RICHARD MAYSON VISITS FTLOP

[Gerwin de Graaf]

Dear Richard,

First of all, thanks very much for sharing your knowledge and experiences with us on the FTLOP forum!

I would like to know what your opinion and/or experience is on the 2005 Vintage (not a declared vintage, but there have been quite some SQ VP released). Have you had the opportunity to make an appraisal on the 2005 Vintage?
Since my oldest son was born in 2005, I have stocked up on this Vintage.

Thanks a lot in advance for your reaction!

Best regards,

Gerwin

[Derek T.]

Richard,

Thanks for your "ramblings" which give a great first hand insight into the conditions in Portugal in recent decades.

Here is my next question:

Do you have any plans to stick around on and become a regular poster after this week of intense questioning?

The reason for my question is that we already know that many from within the trade lurk here but, apart from a handfull of brave souls, do not post their opinions on the topics discussed. I for one believe that the trade could benefit greatly from engaging directly with its consumers in this arena and you and others from the trade would be very welcome to join us here.

Regards
Derek

[Marc J.]

Richard,

As a follow-up to my previous question - do you foresee a growth in the number of Single Vineyard wines in the marketplace (in particular those aimed at the top end of the pricing spectrum). Of course Noval's Nacional has set the benchmark, but Taylor's Vinha Velha has established a foot hold and I was interested in your views on the possibility of other large shippers following suit.

Marc

[Frederick Blais]

Thank you for your answer. This place is turning into a real success!

For my next question, I'd like to hear about the beneficio. Do you think it should stay the same or be modified? I've heard there is a lot of pressure from both side. Some wants to keep an easy revenue and their price of the land high thinking a collapse in the market would happen if it was removed while others are saying it is slowing the progress and the quality in the region, especially for quality table wines that could be produced in good quantity. While some others are agueing that even if the law exists, it is not much respected and lots of cheating is happening, why so much talk about it then?

Regards

[Roy Hersh]

I have been observing and on the sidelines and enjoying every minute of the great questions which have arisen and of course, Mr. Mayson's brilliant responses. I can't think of anyone better to have as our inaugural Guest of Honor!

Now if I can please "sneak in" one question for Richard and then I'll retreat into lurking mode and let you folks have all the fun:

Richard,

Would you please share your short list of great new rising stars in Port producers and also Douro wine production?

Although I love discovering them too, I am always open to new suggestions from those whose palates and knowledge like yours, that are beyond reproach.

Cheers!

[Gustavo Devesas]

Dear Richard Mayson,

After several years reading your books I have just confirmed while reading most of your answers the distinction that I have conferred upon you. I still keep in my mind the experience that it was reading the "Porto e o Douro" - my lifetime "Port book" as an authentic and "first-person" documentary that convinced me that we can write and live our own scripts more than most people will acknowledge. I imagine how real was the struggle to do it. I imagine the visualization and affirmation until the whole human personality the senses, the thinking, the feeling, and the intuition are ultimately integrated and harmonized to bring us such a nice book - full of passion - that I still keep next to my bed.

As a Port lover and follower I am very grateful for the interest you have shown to come here and share your thoughts no matter the trouble in providing such interesting information about your activities. This feature is sure to inspire and encourage many other in other areas.

Now, time for my question:

Considering the fact that you have been specialising in Portuguese wines for over twenty years and are the author of five books on the subject, what made you in the late 1980's to identify the Portalegre area as one of the leading long-term wine regions in Portugal so that in 2005 you invested in your Quinta do Centro project?

My point is: Why Portalegre (Alentejo) and not the Douro Valley? Which key points did you consider and also after 4 years what expectations and plans do you've for the Sonho Lusitano venture that you have with Rui Reguinga?

Thank you and I look forward to read all your thoughts,

PS - please allow me to join our numerous friends in offering congratulations and to say - what other have said before - that no one deserves a tribute for another amazing idea better than Roy!

Gustavo

[Andy Velebil]

Richard,

Thanks for taking the time to do this, it is very much appreciated

There is a thread HERE that asked a great question.

The question was, Is the Port industry over regulated? I am curious to get your take on this question.

[oscarquevedo]

Dear Richard Mayson,

I'm very pleased to have your here answering our questions about Port Wine.

I would like to know your opinion about the current trend of block planting we have in the Douro and how it can affect the quality of Port Wine.

Thank you very much for your time!

