Meneres 10 Yr Tawny Port NV

Winery Overview
Menéres is part of the largest and fastest-growing independent Port company in Portugal, owned and operated by Fernando van Zeller. The van Zeller family boasts 14 uninterrupted generations in the Port trade, the longest continual run of any family in the region. Originally named after family ancestor Arnaldo Menéres, the brand was repurchased about ten years ago to bring it back into the family. Menéres is considered the highest quality line of port the family produces, specializing in 20 Year Tawny, 40 Year Tawny, and heirloom Colheitas.

Wine Profile
- Appellation: Douro DOC, Portugal
- Type: 10 Years Old Tawny Port
- Varietals: Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Tinto Cao
- Vintage**: Non-Vintage
- Alcohol: 20%
- Production: 100 cases

Tasting Notes
Cask aging has lent the wine a softened mellow texture with an intense complex nose which complements the appealing raisiny fruit.

Winemaking Process
1. Grapes are hand-harvested in small baskets from the company estates of Quinta do Saião and Quinta de Zom.
2. Sorted and crushed without destemming, followed by cold maceration for a full day.
3. Fermented with native yeasts in open-top stainless steel vats under temperature control.
4. At 100-120 g/l residual sugar, the fermenting wine is drained and fortified with 150 proof grape brandy from Spain.
5. The wine settles in the Douro winery until spring, then transferred to Vila Nova de Gaia for maturation.
6. Aged for 10 years in seasoned oak casks, then blended to obtain the house style before bottling.

Terroir
Grapes come from two company estates:
- Quinta do Saião: 220 acres
- Quinta de Zom: 200 acres

Accolades
- Wine Spectator: 90 Points

Winemaker
Alvaro van Zeller

Technical Data
- Total Acidity: 3.96 g/l
- Residual Sugar: 112 g/l
- pH: 3.62
- Volatile Acidity: 0.48