For The Love Of Port

Incidentally, I tried another bottle of the Redoma Branco a couple of weeks ago, this time served a little colder than I normally do with whites. I don't know if that made the difference, but it came across as a much more attractive wine to me, the minerality being more apparent, with a nice stone c...

Anybody know how the 2004 is doing?

Frederick, I take that to mean it needs time. I don't intend to drink any of my bottles for a while.

I guess my best was a Barca Velha 1991 drunk last January. Sorry, no TN, but it didn't seem OTH, as some might worry.

Yes, I would expect the Reserva to be a different story. But I wasn't quite prepared for this.

Quinta do Ameal Loureiro 2008 Fresh scent of citrus and green apples, some wet stone and a hint of flowers. Not a heavy wine, of course, but has more weight and character than those basic Vinhos Verdes with 8 or 9 %. Fresh, crisp, attractive wine with good acidity. My ideal Loureiro-based wine. Nie...

Only a couple. All the vintage ports currently in my cellar are quite young (read: too young), so I went and got a Niepoort LBV 2005. I haven't tasted this vintage yet, so I thought I'd get some and then see if I should buy some more bottles. I've also purchased a half bottle of Dow's Quinta do Bomf...

Wow. Never come across this one, though I tasted the (white) sparkling Maria Gomez in Lisbon years ago.

Another vote for keeping it. And I'm looking forward to seeing what's posted on other Portuguese tables wines,too.

Reserva Ferreirinha 1996 (Ferreira) Medium plus depth of colour. Looks remarkably young. Slightly watery rim. Not a particularly fruit-driven wine. This is hiding something. It's beginning to show a little development, but if I had had this in my cellar, I would not have touched it for quite a few ...

Batuta 2003 (Niepoort) (oak aged for 18 months) There seems to be a hint of cedar on the nose Some vanilllin, too. Not overtly fruity, but fresh. Red berries, I would say. This wine took me by surprise after the massive (and impressive!) 1999, tasted three years previously. This is less powerful in...

Batuta 2001 (Niepoort) ( en magnum ; 12.8% ABV, oak aged for 13 months) Red fruits on the nose here, too, but again not as overtly fruity as, say, the Leda. Hint of cedar. Seems much more tannic than the 2003, and more savoury. Firm tannins. I loved this, and would cellar it for a long time. (Accor...

Quinta do Vale Dona Maria 2003 (15% ABV!) Medium plus depth of colour. Very fresh, attractive nose of cherry, forest fruits, plum and some spice. Quite plummy fruit in the mouth, but not jammy. Very good acidity, tannins and some oak. Young. (We were told they used 15-20 grape varieties at QdVDM. A...

Quinta do Crasto Touriga Nacional 2003 (13.7% ABV) Quite floral on the nose, and there's almost a hint of cedar, too. Is it the oak? Bramble and bilberry. In the mouth, the wine is juicy and not quite as powerful as I expected. This tasting note is one of several related tasting notes. Click [here]...

Quinta do Crasto Vinha Maria Teresa 2003 Dark (easily the darkest so far). Dark berries and attractive perfume. Surely a wine with a great future. Some anise verging on liquorice. Fresh, with great fruit and tannins. Very impressive. Must telephone the importer (but I fear it won't be cheap)... Thi...

Quinta da Leda 2003 (Ferreira) Medium depth of colour; doesn't look quite as young as the previous wines. Sweeter on the nose than the Maria Teresa. Red berries. Raspberries! A hint of minerals, too. Beautiful, fresh fruit on the palate. Not the most powerful wine of the night, but elegant. Burgund...

Meandro 2003 (Quinta do Vale Meão)
Medium depth of colour. Forest fruits, particularly bilberries. Juicy, fresh, some tannins after a while and a little oak. Nice balance. Good VFM.

This tasting note is one of several related tasting notes. Click [here] to see the original note in context.

Quinta do Vale Meão 2003 (14+ % ABV) A little darker than the previous wines. Sweeter on the nose. Obviously a bigger wine, but still fresh. Dark berries. Fresh in the mouth, too, with adequate acidity and quite noticeable tannins. Very appetizing, and very impressive, but so is the price. (Vale Me...

Vallado Reserva 2003 (Quinta do Valado) (97% touriga nacional, 3% sousão; 14.5% ABV) Medium depth of colour. A fruity nose of cherry, bilberry and bramble with a little anise (and a hint of chocolate?). Fresh in the mouth, with pure fruit and good acidity. Tannins cleanse the mouth, but are not int...

Tinta Roriz 2003 (Quinta do Valado) Medium depth of colour. More closed on the nose. Some cherry and plum. Fresh, with more noticeable tannins. (This estate is situated in the extreme west of the Cima Corgo. If I understood correctly, a replanting scheme was undertaken 15-20 years ago, with block p...

Looks like the euro will soon overtake the pound. Quite shocking.