2003 Ramos Pinto Reserva and Especial

[David Spriggs]

Winex has a special on 2003 Ramos Pinto Reserva and Especial http://www.winex.com :

A Slammin' Portuguese Double Play: Two from Duas Quintas...
Even in the midst of a frankly lousy economy that has made for a tepid wine market, we are still seeing a slow boil when it comes to the topic of Portuguese dry reds. When one thinks about it, It seems only natural that Portugal's Douro Valley, an area known for its famous Port wines, would also have the capacity to produce excellent table wines. Noble grape varieties, steeply sloping vineyards, a sunny climate, and lots of older vines sounds to us like a recipe for success. But the Portuguese weren't too quick to pick up on the potential, with only a handful of producers having some type of history with dry reds, and many of those wines not so skillfully made at that (Port wine is definitely more forgiving in the cellar than dry reds).

The famous Port house of Ramos Pinto was one of the first estates to get into the quality dry red business in the early 90's thanks to its acquistio! n by Louis Roederer, who infused the winery with a healthy dollop of working capital and experience. Since then, the winery has focused on producing premium red wines, and now those years of experimentation and slow progression in the winery and vineyards is paying off with this current batch of releases.

These are impressive! Loaded with up front fruit, but with a very French structure (like a combo of something from the south of France mixed with a great Bordeaux), these are blockbuster, complex efforts that also have a track record (albeit a short one) for aging (the 97 is doing great right now...still young actually). Recent tastings have made it obvious to us that now is the time to jump in and take a position on these powerful, soulful wines. Caça feliz!


Special OfferRAMOS PINTO 2003 DUAS QUINTAS RESERVA ESPECIAL
score: WA 94
add to cart $43.99 add a case $527.88

From Wine Advocate: The 2003 “Duas Quintas Reserva Especial” has a pungent nose, and sappy, young fruit, but the tannins take over the wine fairly quickly. The mid-palate is elegant, but the power indicates that this is a wine built for aging, and I think it will age very gracefully. It was raised in new oak casks for 12 months. The wine is then aged an additional two years in-bottle before release. There is superb, ripe, flavorful fruit underneath the haze of tannins, but it... read more
RAMOS PINTO 2003 DUAS QUINTAS RESERVA
score: WA 91
add to cart $24.99 add a case $299.88

From Wine Advocate: The 2003 “Duas Quintas Reserva” is fragrant and quite delicious, with refreshing fruit that projects a lot of flavor. The tannins are moderate, but provide grip on the finish. The wine’s mid-palate is relatively elegant, but it fleshes out in the glass and with air becomes more satisfying. It is beautifully balanced. The longer this was open, the more I liked it for its charm and succulent fruit. read more

[Roy Hersh]

A nice offering of nice pair of wines. Winex also has a really fine price on the Broadbent Vinho Verde which for $7.99 is not only a really good price and QPR wine, but it is an excellent example of the genre.

Thank you David!

[Moses Botbol]

A nice offering of nice pair of wines. Winex also has a really fine price on the Broadbent Vinho Verde which for $7.99 is not only a really good price and QPR wine, but it is an excellent example of the genre.

Thank you David!

Do you like it more than Aveleda's VV, which is the stand by brand in New England?

[Moses Botbol]

Winex has a special on 2003 Ramos Pinto Reserva and Especial http://www.winex.com :

Special OfferRAMOS PINTO 2003 DUAS QUINTAS RESERVA ESPECIAL
score: WA 94
add to cart $43.99 add a case $527.88

Sounds like a big mark up from what I can see. Do these cases come in 6 or 12? Wholesale pricing looks like a case would be 6 bottles like Vesuvio... Winex must be giving two 6's...

If what I see on my end for pricing is correct, I am going to jump on this one!

[Andy Velebil]

IIRC, these are in 12 pack boxes.

[Moses Botbol]

IIRC, these are in 12 pack boxes.

Wow, then I am seeing pricing over 60% less than their prices... I checked to make sure it was the RESERVA ESPECIAL...

[Andy Velebil]

Wine Ex is a discount wine store and one of the cheapest around my area. They get some really good deals in periodically and are a very reliable store to buy from.

[Roy Hersh]

Moses,

Are you saying that you have found ANOTHER source where these identical bottles are 60% lower in price than WINEX?

As to Aveleda, I have long long been a fan of Vinho Verde and started drinking it ... first time was their Casal Garcia brand of VV 14 years ago. It was very cheap back then and STUPIDLY I brought it back to the USA, because little did I know at the time, it could be found in the USA in the mid-1990s. Anyway, I have had a bunch of various Aveleda VVs in the past few years. The ones that I have enjoyed most are the 100% Alvarinho bottlings and their Reserva is awesome. So, to answer your question, if you have yet to try the Broadbent version of the Vinho Verde (esp. @ $7.99 per) you really owe it to yourself to check out this really exceptional QPR white wine. It delivers lots of drinking pleasure and has great aromatics and a nice flavor profile and for an "acid junkie" like me (Madeira, German Riesling, Ital wines, VV and Chablis) this is a no-brainer.

