What is the BEST D.O.C. Douro you've had in 2nd 1/2 of 2008?

[Roy Hersh]

We can do lists another time, but I am interested in your personal favorite bottle of white or red DOC Douro wine consumed during the first half of this year. Also, why ... would be appreciated?

[Frederick Blais]

It must be Charme 2002 drank last week. Just the perfect harmony in the wine and douro flavours.

[João Rico]

No Doub,

Niepoort Batuta 2004

[Chris G]

For white the Redoma Reserva 2005 from Niepoort, the rest of my supply is tucked away for a few years! Red difficult choice, I would say Pintas 2004 which I do prefer over the 2005. The Dona Maria CV 2004 AND 2005 have been much enjoyed as well, but generally the 2004's and 05's in my view need a lot more time so trying to avoid drinking them. On the Rose front 2006 Niepoort is going down very well

[Roy Hersh]

I can already see you scheming to obtain the 2007 CV. :devil:

[Adam F]

Checking my records I have not drunk many, of those I really enjoyed the Noval Cedro 04, I like this because it is slightly different and has a lot of different elements to enjoy

[Rui F.]

Hello,
this is my first post to this beautiful forum that i read since June.
Forgive me some errors but my english is not very good.
The best Douro I`ve tried in 2008 were Batuta 04 like my friend João Rico and Poeira 05.
In the white version off Douro table wines the best ones tasted in 2008 were Tiara 07 and Pó de Poeira 07.

Rui Figueiredo

[Andy Velebil]

Ruca,

Glad to have you out of the "lurking" and now posting. I do look forward to reading more posts from you often in the future. Don't worry, your English is just fine. BTW, I've sent you a PM.

[Scott Kipping]

2000 Quinta do Vallado Douro Reserva - Portugal, Douro (8/7/2008) [A friends tasting note]
Popped and poured last night. Deep in colour, the nose almopst leaped out of the glass - powerful, porty earthy notes were evident. Quite powerful on the palate too, with a nice complexity to it. Lots of redfruits and blackfruits were on show, with tar and earth noes as well. Nice velvety mouthfeel, and some elegance with all that power. In a nice place right now, but certainly got better as the night progressed, so it should last a few years easily.

My memories echo his notes also. I had a 2003 of this a couple of months ago. The first bottle I had in 2007 seemed a whole lot better than the most recent. The flavour profile seems consistent vintage to vintage with tar, smoke, black licorice and black fruit thruout.

The distributor for these, Seacove group has tried to keep prices down, but his big three from Portugal, Crasto, Dona Marie and Vallado has increased quite a bit this year. Vallado Res. is now 55.00, which while still worth the tariff, it might not be after a price increase or two.

[JoaoL.P.]

Hello,

I taste some table wines from douro in this year...
This region are growing in top wines but have a lot of labels with productions around 2.000 or 3.500 botles per year... Is to less to grow in other markets... :?

My favourite red was "Qta do Vale Meão 2005"! I like this wine too much! And my favourite white was "Pó de Poeira 2007".

[Moses Botbol]

It must be Charme 2002 drank last week. Just the perfect harmony in the wine and douro flavours.

One store has for $70 right now. How long will this cellar for?

[Scott Kipping]

HELLO JoaoL.P. And welcome to the board. One of my favourite wines last year was the 2004 Vale Meao. I stocked up this year on the 2005 also, but have not tasted it yet. Have you had the 04, and if you have, what are the differences in the years. Look forward to more of your posts.

[Frederick Blais]

It must be Charme 2002 drank last week. Just the perfect harmony in the wine and douro flavours.

One store has for $70 right now. How long will this cellar for?

Buy them all and I'll buy back all you don't want :) I only have 2 left

It needs at least another 5 years to really peak in my opinion. It is still young and beautiful, but it can gain complexity.

[Pedro Guimaraes]

Well this is my first post and i almost sign up for the forum just because of this:

The best Douro (and luckly forgotten by many) is the Gouvyas Vinhas Velhas 2004/05 or Poeira 2004/05

Both wines and both vintages offer great, great value and undeniable quality....of course both wines will gain with some cellar time but the promise is there!!!! These are constantly my "dont miss" buys for the Douro region....

If you have the chance dont miss it...

regards,

Pedro Guimaraes

[Roy Hersh]

If this is the same Pedro Guimaraes that posts on Jamie's site, please let us know.

Either way ... welcome to and I hope you will drop by often and share your knowledge with us. Lots of serious Douro lovers here. We don't have access to many of the smaller producers here yet, but when we come to Portugal we visit them and taste the wines and buy them at some of the better wine shops in Porto.

Please do drop by the BASICS Forum on FTLOP. The very first thread is where our new participating guests can tell us a little bit about themselves and what types of Port/Douro wine/Madeira they enjoy.

Welcome aboard and please do come back to join us!

[Pedro Guimaraes]

Hello Roy,

Thank you so much for the warm welcome. I am indeed the same Pedro Guimaraes :) I will drop on the FTLOP and then speak a bit about me!!!

I'll get back soon,

Pedro Guimaraes

[David Aho]

Red: Quinta do Vallado Adelaide 2005

White: Quinta de Porrais Reserva White 2007

[Roy Hersh]

I don't know if people realize that I changed the title from "the first 1/2" to the "the second 1/2 of 2008" but hopefully others will put in their winners.

If I had to choose just one it would the 2006 Quinta do Crasto Maria Theresa. Maybe the finest Douro wine that has ever passed my lips to date. And it was just an infant in Oct. I can't wait to drink them when they've got 5-10 years of bottle age.

[Jan-Tore Egge]

Nothing too grand (and ICEP seems to have stopped organising tastings over here. ). Just stuff like Vallado 2004 and Ventozelo's Cister da Ribeira 2004.

I guess those Batuta 2004's need a few more years in the cellar.

[David Spriggs]

2003 Casa de Casal de Loivos (made by Chistiano Van Zeller at D. Vale Maria). This wine is in a very good place right now.Much more forward than the D. Vale Maria and the 2004 Loivos.