“I had the chance to taste a bottle of the 2019 Quinta da Manoella Vinhas Velhas, the old vine cuvée from the family property, planted after phylloxera (130 years), with at least 32 different grape varieties where the dominant vines are unusual—Tinta Francisca, Bastardo, Rufete, etc., lighter varieties, with the idea to produce Tawny Port. So, the wines from here are fresher. The location and the terroir deliver lighter and fresher wines that are reflected in their finesse. These wines have a more elegant profile and less color. It's evolving slowly, keeping the balance and freshness along the way.” — Wine Advocate, Apr 2024

“Jorge Serôdio Borges’s family purchased this vineyard in 1838; he and Sandra Tavares, his wife and winemaking partner, began to renovate the old vines in 2009Ñthe contemporary community now 120 years old, a field blend that includes tinta francisca (at seven percent, it is the dominant variety). Those vines produce one of the most distinctive reds in the Douro, its firm acidity expressed in a breath of mineral tannins that powers through the rich drape of new oak. The buzz of schist, of black-cherry skins and raspberry-seed bitterness all combine in a lasting, layered flavor, needing years to unpack. A powerful vintage from these ancient vines.”
— Wine & Spirits, May 2023