[Richard Mayson]

Your book, Port and the Douro (2nd edition), was the first book I ever read about Port. It was one of the reasons I got hooked on this little hobby that we all love. Thank you for such an informative and enjoyable read!

My question for you is a relatively simple one: which Ports from the 2007 vintage surprised you the most? Not necessarily which ones you thought were the best... that's in your ratings... but the little Quinta that no one has ever heard of that produced something beyond expectations or the big name that tossed out a dud.

Dear Glen,

Many thanks for your kind comments on my book Port and the Douro. Comments like yours make it all worthwhile, especially since my publisher seems to be ignoring my demands for a new edition at the moment!

I think the Ports from the 2007 vintage which surprised me the most were Gould Campbell (a really good wine at a very reasonable price) and Quinta do Vale Meão, a property in the hottest part of the Douro which seemd to benefit from a relatively cool year. I was also pleased (but not that surprised) to see Cockburn back on form again. But I was surprised by Fonseca (usually one of my favourites) which didn't do it for me in 2007 and by Croft which was on form in 2003.

You can see the full results and tasting notes of my site http://www.richardmayson.com.

With Best Wishes

Richard

[Andy Velebil]

especially since my publisher seems to be ignoring my demands for a new edition at the moment!

Well point him here to this thread..I for one would love to see an updated edition. So much has changed in the Douro since the last one, an updated version would be great! I'd buy one.

[Richard Mayson]

First of all, thanks very much for sharing your knowledge and experiences with us on the FTLOP forum!

I would like to know what your opinion and/or experience is on the 2005 Vintage (not a declared vintage, but there have been quite some SQ VP released). Have you had the opportunity to make an appraisal on the 2005 Vintage?
Since my oldest son was born in 2005, I have stocked up on this Vintage.


Dear Gerwin,

It is a pleasure to share this forum with you. I am much enjoying your questions.

2005 was a hot, dry year in the Douro and you might have expected the style of the wines to be jammy and unbalanced. A few undoubtedly were but there were some really good Single Quinta wines and Niepoort, Barros, Kopke, Burmester opted for a full declaration. Looking back at my notes my favourites roughly in order were Dow's Senhora da Ribeira, Taylor's Terra Feita, Quinta do Vesuvio, Niepoort, Fonseca Guimaraens, Fonseca Panascal, Quinta do Roriz, Croft Roeda, Quinta do Crasto. I marked all these wines for being really to drink in 10 -15 years but there is no reason why some of them should not last thirty years or more.

Hope that helps

Richard

[Richard Mayson]

Caro Rui,

Agredeço as suas perguntas:

I will reply in English to each one as follows:

- Excepting Quinta do Noval where can we find other filoxera vineyards at Douro Valley?

Noval is unique in having an ungrafted vineyard. Croft tried it once (in the late 1980s) but nothing came of it. There must be the odd ungrafted vine in some of the very old vineyards in the Douro but Noval's Nacional which has been replanted on a number of occasions since phylloxera is still unique.

- Concerning that we can find many different styles of Port wine, which one do you prefer? Why?

I like all styles when the wines are good but I have to admit that I have a penchant for chilled Twenty Year Old Tawny. However nothing beats a really great mature Vintage Port.

- Do you think that Port wine companies will restart increasing their sails? What should they do?

I think sales volumes will continue to decline but I hope that sales of premium Ports will increase. The shippers should focus on these without resorting to the sort discounting that threatens to undermine the image of LBV in the UK.

- Do you prefer old Vintages or old Tawnies? Why? Which brand particulary?

I like both. Ramos Pinto and Sandeman for Tawny. Graham, Dow, Warre, Niepoort, Fonseca and Taylor for vintage but there are others!

- Why Port wine is so much cheaper abroad rather then in Portugal?

Good question - you would have to ask a Port shipper that one. One factor is that there is far more Vintage Port in the UK than there is in Portugal and the auction houses in London are always trading it. In fact the Port shippers are buying it back.

- Which brands are more popular abroad?

Depends of the country. In France (the largest market for Port) it is Cruz. In the UK it is Cockburn.

- Are you used to find many corked Port wines?

Not that many but I can't give you a percentage.

- What do you think about the use of screw cup on the bottles of Port wine?

A good ideal in principle for basic wines like Ruby but as Portugal is the main supplier of the world's cork I prefer cork!

