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7. Altano Reserva 2001 - The Symington Family
The vintage difference is pronounced here. This has more tannic structure with good length and fruit, but perhaps not so much elegance as the 2002. There is also not much more scope for further development in the bottle. Still, excellent value - details from John E. Fells: info@fells.co.uk 91 points
8. Chryseia 2001 - Prats & Symington
Here the Symington family have teamed up with Bruno Prats, the former owner of Ch. Cos d'Estournel in Bordeaux to make a single ‘meritage’ wine - a blend of Touriga Nacional, a low-yielding grape variety with great complexity and finesse, Touriga Franca, which has more tannic backbone, along with Tinta Roriz and Tinta Cão, to add aroma to the wine. The wine of this vintage is very elegant with smoothness and purity of fruit. About £25 a bottle. Details, John E. Fells: info@fells.co.uk 91 points
9. Três Bagos Sauvignon Blanc 2003 - Lavradores de Feitoria
The only white wine at the tasting, this is a good, fresh Sauvignon Blanc with very nice weight and length and a typical gooseberry flavour, reminiscent of the Loire Valley. The wine is produced by a co-operative, which has been adding value to its portfolio under the wing of Dirk Niepoort. At around £9, this would put many a Sancerre or Pouilly Fumé to shame. Details from Raymond Reynolds info@raymondreynolds.co.uk 91 points
10. Três Bagos Grande Escolha 2001 - Lavradores de Feitoria
This is a smooth and rich blend of wines from different terroirs with different characteristics, which says something for the skill of the winemaker. This has dark chocolaty fruit with smoothness and complexity and is another excellent effort from this co-operative. Around £17. Details from Raymond Reynolds, info@raymondreynolds.co.uk 90 points
11. Quinta Vale Dona Maria 2001 - Cristiano Van Zeller
This is a flavoursome wine with good spice, nice length and fullness. This is a blend of over 20 local grape varieties including all the top Port ones. The wines mature for between 15 and 24 months in French oak barrels and reach their best drinking period a few years after bottling. Cristiano doesn't have a UK agent but sells direct to a number of retailers, which helps to keep the price down to around £12 to £15 a bottle. Stockists include Avery's of Bristol, Savage Selection, Cheltenham, Bibendum, London, Lay & Wheeler, Colchester, Corney & Barrow, London, Tanners, Shrewsbury, The Wine Society, Hertfordshire and Direct Wines, Berkshire. 90 points
The vintage difference is pronounced here. This has more tannic structure with good length and fruit, but perhaps not so much elegance as the 2002. There is also not much more scope for further development in the bottle. Still, excellent value - details from John E. Fells: info@fells.co.uk 91 points
8. Chryseia 2001 - Prats & Symington
Here the Symington family have teamed up with Bruno Prats, the former owner of Ch. Cos d'Estournel in Bordeaux to make a single ‘meritage’ wine - a blend of Touriga Nacional, a low-yielding grape variety with great complexity and finesse, Touriga Franca, which has more tannic backbone, along with Tinta Roriz and Tinta Cão, to add aroma to the wine. The wine of this vintage is very elegant with smoothness and purity of fruit. About £25 a bottle. Details, John E. Fells: info@fells.co.uk 91 points
9. Três Bagos Sauvignon Blanc 2003 - Lavradores de Feitoria
The only white wine at the tasting, this is a good, fresh Sauvignon Blanc with very nice weight and length and a typical gooseberry flavour, reminiscent of the Loire Valley. The wine is produced by a co-operative, which has been adding value to its portfolio under the wing of Dirk Niepoort. At around £9, this would put many a Sancerre or Pouilly Fumé to shame. Details from Raymond Reynolds info@raymondreynolds.co.uk 91 points
10. Três Bagos Grande Escolha 2001 - Lavradores de Feitoria
This is a smooth and rich blend of wines from different terroirs with different characteristics, which says something for the skill of the winemaker. This has dark chocolaty fruit with smoothness and complexity and is another excellent effort from this co-operative. Around £17. Details from Raymond Reynolds, info@raymondreynolds.co.uk 90 points
11. Quinta Vale Dona Maria 2001 - Cristiano Van Zeller
