1880 Facts about Port and Madeira by Henry Vizetelly

The Villa Nova Wine Lodges—Vintage Ports, 135

At Messrs, Taylor, Madgate, and Co.'s lodges we went througli an interesting scale of liigh-class vintage wines from, the well-known Quinta da Eoeda, whence Mr. Fladgate, the principal member ofthe firm,derives his title. All of the wines shown to us were ofa remarkably refined character and had avery pronounced bouquet,the majority ofthem being softand some what luscious, and the few drier varieties having a similar velvety roundness. Remembering the advantageous situation enjoyed by the Quinta da Roeda, we were folly prepared for the fine quality of these wines,the especial bouquet distinguishing which is supposed to be due to the prevalence in the qninta of the gum cistus, a plant which grows in great abimdance in particular districts of the Alto Douro. At the lodges of the Visconde ViUar-Allen(M.J. Valente-Allen), at the farther end of Villa Nova,and almost immediately opposite the Oporto Custom-house, we were shown a variety of vintage wines from the celebrated Quinta do Noval,inclu^g a rich fruity wine of 1876, which reqtdred being in bottle fully ten years to attain a fine condition; a perfectly dry wine of the same year, already of excellent flavour; and samples of vintage 1873, of the two extremes of richness and dryness,both equally distinguished by that high character for which the wines of this quinta are re markable. We tasted, moreover, some natural Ports of the year 1877 from Noval and Covelhinos—sound, clean, pro mising wines—but of course too youthful even to indicate the flavour which a few years are likely to develop in them; as well as a perfectly-fermented pleasant,fresh-tasting white Port from the rabo de ovelha (sheep's-tail) grape, made without any added alcohol, and, like the red wines, indicating less than 23 degrees of proof spirit. Some Malmsey of a pale golden colour, with a pronounced flavour and a powerful bouquet, was hkewise shown to us, together with a luscious and delicate Moscatel vintaged at Sao Christovao. Both these wines are largely exported in bottles to the Brazils,and would be almost certain to become popular as ladies' wines if introduced into England. In a small, dimly-lighted store, containing some