[Moses Botbol]

Moses,

Are you saying that you have found ANOTHER source where these identical bottles are 60% lower in price than WINEX?

That's what I saw on line, so I am ordering it. The name is same exact. No vintage is stated from the distributor...

We'll see...

[Eric Menchen]

Well, this isn't the right forum, but since the VV came up ... Any recommendations for a tinto VV? I had one in Portugal and loved it. I found some online and ordered two different ones, but I was just throwing the dice on this one. Luckily the investment is pretty small in case I don't hit it. If I thought I'd be drinking a lot of these soon, I would have asked in the Douro Table Wine section.
-Eric

[Moses Botbol]

I am getting this "case" delivered tongiht. I feel like it's a crap shot whether I got this specific wine or not. I was quite exact in my description, but with well over half off of what WineX said, my fingers are crossed. :?

[David Spriggs]

That would be quite a deal. Hopefully it's not the Duas Quinta.
-Dave-

[Roy Hersh]

Exactly what I was thinking but was not going to type.

[Moses Botbol]

I did not get them delivered last night, but found out what he got (the case is on his desk).

RAMOS PINTO 2003 DUAS QUINTAS RESERVA for $150. It comes packaged in wooden case of 6. Not the best price I was hoping for, but the same as Winex is selling.

I wonder who besides Rubywines distributes Ramos Pinto around here that could have it cheaper. If $150 is wholesale around here, how much are people selling this wine for?

[Moses Botbol]

For those that have had the '03 Reserva, how long do you think it can age for? :help:

My accountant dropped it off last night. This is the most difficult OWC to remove the top I have ever seen! :x Since the staples weren't coming out easily I gave up. I did not want to crack the wooden cover. I wanted to share a bottle with him in thanks, but switched for 10 year Broadbent Madeira instead (we were smoking cigars).

[Jim Butler]

Moses,
I live about 30miles west of boston. Just found this forum, glad I did :)
Do you have some suggestions for good places to shop for wines/ports? Out in Westboro is Julio's, but they have a so-so selection of wines, and a less than so-so selection of ports.

Btw, have you been to Casa Portugal in Cambridge? I had a 30yr and a 40yr Barro's there 2 weeks ago...incredible.

Jim

[Roy Hersh]

JButler,

Glad to have you join us and we hope you will continue to come back as there is a lot of great Port wisdom here amongst us. Moses can fill you in on the MA and esp. the NH wine buying scene for Ports.

Why not go to the Port Basics Forum and introduce yourself to the group in the very first thread and tell us a little bit about your passion for Port. You will be warmly welcomed, that I can assure you! Great to have you with is.



Roy

[Gary Banker]

Jim,

I live forty miles west of Boston. Pricewise, the best place to buy port is New Hampshire. There is a big wine specialty store off Rte 3 at exit 6.

I go to Colonial Spirits and Acton Wine & Spirits in Acton. Both offer up to 20% or 25% (Colonial) discount based on volume. The broadest selections are probably at places like Marty's and Brookline Liquor Mart in and around Boston.

[Moses Botbol]

I got the Ramos from DL Liquors in Waltham. My accountant's family owns it. The best place to buy port around Boston is either Marty's or Martignetti's. Both should have sales coming soon, and Marty's in Newton has a decent selection of port and Madeira covering the whole 20th Century. Brookline Liquor Mart has some decent port too.

As for Portuguese wines, on the low end, any place in New Bedford - Fall River, or Discount Liquors in Somerville. They have a great selection of Dao's, Douro's and Aguardente.

For mid and high level Portuguese wines, there's a place in the North End of Boston that Andy V & I stumbled upon by accident while I was showing him a our fair city. We were both impressed by the selection. The owner just happen to by a Douro fan and see a lot of value in those wines...

Wasn't Casa Portugal formerly Atasca?

[Jim Butler]

I was in Hopkinton Wine the other day...hadn't been in there for quite some time, and they had a reasonable selection of ports, much better than the NH liqour store up on 95 heading into Portsmouth. I buy a lot of wine up at that store, but I've found that many times I can beat there prices with some of the local shops.

Hopkinton is a small shop, but they pack a punch ...and they give a %10 on 6/%20 on 12, mixed cases.


Roy,
Thanks for the welcome. I'll head over to that thread and post...

Jim