2005 Adagio Amador Port
Winery Exclusive Selection

  

The Vineyards
It is an old tradition among the wealthy British to give a newborn child a hearty supply of Port from the newborn’s birth year. The idea being that by the time the child was old enough to drink, the Port would be matured and ready. We wanted to give a gift of something unusual for the Sebastiani portfolio to our winery patrons and wine club members: a fantastic Port. We sourced several different varieties of Port from the Hames Valley appellation to create this wine. The warm day temperatures coupled with cooler nights of Southern Monterey Co. (ie, Hames Valley) is perfect for driving dense opaque color with dark plums and raspberry and chocolate flavor profile. .

The Vintage
The season was cooler and breezier than usual, which made for our darkest and richest Port made to date. Harvest started in early October at 25° Brix, then finished by late October at 27° Brix, achieving peak ripeness due to the lack of rains in that region.



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Winemaking
After the grapes were macerated and after initial fermentation, the wine was fortified with wine spirits during mid-fermentation. The high alcohol from the wine spirits caused the yeasts in the wine to die and halted the fermentation process, leaving the wine with an alcohol around 19% and 8% residual sugar. It also allowed the “hotness” of the wine spirits to be absorbed by the yeast and to integrate with the wine. It was made with traditional port varieties in the traditional way and aged in older French oak and American oak barrels.
Winemaker's Notes
With aromas of dark chocolate, mocha and dried cherries and hints of rose petal, this Port is a real treat! Dark chocolate flavor bursts all over the palate, followed by mocha and jammy, raspberry flavors. The fruit and tannins are balanced, and this wine is surprisingly smooth being from the 2005 vintage. Enjoy this classic combination of roasted nuts after a meal, or with aged Stilton Cheese, as the British are so famous for. Of course if you smoke cigars, it’s the only wine to match with them.
 
Mark R. Lyon, Winemaker
Technical Data
Appellation:

Hames Valley, Monterey County

Composition:

11% Tinta Roriz, 35% Touriga Nacional, 22% Tinta Cao, 18% Alvarelhao, 14% Souzao

TA: 0.55 g/100ml Alcohol: 19.5%
Residual Sugar: 8.3% pH: 3.87
 
 


 

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