Quinta dos Pesos Carcavelos 1996
Quinta dos Pesos Carcavelos 1996 is a vintage-dated Portuguese vinho generoso — a fortified wine from Carcavelos, the smallest appellation in Portugal — bottled at 20% ABV (40 proof) in a 500mL bottle. These are the final bottles ever to bear the Quinta dos Pesos name: the estate closed in 2005, and the remaining casks were selected and bottled in 2018. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 20% (40 proof)
- Size: 500mL
- Vintage: 1996 — bottled 2018 after long cask aging
- Blend: co-fermented field blend — white grapes (Arinto, Gallego Dourado, Ratinho, Rabo do Ovelha) and red grapes (João Santarem, Espadeiro Tinto)
- Origin: Carcavelos DOC, west of Lisbon, Portugal — Casa Manoel Boullosa estate, Caparide (3.5 hectares; vineyards restored 1963–1980s; operations ceased 2005)
- Style: vinho generoso, ~18–20% ABV and 80–95 g/L residual sugar — between a 20-year tawny Port and a Verdelho Madeira in character
The Last Wine of a Lost Estate
Carcavelos once rivaled Port and Madeira for fame — gifted by King José I to the court of Beijing in 1752, featured at Christie's first London wine auction — but suburban sprawl nearly erased it, leaving just 25 protected hectares. Quinta dos Pesos, acquired by Manoel de Boullosa in 1963, was one of the last two producers; when he died in 2005, the remaining barrels sat in legal limbo until the Haus Alpenz team discovered them in 2018 and bottled this and a few others as the estate's final statement.
Tasting Notes
The nose shows burnt orange and lemon peel, toasted nuts, and caramel, with leather, apricot preserves, brown sugar, and vanilla emerging in the glass. The palate is syrupy and complete — honey, apricot, mandarin orange, vanilla cream, nutmeg, and allspice — with firm, mouthwatering acidity carrying a long finish of sweet orange cream fading to bitter orange.
How to Enjoy
Serve slightly cool in a small wine glass; decanting for a day or two can settle it beautifully. Pair with nuts and cheese before or after dinner, or a sweet-savory dish like she-crab soup — and once open, keep it cool and enjoy over four to five months. Explore the full Carcavelos collection for context on this rare style.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Carcavelos wine?
A traditional Portuguese vinho generoso (fortified wine) from the tiny Carcavelos DOC west of Lisbon — one of four historic Vinhos Generosos alongside Port, Madeira, and Moscatel de Setúbal.
Why is Quinta dos Pesos Carcavelos so rare?
The estate ceased operations in 2005 and only a few vintages were ever commercialized; this 1996 was bottled in 2018 from the last remaining casks and will never be made again.
How should I store Carcavelos after opening?
Keep it cool — its fortified strength means it stays fresh for four to five months after opening.
Order Quinta dos Pesos Carcavelos 1996 online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA — the final vintage of a vanished estate.