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.

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. "

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"Since its first edition, Legado has become a living tribute to the dream of Fernando Guedes, who envisioned this wine as a homage to the Douro, the family’s winemaking tradition, and the passing of wisdom between generations. 

A story of passion, tradition, and vision was born on a hillside covered with century-old vineyards, at Quinta do Caêdo. Although Legado’s origin dates back to 2008, its roots reach far deeper into the past. This was a wine that took time to come into existence!

Fernando Guedes represents the second generation of the Guedes family at the helm of Sogrape, and with Legado, he sought to embody the values and knowledge inherited over a lifetime. As one of the first three Portuguese winemakers (1956), fascinated by traditions and narratives, and deeply devoted to his family, he dreamed of a wine capable of capturing the essence of the Douro and transmitting the values of a family business deeply rooted in this land. Thus, Legado was born—a terroir wine that honors the past while toasting to the future.

For Fernando da Cunha Guedes, President of Sogrape and son of the creator of Legado, “each new vintage evokes memory, celebrates recollections, and reaffirms the responsibility to honour the project my father dreamed of. Legado is a project of profound personal meaning for our family: a wine that speaks of people, pays tribute to the land, and embodies the knowledge of generations.”

With an attractive ruby colour, Legado 2021 reveals an aroma of extraordinary complexity, marked by floral notes of rockrose and heather, wrapped in vibrant red fruit and spices such as pepper and clove. The oak is perfectly integrated, allowing a subtle minerality to shine through. On the palate, the wine stands out for its good volume and firm tannins, balanced by a vibrant acidity that enhances its floral and fruity character. The finish is marked by exceptional elegance and longevity.

Legado 2021 is the result of a year of mild temperatures and slow ripening, which enhanced the elegance and harmony that define this wine. Reflecting this symbiosis between climate and the human hand, winemaker Luís de Sottomayor highlights the consistency of this journey: “In its 14th vintage, Legado 2021 maintains the style that has defined this wine since its inception, precisely reflecting the unique character of Quinta do Caêdo and the vision of its creator, Fernando Guedes. Shaped by a temperate year, it reveals harmonious elegance, combined with great complexity and aromatic intensity, in a faithful expression of terroir and time.”

With limited production, Legado 2021 presents itself as a wine for ageing — vibrant and profound — with a complexity that only time will finish writing"

Due into stock in 3-4 weeks