Quinta do Javali
Quinta do Javali is a unicorn-level unique destination pioneering an entirely different view of how to represent terroir in the Douro Valley. At its peak, 700-plus meters above the Douro River, on a rock pile overlooking the steeply sloped Clos Fonte do Santo vineyard stands António Mendes Sr. He’s worked this family-owned farm of 25 hectares since 1982 and his land has been under vines since the 1650s. Against this pristine backdrop, António has created one of the most forward thinking wine projects happening in Portugal today. As he speaks about his vision for his land, his wines, and his family, he can’t help but contain a natural, bubbling enthusiasm that wells from deep within and can be heard several vineyards over. He is a larger-than-life, passionate man of strong conviction.
The vineyards are guided by slabs of slate, plowed by horse, and tilled by wild pigs (Javali in Portuguese). Work in the vineyards is guided by the celestial cadence of Steiner’s calendar and monitored by meteorological stations installed throughout the property. Viticulture is organic and biodynamic and in the certification process… a unique practice in the Douro Valley.
Quinta do Javali’s history is rooted in port production, as the smallest registered port Producer in the Douro Valley, like all things they do it by hand and with intense focus on quality. They have made a range of traditional, broader-shouldered wines for decades, but more recently began moving their focus to lighter, lifted, aromatic and elegant wines António Sr. and his son, António Jr. enjoy drinking. This profile fits his terroir like a glove.
António and his family have made significant investments in a new winery allowing for plots to be vinified separately and showcased in various formats. Decisions are rooted in the conviction of showing terroir, expressing the land as purely as possible, and driving the Douro’s reputation for authentic table wines forward. Lucius Annaeus Seneca’s quote “If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable” is mounted above the cellar and proclaims Javali’s bold vision for Douro wines. I’m honored to walk this path with the Mendes family.
Wine Details
Clos Fonte do Santo Cherry Tree Vineyard 2020
