Reserva Especial 2009: Could it have been a Barca Velha?

There’s a new Reserva Especial.

2009 has been officially declared a Reserva Especial year.

Only the 17th edition of Reserva Especial since its was first released in 1960, Reserva Especial is an iconic Douro red wine. Only released by Casa Ferreirinha in years where, after ageing, bottling and regular tasting and consideration, it is finally not deemed to be a Barca Velha (Portugal’s most iconic and expensive red wine) by Casa Ferreirinha’s Chief Winemaker Luís Sottomayor.

The new Casa Ferreirinha Reserva Especial 2009 deservedly facing the royal throne.

About the 2009 edition, Luís Sottomayor says it is an “almost perfect wine which is showing itself very much at the moment. It has everything in the right place and, probably because of that, it is a Reserva Especial and not a Barca Velha.”. Rather humblingly, he adds that “only the future will tell us if we made the right decision”.

Probably one of the most difficult decisions, the choice of Barca Velha vs Reserva Especial is financially, commercially and in communication-wise one of the hardest in the Portuguese wine industry.

Could the 2009 have been a Barca Velha?

As with many other Reserva Especial, 2009 will the topic of never-ending discussions for years to come. However, is the 2009 one of the most exciting and perfect wines you can drink from Portugal? Most definitely, yes! A world-class Douro red wine.

The royal dining room at Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, where the launch dinner took place.

Palácio Nacional da Ajuda was the house of the Royal family after the 1755 earthquake and tsunami destroyed most of the city of Lisbon. Between wars and consecutive budget cuts construction was never finished as it clearly visible on some of the façades.

The Wine

• Casa Ferreirinha Reserva Especial 2009
• Varieties:
  Touriga Franca (45%), Touriga Nacional (30%), Tinta Roriz (15%), Tinto Cão (10%).
• Origin: Quinta da Leda (Douro Superior)
• Ageing: 16-18 months in new french oak
• Bottling: 2011 (final blend)
• Number of bottles: 18.000
• RRP: 175€ (Portugal)
• Previous Reserva Especial years:
  1960, 1962, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997 2001, 2003 and 2007.