Melhores Cumprimentos

Richard

[Richard Mayson]

Richard,

Thanks for your "ramblings" which give a great first hand insight into the conditions in Portugal in recent decades.

Here is my next question:

Do you have any plans to stick around on and become a regular poster after this week of intense questioning?

The reason for my question is that we already know that many from within the trade lurk here but, apart from a handfull of brave souls, do not post their opinions on the topics discussed. I for one believe that the trade could benefit greatly from engaging directly with its consumers in this arena and you and others from the trade would be very welcome to join us here.

Regards
Derek

Dear Derek,

I would love to become a regular poster here if only I had the time. I think that the same applies to many in the trade as well. I do however have my own website which is developing slowly but I will try and look in to Roy's site more often now that I have found my way around.

Regards

Richard

[Richard Mayson]

Dear Richard,

It is a true pleasure to read your posts and to share just a little in your wealth of knowledge and experience regarding Port wines. My question is simple. In addition to the 1963 Quinta do Noval Nacional, which are your other favorite Noval Nacionals in the post-1963 period?

Ted

Dear Ted,

Somewhere or other I have notes of all the post-War Nacional vintages but I can't lay my hands on them at the moment. I can't speak for more recent vintages (although I have tasted them) but from the point of view of drinking pleasure I have very happy memories of 1966 and 1970 as well as the 1963. Noval went through a big dip in later in the 1970s
and 80s only really returning to form in 1994 but these wines are still to young to drink as yet.

If I find the notes on my big Noval tasting (it was some time ago) I will let you know.

Best Wishes

Richard

[Richard Mayson]

Richard,

As a follow-up to my previous question - do you foresee a growth in the number of Single Vineyard wines in the marketplace (in particular those aimed at the top end of the pricing spectrum). Of course Noval's Nacional has set the benchmark, but Taylor's Vinha Velha has established a foot hold and I was interested in your views on the possibility of other large shippers following suit.

Marc

Dear Marc,

I really can't answer for the shippers but this does seem to be a trend. The reason they are doing it, so they say, is to preserve some of the blocks of very old vines which are not really viable given that they are very costly to maintain. But I can't help worrying that by taking out the best lote from your potential vintage blend, the quality of other wines might suffer. Having said that the block planted vines from the early 1980s are now 20+ years old and making excellent wine so many quintas have plenty of good wine to choose from.

Best Wishes

Richard

[Richard Mayson]

Richard, thank-you for joining us here for a little while, and for all your insights thus far. Above you wrote:

2007 ... It is very much a 'Symington vintage' with great wines from Dow, Graham and Warre, albeit in different house styles.

Are you suggesting that for 2007 these labels are different from their normal house styles in other years; or merely that Dow, Graham, and Warre are different from each other with their own house styles as exhibited in other years?

Eric,

No, sorry If I did not make it clear. These wines have maintained their house styles in 2007 (Dow drier, Graham's richer/sweeter etc.) but they are a true reflection of the vintage with wonderful purity of fruit and definition.

Richard

[Richard Mayson]

Thank you for your answer. This place is turning into a real success!

For my next question, I'd like to hear about the beneficio. Do you think it should stay the same or be modified? I've heard there is a lot of pressure from both side. Some wants to keep an easy revenue and their price of the land high thinking a collapse in the market would happen if it was removed while others are saying it is slowing the progress and the quality in the region, especially for quality table wines that could be produced in good quantity. While some others are agueing that even if the law exists, it is not much respected and lots of cheating is happening, why so much talk about it then?

Regards

Dear Frederick,

This is a million and one euro question. I wrote an editorial on this for a publication called the Wine Report following criticism of the system from a number of senior Port shippers. My feeling is that the beneficio is in need of fundamental reform from within but that the principle should be maintained. The fact that the beneficio keeps supply and demand more or less in check is of enormous value to the Port industry which has not gone the way of Sherry (over-production followed by a fall in the price followed by a slump in demand). I would like to give you a more complete answer to this question but the system is very complex and, as you say, arouses passions on both sides.

I will try and look for the editorial that I wrote and send it to you as my views have not changed.

With best wishes

Richard

[Richard Mayson]

Dear Richard Mayson,

I'm very pleased to have your here answering our questions about Port Wine.

I would like to know your opinion about the current trend of block planting we have in the Douro and how it can affect the quality of Port Wine.

Thank you very much for your time!

