Douro red table wines.

http://www.wineanorak.com/douro_overview1.htm

I think this is an excellent series of articles for those interested in this rapidly expanding area. It is not all Port anymore forumites!

Here are some of the Quintas we should be looking out for......>

Crasto.
Roriz.
CARM.
Vale Meao.
Vale D. Maria.
Vallado.

Jamis, who posts here from time to time, has written up some excellent wines on his website I have mentioned above.

[Robin Garr]

I think this is an excellent series of articles for those interested in this rapidly expanding area. It is not all Port anymore forumites!

Bob, Jamie always does great stuff! In addition, here are a couple of articles I posted after a trip to Portugal in 2005. The first link in particular covers a bit about Douro reds, although as I recall, both links mix up the dry wines and the fortifieds.

<B>The Douro Valley</B>

<B>Douro Valley and Porto</B>

Robin, my enthusiasm knows no bounds after this gentle reminder!! Thanks.

This weekend there is a two day mini-Portugal wine tasting at DeVines downtown where one of the owners is from said country. I will pop in and give a report here!

Well, I just spent a very enjoyable half hour with Vasco Campos of Quinta de Ventozelo. He was pouring the newly released wines at DeVines downtown Edmonton. All pretty solid wines including a nice VP from `00.

He asked me to mention the website and is keen to know more about WLDG.

http://www.quintadeventozelo.pt

1) `05 Tinto Vinzelo. 5 varietals, non-oaked. Raspberry on nose, fair acidity, cherry, anise, plum.

2) `03 Tinta Roriz. 8 mthsoak, violets, earthy, minerally. Very nice balance, needs 2 yrs.

3) `03 Touriga Nacional. Just opened but showed some licorice, tar nose. Nice wine here, almost port-like.

4) `03 Reserva Old Vines.. I was waiting to taste this one forumites! Vasco thought there were up to 50 different grape varieties in the vineyard and not sure what they all are!! Cherry and currant on the nose, quite tannic, must buy wine for me. Will cellar 5 yrs at least.

Some notes from The Portugal wine event downtown this past 2 days. DeVines has a director from the country so we were in for a treat!

`01 Sogrape Reserva Old vines. Pretty well available everywhere I think and great drink now for under $20 Cdn. Buy!

`05 Malvis, Quinta do Portal. Entry level for about $14 Cdn, nice easy drinking, good fruit expression.

`03 Tinta Roriz da Urze. 4 wines served from this winery. Modern packaging, all good but need time.

`03 CARM Reserva. Organic, port-like nose. Big finish, needs cellaring. Will be good.

`05 Quinta do Coa. CARM product, needs 5 yrs. Can one wait, lovely, smooth tannins but unbalanced as of now.

`04 Meandro Do Vale Meao..Think have seen notes here? Big wine for the future. Black fruits/brambleberry, bit of heat now but will come around.

`05 Luis Pato Beiras Old Vines Great products from here, traditional winery I think. Birds on all labels! Single vineyard, cherry, raspberry. Good mid-palate and finish. Riper than most, needs time. http://www.luispato.com

10 Yr Old Justinos Madeira. Lovely but not enough to go around as I came late. Celery in nose unusual, big hit I was told.

`97 LBV Quinta da Noval. As many know I am a big fan of this winery but this LBV is starting to do downhill. Was the earlier shipment 3 yrs ago better??? Have 6 splits in the cellar, might be Xmas presents!! I will open another this week.

`03 Quinta do Portal VP. So not one of the big names but one to drink now. Lovely, could be under $50 I feel?

Many other wines to taste but would have needed more stamina and time!

Nov 3. The Noval `97 LBV.

Well, I opened another split, from an earlier shipment and have to say this one was much better. Nice and round, terrific finish. Lots of fruit still and no sign of any downhill slide!!

Think I am going to open a `04 Crasto Old Vines Reserva and see how it is shaping up.