2001 Quinta do Fojo Vinha do Quinta do Fojo
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Tasting notes
A 7-ha field blend and old vines, with Tinta Roriz predominant. Fermented in lagares. Ten months in 50% new and 50% 2nd-use French oak. TA 5.4 g/l, RS 1.9 g/l, pH 3.43. Very good cork, as on the 1999. Much better than the crumbly ones on the 1995 and 1996. Deep ruby with a tiny glimpse of brick at the rim. Complex aroma of a still-youthful wine – seems much more than two years younger than the 1999: spice of both fruit and oak, and a more obvious Douro character of crushed rocks. But there is also a smell of warm earth as well as plenty of dark-red fruit. Deliciously fragrant. The tannins are al dente, fine, with a gentle, food-friendly bite, perfectly balanced by the fruit. There's a smokiness here too and something more savoury. Definitely a wine for the table, finishing with great freshness. A harmonious whole and ageing gracefully and quite slowly. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
The 2001 Vinha Do Fojo (Quinta Do Fojo) is an old vines field blend aged for 12 months in French oak (60% new, the rest used). Of the Vinha do Fojos here this issue, this is arguably the best and the best balanced, although the 1996 is drinking much better now. That said, this is still a powerhouse in an old school style. One of the problems in evaluating these (especially when young) is that the tannins can be hard and overwhelm the wine. I took a cautious approach and was too stingy initially. This time it also had a couple of days open, which helped. In most ways, it is still too young, not nearly as interesting as the 1996 (although it one day will be and will likely be better). It shows fine acidity and lush texture, the best concentration and the freshest fruit in the vertical to go with the big tannins typical of the brand. Even now, it adds wonderful complexity. It is intriguing and intellectual. If you're looking for hedonistic, though, this probably isn't it. Focused, penetrating and powerful, it needs a food pairing to sing. It should have a long life ahead and it is still improving. It may well do better than I think. To my pleasant surprise, the standard retail price I was given was a mere $60. Back up the truck. This is fine enough that it makes a mockery out of the supposed classification difference between Fojo and Vinha do Fojo. There were 21,000 bottles produced.
Inky ruby. Urgent aromas of kirsch, crystallized violet and candied licorice, with exotic spice and mocha adding even more complexity. Sappy and impressively concentrated, with mouthfilling cherry and dark berry flavors coating the palate and completely absorbing the thick, chewy tannins. This is extremely primary right now but the strength of material is impressive.