Portuguese wine tasting last Friday with friends

[Frederick Blais]

Here are the wines we tasted in order they were served.

Quinta do Portal Grande Reserva 2000: I've already posted my notes in the forum for this wine. It was very similar, maybe a bit more evolved due to decanting.

Alvaro Palacios Finca Dofi 2001: A wine from Priorat to see the difference with the regions, it was a deception right now.

DJF Vinhos Francos 2003: Very nice nose, full of berries, fresh and round. The mouth is very similar to the nose, full of jammy fruit, balance, light toasty notes, very long finish but still simple. Tannins are light, this is clearly a very good wine to drink young. 16.5/20

Niepoort Redoma 2001: Tasted so many times and each time the wine is impressive! First nose was close but then evolving on very nice sweet plums and toasty notes, charming. Mouth is tight, tannins have very nice grain, the acidity is lively and the fruit is balancing all this. Very long mineral finish. Impeccable structure! 17/20+

DFJ Vinhos Escada 2003: Fruit bomb on the nose, very mocha oaky, too much for me. The mouth is also a fruit bomb but with burn over the top fruit. Very jammy structure with notes of caramel, raisins, dried plums, it is very weird sensation. The finish is on sweet vanilla. Clearly this wine suffers from bad fruit(over ripe) selection.

Bodegas Alion, Alion 1998: ANother spanish, better this one! I always like the Alion.

Quinta do Fojo, Fojo 2000: Very concentrated nose full of red licorice, plums and mineral flavors. A real joy to smell. Mouth is ripe, powerful flavours develop with finesse as flavours are they are introduce on layers of dark cherries, sweet black chocolate and minerality. Tannins are bold and well integrated, hint of acidity keep this very fresh for a douro wine. The finish is very long all on the fruit. Very young and should age very well. I prefered this one to the redoma for the lengthier finale. 17.5/20

Casa Ferreirinha, Callabriga 1995: I was surprised to know someone who had still this wine in his cellar. Evolved color and so much wine of this house, when they evolved the color becomes cloudy. Expressive nose of mocha and dried red fruits. The mouth is showing its evolution, tannins have melted, acidity is getting sharper but still the wines is showing good fruit concentration with red cherries and bitter chocolate flavours. Long finish, very well made and holding for another 5 years. 16/20

Quinta do Fojo, Vinha do Fojo 1998 : Made in a more traditionnal ways than its big brother Fojo, this wine shows a very nice nose of wild red cherries and dried red fruits. The mouth is much alive with high acidity, rustic tannins and red cherry fruit. Good finale. A bit unidimensionnal wine, but well made and easy to drink with food. 16/20