Petit Verdot is a superior variety with a strong individual personality and enormous quality potential. It is best known for its presence in small proportions in the blends of great Médoc wines. It needs sun and heat to fully ripen, and has adapted extremely well to the Douro, producing a unique varietal wine of exuberant character and individuality.

2017 was characterized by a cold and dry winter, followed by an exceptionally hot and dry spring and summer. Aside from the heavy rainfall (25mm) on July 6th at Fazenda Noval, only 300mm of rain had fallen since November 2016.
June was the hottest month since 1980, with temperatures reaching 42-44°C in the Douro Valley during the heatwave experienced between June 7th and 24th. Due to these extreme weather conditions, the entire vine growth cycle was brought forward by 15 to 20 days compared to 2016. The vines withstood the water scarcity and high temperatures well. By the end of August, the harvest was very promising and in excellent phytosanitary condition.
The harvest began much earlier than usual due to weather conditions: August 17th for white wines and August 21st for red wines and port wines. It ended on September 28th with high temperatures and a complete absence of rain.