CASA FERREIRINHA Reserva Especial - Douro Valley 2009 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
Casa Ferreirinha Reserva Especial 2009 is a powerful yet refined Douro red, the declassified sibling of Barca Velha. Deep garnet with a brick rim, it offers concentrated blackcurrant, damson and black cherry with violet and red liquorice, opening to cedar, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate and graphite. Full bodied with plush structured tannins, black fruit, plum conserve and bramble, lifted by bright acidity and a persistent mineral seam. Sixteen to eighteen months in new French oak adds spice and clove without overwhelming the fruit. Approachable with decanting yet built for the cellar. Drink 2026 to 2040. Critics: Decanter 94 ; "Long and intense." Wine Advocate 93 plus ; "Tight and powerful." Match with roast lamb, slow braised beef or aged cheeses.

ABOUT THIS WINE
Casa Ferreirinha Reserva Especial 2009 is a seriously endowed Douro red that lives up to its provenance as the declassified sibling of Barca Velha, offering many of the first growth hallmarks with a touch more immediacy. The blend of Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Tinto Cão yields a deep garnet core with a slight brick rim that hints at gentle evolution. The bouquet is expansive yet focused, opening with concentrated blackcurrant, damson and black cherry framed by floral violet and a thread of red liquorice; with airing the wine reveals cedar, tobacco leaf and dark chocolate alongside graphite and dried herb that underline its pedigree.

On the palate the wine is full bodied with a plush yet structured mouthfeel. The careful cold pre fermentation maceration and extended post fermentation maceration deliver ripe tannins that are generous and polished, supporting layers of black fruit, plum conserve and a subtle bramble note. Ageing for around 16 to 18 months in new French oak contributes spice, clove and a toasted edge that integrates with the fruit rather than overpowering it. Bright acidity provides lift and balance, while a persistent mineral seam and a savoury olive tapenade nuance add complexity leading to a long, resonant finish that closes on tobacco, leather and a faint balsamic lift.

The 2009 vintage in the Douro produced ripe, concentrated fruit with good natural acidity and phenolic ripeness, and this Reserva Especial shows both power and poise as a result. Made from hand picked, rigorously sorted fruit from Quinta da Leda and selected neighbouring parcels, and vinified plot by plot, the wine combines meticulous viticulture with restrained, classic élevage. Approachable now with decanting, the 2009 will continue to develop tertiary nuance over the medium term. Drink 2026 to 2040, peaking 2028 to 2036. Match with roast or grilled lamb, slow braised beef, venison with juniper, hearty stews, cassoulet or aged sheep cheeses to stand up to the wine’s structure and savoury depth.

DECANTER 94 points
Tasted by: Sarah Ahmed Part of The Douro: An evolution plus 20 top wines worth seeking out
Drinking Window: 2019 - 2029
This mature release of Barca Velha’s baby sister exudes the power and warmth of this dry year – even displaying a certain pungency. Heady, yet controlled, spicy plum and blackberry fruit with signature clove and smoked meat nuances. Long and intense.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 93+ points
Reviewed by: Mark Squires
Drink Date: 2019 - 2040
The 2009 Reserva Especial is mostly a 45/30 blend of Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional, with 15% Tinta Roriz and 10% Tinto Cão, aged for 16 months in 75% new French oak. It comes in at 14.5% alcohol. Very muscular, this has all the warmth of this difficult and very hot vintage. The fruit marches right up to the line of too ripe and perhaps goes over it. The wine shows dark baked-plum flavors and just a hint of prune. I liked it anyway, but it is hard to call it a great Reserva Especial, even with some elements of greatness to it. The structure here is astonishingly good, for one thing, leaving this tight and powerful. That's not unusual for this big vintage or the brand. However, it simply lacks the balance of the other wines. Personally, I'd take the 2009 Quinta da Leda (not seen for this issue) or the 2015. They may not be as attention-getting, but they are far fresher, particularly the 2015. Some may be happier with this, to be sure, others probably not. Let's start here and see if this holds its balance as it ages. A little caution is warranted. It may yet make its case in the cellar, and these tend to age very well—although (beware...) this is not the freshest year. There were 1,500 cases produced.
Published: Aug 31, 2018

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ABOUT CASA FERREIRINHA
Casa Ferreirinha is one of the most iconic producers of the Douro, renowned for age-worthy red wines that combine concentration, elegance and a distinct sense of place. The house traces its origins to Dona Antonia Adelaide Ferreira, a pivotal figure in Douro history, and today forms part of Sogrape, one of Portugal’s leading wine groups. Sogrape's ownership has ensured sustained investment in vineyard renewal, research, and cellar technology, while preserving the label's historic identity.

Vineyards are located on steep, terraced slopes within the Douro Valley, where schist soils and a warm, sun-drenched climate produce grapes of intense flavour and ripe tannin. Parcels vary in altitude and exposure, and vine age ranges from older, low-yielding plots to younger replanted sections introduced as part of ongoing renewal programmes. Viticultural practices focus on meticulous canopy management, yield control, and selective hand-harvesting to achieve physiological ripeness and retain natural acidity. Increasing attention is paid to sustainable soil care and water management to protect long-term vigour.

Winemaking is overseen within the Sogrape technical organisation and coordinated by the estate team, who apply a parcel-by-parcel approach to preserve site expression. Fermentations are carefully managed with rigorous sorting, temperature control and measured extraction to balance depth and aromatic clarity. Maturation regimes vary by cuvee, with a selective use of French and American oak to add complexity while preserving fruit purity. The team places emphasis on blending trials and sensory evaluation to refine each bottling for balance and ageing potential.

Casa Ferreirinha’s portfolio ranges from approachable regional wines to flagship single estate and reserve bottlings that are capable of long cellar development. Typical tasting notes include black fruit, spice, graphite and a mineral undertow, framed by fine tannins and sustained length. Through sustained family-inspired stewardship under Sogrape, attentive viticulture and considered cellar technique, Casa Ferreirinha continues to represent a benchmark for classic Douro style and long-lived quality.