Vintage Port by Senhora do Convento 2001

Perched atop a picturesque vineyard in the heart of the Douro Valley, Senhora Do Convento is situated 100 km east of the UNESCO world heritage city of Porto, Portugal. The Cistercian monastery, nestled in this rugged yet captivating region, boasts thick stone walls that have borne witness to legendary events. Local lore speaks of ghosts inhabiting the property, adding an intriguing element to this hauntingly beautiful estate.

In the Douro's core, along the banks of the Távora, a tributary of the Douro, lies the enchanting Mosteiro Novo De São Pedro Das Aguias monastery, surrounded by vineyards. This splendid monastery, constructed by Cistercian monks, has been meticulously restored to its former glory by the current owners of Quinta do Convento, as the wine domain is officially known. The proprietors are the Landanger couple—him, a Frenchman, and her, a Portuguese—originating from Burgundy and also holding ownership of the renowned Domaine de La Pousse d'Or in Volnay.

Patrick Landanger, an engineer from Chaumont who previously owned a factory producing titanium hips and knees, acquired La Pousse d'Or in 1997 and Quinta do Convento in 2005. By 2009, the monastery restoration was finished, and the state-of-the-art wine-making facility was ready. The estate is now under the ownership of the Candees company.

Encompassing forty-seven hectares of vineyards, the estate is planted with grape varieties commonly used in the production of port wine, such as Touriga Nacional, Francesca, Tinta Roriz, and Barroca for red wine and port, and Malvasia Fina, Gouveio, and Viosinho for white port.

The production of port wine is exceptionally labor-intensive due to the manual work required on the steep slopes of the Douro. Vintage port is crafted only in the finest years, occurring roughly three times in a decade.