Legado (meaning ‘legacy’) is undoubtedly one of Portugal’s finest single-vineyard wines. First produced in the 2008 vintage, Legado is made in tiny quantities – no more than 3,000 bottles per year by winemaker Luís Sottomayor, who also makes the fabled Douro red Barca-Velha. It is the late Fernando Guedes’ tribute to everything he learnt from his father, the founder of Sogrape, and the legacy he wanted to leave for future generations. Think of it as Barca Velha’s 1^st cousin, but, for now at least, it is available at less than half of the price. Until recently, every bottle of this wine was reserved for the Portuguese market, but I am delighted to offer a small quantity now at the best price on the worldwide market - £225 IB per bottle (only otherwise available in Portugal, where the best listing i can find is just short of £300 per bottle!)
 
The grapes are sourced from an eight-hectare plot of 100-year-old vines planted in stone-walled terraces on the Quinta do Caêdo estate in the Cima Corgo. These pre-phylloxera vines are incredibly low-yielding, with some producing just one bunch of grapes per vintage, yet the fruit is hugely concentrated and packed full of flavour. Respecting the natural ecosystem of the vineyard, horses are used to plough the narrow terraces, promoting microbial growth in the soil and removing weeds in the process.
 
A field blend of over 25 different grape varieties, Legado blends well-known varieties such as Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Barroca, alongside others such as Donzelinho, Tinta da Barca, Rufete, Tinta Amarela, and some very rare varieties that winemaker Luís Sottomayor had never even heard of. Following the careful hand harvesting, grapes are fermented in stainless steel and spend 30 months ageing in new 1,200-litre French oak barrels.

Tasting through every vintage from 2008 to 2017 in April 2022, Jancis Robinson called Legado "A demonstration of the often-unrealised potential in Portugal's Douro Valley....without doubt a very special wine... though for now cheaper than the much more established Barca Velha. "

N.B. This wine is currently lying at the estate in Portugal but will be shipped in due course -  please email info@cellarselect.co.uk for availability and lead time, or it will be confirmed after an order is placed.