Marques de Marialva - Old XO Wine Brandy 20 Years Old - Bairrada, Portugal

Lourinhã: The Cognac of Portugal

The Lourinhã region is unique: it is one of only three regions in the world to have a protected designation of origin exclusively for wine brandies. Located on the Atlantic coast, it benefits from a specific climate that gives the grapes an ideal acidity for distillation. This Aguardente Vínica Velha XO is the result of ancestral know-how and two decades of patience.

20 Years of Aging in Casks

To obtain the XO (Extra Old) designation, this brandy has rested for a minimum of 20 years in French and Portuguese oak casks. During this long slumber, the spirit drew its aromas of vanilla, dried fruits, and its deep amber color from the wood. The angels' share has done its work, concentrating the flavors to offer a silky texture and an extraordinary persistence on the palate.

An Artisanal and Meticulous Presentation

The bottle itself is a decorative object. Its slender design and hand-wax-sealed cork attest to the artisanal character of this limited production. It is a bottle that commands respect on a tasting table or in a collector's display cabinet.

Product Condition

The bottle is in impeccable condition (new condition), perfectly sealed with its original wax. The presentation box, although older and showing signs of cellar storage (traces of humidity or scuff marks), has perfectly fulfilled its protective role for the bottle. These marks on the box attest to authentic cellar storage.

Tasting Notes

The color is a dark amber with mahogany reflections. The nose is powerful and refined, revealing notes of coffee, cigar box, candied orange zest, and roasted hazelnuts. On the palate, the attack is smooth and complex. There are sweet spices (cinnamon) and a woody finish of rare elegance, without any alcoholic harshness.

Tasting Advice

• Temperature: To be enjoyed at room temperature in a tulip glass to concentrate the aromas.
• Pairings: Perfect with intense dark chocolate (70% and above), a characterful cigar, or simply on its own at the end of a meal.
• Storage: Like any spirit of this caliber, it no longer ages in the bottle but will keep perfectly for decades if stored upright.

WUAT Note

This is the original discovery of our session. To step off the beaten path of Cognac or Armagnac to indulge in a Lourinhã XO is proof of great oenological curiosity. An ideal gift to surprise a lover of brown spirits with an absolute Portuguese rarity.