Caves Sao Joao 1996 'Poco do Lobo' Cabernet Sauvignon, Bairrada DOC

Caves Sao Joao 1996 'Poco do Lobo' Cabernet Sauvignon, Bairrada DOC

Item Number: 11080

UPC: 5-601831419129

Country: Portugal
Region: Bairrada
Sub Region: Bairrada
Appellation/AVA: Bairrada DOC
Estate Grown Wine: Yes
Vintage: 1996
Grape(s): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Type: Wine - Red
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Pack: 6
Closure: Cork
Alc by Vol(%): 14
Soil Type: Clay
Elevation: 164 feet

This is an opportunity to taste a perfectly aged, mature Bairrada, showcasing the capacity for longevity in which this region is known. A library release from the winery itself, with the bottles kept in pristine condition for decades, these wines show a complexity that cannot be derived in any other way. Caves Sãn João is the only winery in Portugal offering library releases of still wines commercially, with vintages going back to the 1950s.

Winemaking Notes: Grapes fermented with extended skin contact in open top tanks. The wine spent 24 months maturing in cement tanks. It was filtered and then bottled.

Reviews

  • The Wine Advocate
    Rating: 90 (10/28/2016)
    The 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva Quinta do Poço do Lobo is another of our oldies this issue. Cabernet is not really what you expect from a winery based in Bairrada, but the region in fact has a lot of French grapes and this is pretty good. It is aging beautifully. Soft and fresh, with velvety texture, this has probably lost a bit in the mid-palate (not that I saw it when it was young), but it is complex and flavorful with a touch of herbs on the finish. There are some tertiary nuances, too, as well as good structure and balance. This is a great time to approach this. It is not clear how much longer it has--so, let's take that in stages--but there is no rush.