`cuse me for asking, late-harvest Semillon from Portugal?

I have never come across/even heard of any late-harvest Semillon from Portugal, not even the Douro. So imagine my surprise when at DeVines today, I unpacked a 6 bottle pack of Grandjo from Real Companha Velha.
I also came across, get this, Henriques Madeira Boal 2000 Single Harvest. How rare is this forumites?

Just received from Sarah Ahmed.....>

Hi Bob

Nice to hear from you - yes RCV going well with that for some time. Newer late harvests I like from the Douro are Quinta do Portal, Rozes (see here), Quinta Da Sequeira and Aneto. Aneto's is the only other Semillon and they're making a promising dry Semillon too (ex RCV winemaker).

V best

OK, I've actually drank a glass of Grandjo Semillon. Along with some of RCVs other oddball white offerings (IIRC under the Quinta de Cidro label): Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, etc. These were poured for me by the winemaker at a small quinta in the Torto valley, while we were sitting around snacking on some cheese and other munchies. I think he wanted to know what I thought or to shock me. They were OK, but I still won't be thinking Douro when I seek out these types of wine.

RCV is, IMO, one of the great underperformers among the larger wine producers in Portugal. My winemaker friend called them a "sleeping giant" for their wealth of well sited vineyard holdings. The table wines tend to be commercial and inexpensive or expensive and clumsy. Their ports are totally outclassed by most of the big name producers. And a few years ago, they bought another underperformer, Quinta de Ventozelo, which has excellent vineyards adjacent to RCVs beautiful Quinta das Carvalhas.

Joe, I tasted this afternoon, quite delicious. If served blind, I would never have guessed Portugal!
oh, $34 for the split. I would be interested in cellaring for a few yrs just to see what evolves but tastes great now, not at all cloying.

I never knew Ventozelo was part of this Velha group, thanks for the update. Do you have any in the cellar Joe?

Was gifted 2 high-end Campolargo wines today, one was the PN. Lucky me eh.