Ramos Pinto’s Vintage Ports reveal how profoundly place shapes the wines. At a London tasting held in late 2025, the house’s two flagship Douro estates—Quinta do Bom Retiro and Quinta da Ervamoira—showed contrasting styles, alongside older Vintage Ports and a new 50-year-old Tawny.
Bom Retiro, in the Cima Corgo, has a history stretching back more than 200 years. Ervamoira, in the Douro Superior, was established in the early 1970s. Their vineyards span elevations from 110 to 400 meters, and the estates experience markedly different conditions. Ervamoira is hotter and drier, receiving around 300mm of rain a year. Its vines are planted in varietal blocks, with Touriga Nacional accounting for just over 40% of the vineyard.
The estates are sometimes bottled separately as single-quinta Vintage Ports. Ramos Pinto owns more than 250 hectares of vineyards, allowing it to source all the fruit for its Ports from its own properties.
The tasting began with two unfinished 2025 cask samples. The year was challenging and erratic, but both showed promise. Bom Retiro’s blend of Touriga Nacional and old-vine fruit was dense and fragrant, with minty ripeness and dusty-spicy tannins. Ervamoira’s sample, made entirely from Touriga Nacional, was more restrained, with graphite notes, firm tannins, and a soft, supple finish. The 2025 wines were not scored.
Selected tasting notes
2020 Quinta da Ervamoira — 89
From a hot year and early harvest, this Port was rich but reserved, with dusty graphite notes, firm spicy tannins, and a silky finish. Ripeness and natural sweetness were evident.
1994 Quinta da Ervamoira — Not scored
The wine showed open, minty aromas and a stony character, but a woody note—possibly from the cask, or perhaps a trace of cork taint—marred its otherwise soft, approachable style.
2023 Quinta do Bom Retiro — 92
Floral and deeply scented, with pure fruit, integrated richness, and gentle peppery tannins. Despite its density, it remained fresh, vibrant, and elegant.
1923 Ramos Pinto, Quinta do Bom Retiro — 94
Pale tawny-amber, with evocative notes of wet earth, leather, and dark milk chocolate. Delicate dried fruit and balanced sweetness were carried by a persistent thread of peppery tannin. At 102 years old, it remained remarkably alive.
2017 Ramos Pinto — 95
A youthful, beautifully scented Port with ripe, peppery-minty fruit, fine tannins, and a long, fresh finish. It needs more time in bottle but has the makings of a classic.
2000 Ramos Pinto — 96
Still deep and dense at 25 years old, with layered, fleshy fruit and broad, supple tannins. It is only at the beginning of what promises to be a long life.
1982 Ramos Pinto — 92
Rich and concentrated, with raisiny fruit, dark-chocolate notes, ripe tannins, and a long, fleshy finish. Despite the vintage’s reputation, it proved one of the more impressive Ports of the year.
Ramos Pinto 50-year-old Tawny — 99
The blend includes wine dating back to 1900. Deep mahogany-tawny with a green tinge, it offers candied citrus, milk chocolate, and hints of spirit on the nose. Its palate combines savory depth and orange-liqueur freshness with velvety texture and remarkable length.