Dear Oscar,

Thanks for your question. I assume you are linked to Quevedo Port - I was talking about your new new rosé Port to someone this afternoon.

Re. block planting, I think it has already proved itself and it is very beneficial. Perhaps the only drawback was that it was limited for so long to the so called top five grapes: Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca and Tinto Cão. This ignores some of the other varieties in the Douro which also have potential. I don't believe that the can be a return to the mixed planting of yesteryear except on a very small scale. Having said that, some of those old interplanted vineyards produced superb wines!

I hope to meet you in the Douro one day.

Richard

[Richard Mayson]

I have been observing and on the sidelines and enjoying every minute of the great questions which have arisen and of course, Mr. Mayson's brilliant responses. I can't think of anyone better to have as our inaugural Guest of Honor!

Now if I can please "sneak in" one question for Richard and then I'll retreat into lurking mode and let you folks have all the fun:

Richard,

Would you please share your short list of great new rising stars in Port producers and also Douro wine production?

Although I love discovering them too, I am always open to new suggestions from those whose palates and knowledge like yours, that are beyond reproach.

Cheers!

My rising stars Roy are as follows:

I think most of the Port stars have already risen but there are a few less well known names to look out for:

Wine and Soul

Quinta do Vale Meão

Quinta do Vallado

Quinta do Roriz - now with the Symingtons so not really new but rising.

Poças - making some good Vintage Port in recent years.

Quinta Vale Dona Maria

For Douro wines there are so many it is difficult to know where to start but the following have really impressed me recently:

Quinta do Tedo

Quinta do Vallado

Conceito

Quinta Vale Dona Maria

Jorge Moreira (Poeira)

Quinta de São José

Quinta de Romaneira

Wine and Soul

There's a few names to be going on with.

[Richard Mayson]

Dear Richard Mayson,

After several years reading your books I have just confirmed while reading most of your answers the distinction that I have conferred upon you. I still keep in my mind the experience that it was reading the "Porto e o Douro" - my lifetime "Port book" as an authentic and "first-person" documentary that convinced me that we can write and live our own scripts more than most people will acknowledge. I imagine how real was the struggle to do it. I imagine the visualization and affirmation until the whole human personality the senses, the thinking, the feeling, and the intuition are ultimately integrated and harmonized to bring us such a nice book - full of passion - that I still keep next to my bed.

As a Port lover and follower I am very grateful for the interest you have shown to come here and share your thoughts no matter the trouble in providing such interesting information about your activities. This feature is sure to inspire and encourage many other in other areas.

Now, time for my question:

Considering the fact that you have been specialising in Portuguese wines for over twenty years and are the author of five books on the subject, what made you in the late 1980's to identify the Portalegre area as one of the leading long-term wine regions in Portugal so that in 2005 you invested in your Quinta do Centro project?

My point is: Why Portalegre (Alentejo) and not the Douro Valley? Which key points did you consider and also after 4 years what expectations and plans do you've for the Sonho Lusitano venture that you have with Rui Reguinga?

Thank you and I look forward to read all your thoughts,

PS - please allow me to join our numerous friends in offering congratulations and to say - what other have said before - that no one deserves a tribute for another amazing idea better than Roy!

Gustavo

Dear Gustavo,

Thank you so much much for your kind comments - I feel both flattered and honoured that you keep my book by your bed. You have spurred me on to doing another edition!

But to your question: why Portalegre and not the Douro? I have always liked the Portalegre region ever since I came across Tapada de Chaves in the late 1980s (wines very varieable but could be fabulous - sadly no longer). The region has a great terroir with both granite and schist and a cooler climate than most of the Alentejo. At 600m above sea level we are at least 5oC cooler most days than down on the plains and cooler still at night.

I looked long and hard for the right place in the Douro but I didn't find it. When I started very few people were making good Douro wines, now there are many. I wanted to be different and to prove that other parts of Portugal could make great, world class wine. I think Dão and parts of Estremadura also have huge potential, the best places being those transitional areas where Atlantic climate meets Continental) We are not world class yet but I am convinced that we will get there. There is still quite a bit of sorting out to do in the vineyard and I have some new vineyard (Touriga Nacional, Syrah, Viognier and Aragonez) coming into production this year. Rui is a great wine maker and I have a lovely little terroir on the meia encosta in Quinta do Centro. In another 4 years I hope that we have something really special.

Watch this space!

Best Wishes

Richard