This is a flavoursome wine with good spice, nice length and fullness. This is a blend of over 20 local grape varieties including all the top Port ones. The wines mature for between 15 and 24 months in French oak barrels and reach their best drinking period a few years after bottling. Cristiano doesn't have a UK agent but sells direct to a number of retailers, which helps to keep the price down to around £12 to £15 a bottle. Stockists include Avery's of Bristol, Savage Selection, Cheltenham, Bibendum, London, Lay & Wheeler, Colchester, Corney & Barrow, London, Tanners, Shrewsbury, The Wine Society, Hertfordshire and Direct Wines, Berkshire. 90 points
...12. Quinta da Roriz Reserva 2000 and 2001 - The Symington family and João Van Zeller
Well, the wines from both vintages scored the same number of points but for different reasons. Whilst the 2000 vintage is big and full, but with a certain amount of elegance, the 2001 is a little smoother and lighter but still with some tannic structure. Quantities produced are limited to preserve quality in the Reserva, but there is also a "Prazo' made from younger vines which is a little lightweight. The Reserva at around £12 is good value. Details from John E. Fells: info@fells.co.uk 90 points
A note on the 2003 vintage...
A number of cask samples of the 2003 vintage were on display, most of which will not be put in bottle until the summer of 2005 or even later. Some of them were not even the final blend so any rating of these wines must be provisional. What is apparent, however, is that 2003 is going to be a superb vintage with the best wines showing deep and unctuous qualities with great complexity. It's also going to be that kind of vintage where even the lesser wines produced are going to be more than passable. A vintage to watch out for.
As I have stated, scores are provisional, but the best of the bunch on offer were as follows:
Quinta Vale Dona Maria 2003 93 points
Chryseia 2003 92 points
Quinta do Vale Meão 2003 92 points
Quinta da Leda 2003 92 points
Quinta de la Rosa Reserva 2003 91 points
Quinto do Vallado Reserva 2003 90 points
As you can see, there were some producers who didn't make 90 points with wines from older vintages, but certainly did so in 2003. Not all the producers there showed 2003 wines and it will be interesting to taste that vintage from those producers who scored best with wines already in bottle. I will try and find out and report back.
All in all, this was a very good tasting and most of producers who didn't make the cut off point at 90 were not far from it. The general standard was high and this tasting proves that the Douro Valley dry wines can hold their own with wines from all over the world.
Well, the wines from both vintages scored the same number of points but for different reasons. Whilst the 2000 vintage is big and full, but with a certain amount of elegance, the 2001 is a little smoother and lighter but still with some tannic structure. Quantities produced are limited to preserve quality in the Reserva, but there is also a "Prazo' made from younger vines which is a little lightweight. The Reserva at around £12 is good value. Details from John E. Fells: info@fells.co.uk 90 points
A note on the 2003 vintage...
A number of cask samples of the 2003 vintage were on display, most of which will not be put in bottle until the summer of 2005 or even later. Some of them were not even the final blend so any rating of these wines must be provisional. What is apparent, however, is that 2003 is going to be a superb vintage with the best wines showing deep and unctuous qualities with great complexity. It's also going to be that kind of vintage where even the lesser wines produced are going to be more than passable. A vintage to watch out for.
As I have stated, scores are provisional, but the best of the bunch on offer were as follows:
Quinta Vale Dona Maria 2003 93 points
Chryseia 2003 92 points
Quinta do Vale Meão 2003 92 points
Quinta da Leda 2003 92 points
Quinta de la Rosa Reserva 2003 91 points
Quinto do Vallado Reserva 2003 90 points
As you can see, there were some producers who didn't make 90 points with wines from older vintages, but certainly did so in 2003. Not all the producers there showed 2003 wines and it will be interesting to taste that vintage from those producers who scored best with wines already in bottle. I will try and find out and report back.
All in all, this was a very good tasting and most of producers who didn't make the cut off point at 90 were not far from it. The general standard was high and this tasting proves that the Douro Valley dry wines can hold their own with wines from all over the world.
