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Description

This 1995 Quinta da Pousa Tinto is a rare and evocative time capsule from the storied Douro Valley, Portugal’s premier viticultural region. Produced by Manuel Joaquim Freire d'Almeida Gouveia in the Peso da Régua area, this wine represents a traditional style of Douro table wine that favors elegance and tertiary complexity over modern, high-extraction trends. Now over 30 years old, this red has evolved beautifully, trading its youthful primary fruit for the nuanced, sophisticated profile that only time can impart.

Upon pouring, you will encounter a brick-hued wine that immediately speaks to its age. On the nose, it offers a compelling bouquet of dried red cherries, pipe tobacco, worn leather, and a hint of forest floor—classic markers of a well-aged Douro red. On the palate, it is remarkably dry and refined. The tannins, once prominent, have softened into a velvety texture that glides across the tongue, supporting flavors of dried fig, subtle spices, and a lingering savory finish.

This wine is a quintessential companion for traditional Portuguese cuisine. Its rustic charm and mature structure make it an ideal pairing for slow-cooked dishes such as 'Cabrito Assado' (roasted kid goat), slow-braised beef cheeks, or a rich, hearty 'Feijoada'. It also pairs exceptionally well with aged hard cheeses like a sharp Serra da Estrela or a mature São Jorge, which will complement the wine's tertiary depth.

We recommend decanting this bottle carefully about 30 minutes before serving to allow it to breathe and shed any natural sediment that may have formed over three decades in the bottle. Serving it at a slightly cool room temperature (18°C) will ensure the delicate aromas are fully expressed. This is not just a bottle of wine; it is an experience of patience and place—a fleeting opportunity to taste the history of the Douro in a vintage that has stood the test of time.