcohol: 19.5%
Color: Amber color with light reds
Nose: Complex bouquet showing caramel, spices and macerated raspberries
Palate: Beautiful evolution, showing side by side traces of maturity and youth. Very complex, charming and refined.
Pairings: Cheese, caramel desserts, egg desserts such as flan or custard

 
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Alves de Sousa Quinta da Gaivosa 20 Year Old Tawny Port

Appellation: Douro DOC
Terroir: Rough slopes. Rudeness of the soils. Almost 100 year old vines surrounded by olives trees, forest & Marão Mountains. Vineyards are 60+ years old.
Grapes: Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Barroca, others
Vinification: 3-4 days fermentation with indigenous yeasts at 20-25 degrees C. Fermentation stopped with the addition of “Aguardente” (wine spirit)
Aging: 20 years in old, French, oak barrels
Alcohol: 19.5%
Color: Amber color
Nose: Full of spices, toffee, caramel and herbal notes
Palate: Rich and very complex. Wonderfully refined by time, it expresses the beauty of 20 years of maturity.
Pairings: Cheese, caramel desserts, egg desserts such as flan or custard or (the winery says) with a cigar

 
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Map credit: Wine Folly>

Map credit: Wine Folly>