Items not labeled as Rapid Ship or Pre-arrival may require a transfer from the warehouse to our shipping facility before shipping, which can take 4–6 business days. Learn more on the Shipping Info page.
In-store Only Items
These items are available at our location to purchase in-store, or to choose in-store pickup at checkout.
Long-term Pre-arrival Items
Long Term Pre-arrival Definition: Ordering wine directly through us from our supplier partners in Europe in advance of the item’s physical arrival in the US.
Long Term Pre-arrival sales ensure you’re getting the best possible price and that you have also secured the product before it hits the normal retail supply chain. The lead time for Pre-arrival goods is generally 4–8 months, sometimes longer based on supply chain and the logistics of transporting goods overseas. The expectation, from our team, is to communicate to the customer the location of their purchase every step of the way.
This product is offered as a full case purchase option, minimum order quantities may be applicable. When available, multiple case options will be presented. If you are purchasing a Pre-Arrival item you must order a solid case.
Rapid Ship
Items listed as "rapid ship" are in stock and available for immediate pickup or shipment. Those that do not have the "rapid ship" icon are housed with our supplier and must be transferred to our warehouse before they can be picked up or shipped. This requires 4-6 business days but usually occurs sooner. Some products will list both options of availability as there will be a certain number in stock, with the option to order additional bottles to be transferred from the supplier.
We offer FREE ground shipping and discounted upgraded shipping on orders with multiples of 12 qualifying bottles. Solid cases or mix-and-match, look for the yellow 12 FREE badge and save!
Sample image only.Please see Item description for product Information. When ordering, the item shipped will match the product listing if there are any discrepancies. Do not order solely on the label if you feel it does not match product description.
SKU 832078
$60.64/bottle
Out of stock
Want to be notified when this product is back in stock?
Intense, featuring an energetic core of black Mission fig, açaí berry and blackberry fruit, all entwined with strands of licorice snap, singed alder, tar and cassis bush. The finish crackles with life, as the grip is substantial but supported as much by acidity as tannins, giving this a freshness that pierces through the dark fruit profile. Best from 2035 through 2055. 498 cases made.
Benefiting from both the hot, dry Iberian climate as well as brisk Atlantic winds, Portugal is a perfectly situated country for vineyard cultivation and wine production. With a wine making history which stretches back thousands of years, it comes as little surprise that wine plays an important role in the cultural identity and practices of the country. The Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Greeks and the Romans all had a hand in forming Portugal as an important center for wine production, and over the millennia, this resulted in each region of this beautiful part of Europe producing its own distinctive wines easily identifiable and separate from neighboring Spain's. Today, the varied terroir and climate across Portugal allows a great range of wines to be made each year, from the fresh and dry Vinho Verde wines to the famous and widely drunk fortified Port wines, and many in between.
Region
Porto
The magnificent city of Porto - the capital of Portugal - is located near the mouth of the beautiful Douro river, in the beating heart of the Douro wine region. The Douro region has been regarded as one of the most important viticultural region of Europe for several centuries, and was the third region to be officially recognized and protected as a wine region, with laws having been passed in the mid 18th century regarding its status. Porto is, of course, most famous for the production of Port wine, an aromatic and slightly viscous tawny colored fortified wine, with a fascinating history of seafaring, experimentation and innovation. The vineyards used in the region for the production of Porto's wines contain up to a hundred different grape varietals, resulting in the wide range of Port wines on offer today.
WS96pts
Wine Spectator
Intense, featuring an energetic core of black Mission fig, açaí berry and blackberry fruit, all entwined with strands of licorice snap, singed alder, tar and cassis bush. The finish crackles with life, as the grip is substantial but supported as much by acidity as tannins, giving this a freshness that pierces through the dark fruit profile. Best from 2035 through 2055. 498 cases made.
WA94pts
Wine Advocate
The 2017 Vintage Port Vale d. Maria is a field blend from various vines ranging from 30 to 80 years in age. It was aged for six months in stainless steel and 14 months in old wood. It comes in with 101 grams of sugar. This was originally seen as a tank sample just before bottling in June 2019. It starts off with an inky black color that seems to suggest that it is the pure essence of fruit—and that is exactly how it tastes. The signature here is always going to be the intense fruit flavor, but all of that sexy fruit is nicely lifted on the finish. It's laced with blackberries and cherries, and it just tastes great. The mid-palate is on the elegant side, showing average depth. This shows finesse more than jamminess, as did the 2016. The tannins are moderate too, although there certainly are some, and this shows far more power with aeration after a soft beginning. There is eventually a lot of pop. (I won't be surprised if this closes down.) The finish is juicy and chock-full of flavor. It is sort of accessible now, but that is not going to last. This looks much more promising (and certainly sexier) than it did when I saw it in Porto. It may yet equal the astringent 2016, or surpass it. This seems to have better fruit, but the 2016 has plenty of bragging points, including its power and precision. Of course, as I said the last time, the balance with this 2017 might just be different—with the big fruit more easily matching the tannins and making it seem a bit less rustic. This certainly continued to show well over the course of a week. (And it needed some time, as its opening was not that impressive.) It will be interesting to see what happens when the intensity of fruit flavor fades here. Still, it seems increasingly special. Whether I just underrated it on the first look (mea culpa) or it is in a better place now, or both, it deserves an uptick. It should improve in the future. There were 6,500 bottles produced, plus 150 magnums.
WE94pts
Wine Enthusiast
Richly structured, this opulent wine has powerful tannins as well as fresher black fruits. It is dense and finely perfumed with some sweetness as well as a drier core of tannins. The wine is set for long-term aging.
Winery Notes
Quinta Vale D. Maria Vintage Port 2017 has a very deep purple color. The fruit is dark, mature, and delicious, with hints of bitter figs and plums. The wine is dense, concentrated, and with a dry ending, indeed the structured tannins balance the sweetness of the wine. It is tense with a delicate, seductive and impressive finish. A classic Vintage Port, with the characteristics to be drunk young or to age for more than 50 years.
We like to drink it with dark chocolate, petit gâteau, cheesecake and cheeses.
