What makes a great wine a great wine and be it consistently for decades? Nothing better to answer this question than a vertical tasting of Barca Velha, the most famous Portuguese wine. In its last edition, 18 thousand bottles were produced, which today are quoted at around 600 euros per unit in Portugal.

 

The creator of Barca Velha “had the dream of producing a great table wine in the Douro” and for this reason France went to learn from the best. 

 

They are the two reference red wines of the country. They share a high price, fame and an exalting story. Portugal produces excellent wines, but it is always good to know that national specialties among all those that exist are being recognized abroad.

This time it was Forbes magazine that elected the best wines of 2019 and the list has three Portuguese in the first 12 places.

 

Taylors Very Old Single Harvest Port 1968 (€ 305) and red wines Cartuxa Pêra-Manca 2005 (€ 460) and Casa Ferreirinha Barca Velha 1999 (€ 563.8) were the drinks distinguished by expert Eustacia Huen.

 

Three  Portuguese wines  are on the list of the 15 best wines in the world. A list made by  Forbes  regarding the best wines of 2019. France counts four wines in this Top-15.

 

1. Scarecrow Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (935.96 euros) 
2. Domaine de La Romanée-Conti Burgundy Côte de Nuits 2000 (3795 euros) 
3. Soldera Case Basse Sangiovese Tuscany 2006 (485 euros) 
4. Château dYquem Bordeaux Sauternes 2001 (575.3 euros) 
5. Taylors Very Old Single Harvest Porto 1968 (305 euros) 
6. Domaine de La Romanée-Conti Burgundy Côte de Nuits 2011 (2800 euros) 
7. Viñedo Chadwick Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 (374.82 euros 
8. Masseto Tuscan 2005 (967.5 euros) 
9. Cartuxa Pêra-Manca 2005 (460 euros) 
10. Pétrus Bordeaux 2005 (4134 euros) 
11. Monteviejo Argentinian Malbec 2010 (113.77 euros) 
12. Casa Ferreirinha Barca Velha 1999 (563.8 euros)

 

 

The list is headed by  Scarecrow  - Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 - which costs around $ 695.

In second place we find the first Gallic wine,  Domaine de La Romanée-Conti : Burgundy Côte de Nuits Red 2000. The price of each bottle is around $ 4,500.

Third and last place on the podium is for the Italian  Soldera  - Tuscan Red 2006 - which is priced at $ 475.

French wines are in all ten best places: 2nd place for “ Domaine de La Romanée-Conti  / Burgundy Côte de Nuits Red 2000”, 4th place for “ Château dYquem  / Bordeaux Sauternes 2001 ($ 800)”, 6 1st place for “ Domaine de La Romanée-Conti  / Burgundy Côte de Nuits Red 2011 (US $ 2,999)”, and 10th place for “ Pétrus  / Bordeaux 2005 (US $ 3,200)”.

As for Portuguese wines the best ranked is a Port wine that occupies the 5th position:  Taylors  / Very Old Single Harvest Port 1968. A bottle costs around $ 250.

Then Portugal has two reds. In 9th place we have an Alentejo red,  Cartuxa  / Pêra-Manca 2005, while in 12th place we have a Douro red,  Casa Ferreirinha  / Barca Velha 1999.

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