For The Love Of Port

Not a Douro, but Luis Pato is supposed to be an excellent producer.

2003 Luis Pato Barrosa, Beiras
2003 Luis Pato Pan, Beiras

I guess I will need to leave them alone for a while.

Mahmoud.

Prices of table wines are in general cheaper in Denmark than Norway. Transport costs are killing more than the price difference. A few years ago the rules were changed, and we can now bring home 36 bottles per person as travel goods and paying only USD 6 per bottle in duty. Norwegian FTLOP-member Thomas Tideman Holst has informed me that if I make a pre-arrangement with the Danish importer/stockholder, then they will refund the VAT 25 % and alcohol duties one USD per bottle), which makes it more interesting.
My wife and I purchased totally 75 bottles of mix port wine, Douro red and Douro white (many of them not available in Norway) from three different importers, and it worked nicely.

Douro red wines:
6 x 2008 Quinta do Crasto Reserva
3 x 2005 Quinta do Crasto Maria Teresa
3 x 2003 Quinta do Crasto Vinha da Ponte
6 x 2007 Quinta do Vale Meao
6 x 2008 Wine & Soul – Pintas
6 x 2008 Wine & Soul – Pintas Character
6 x 2007 Wine & Soul – Pintas Character

Douro white wines:
3 x 2008 Niepoort Redoma Branco
3 x 2008 Niepoort Tiara
3 x 2009 Wine & Soul – Guru

And in addition red wine 6 btls Carnuntum (Niepoorts Austrian operation together with his ex-wife).

Rune - That is quite some haul! Has anyone asked you, "Do you have any Portuguese wine?"

We had a Portuguese wine tasting at one of the local retailers which was an oportunity to try and buy a few things
From Douro a couple each of the Qinta da Mata Maceda Colheita 2003 and Lua Nova em Vinhas Velhas 2008.

Also picked up a couple of the 09 Dona Paterna White Label Alvarinho, the 09 Esporao Defesa White and the Plainas Vinho Verde Rose (which was dry enough for my palate)

2007 & 2008 Quinta do Vale Meao DOC.

2007 Meandro do Vale Meao at Costco. First time seeing a Douro red there for me.

Ok I went a bit crazy this week. It's the first time I can pick what I want from the importer, usually he'd give me a tiny allocation. Redoma tinto, Vertente and Batuta will be sold at the SAQ later...

12 redoma Branco 09
6 Tiara 09
6 Redoma reserva 09
3 Redoma rosé 2010
3 Dialogo 08
8 Charme 08
2 Batuta 08

Frederick Blais wrote:Ok I went a bit crazy this week. It's the first time I can pick what I want from the importer, usually he'd give me a tiny allocation. Redoma tinto, Vertente and Batuta will be sold at the SAQ later...

12 redoma Branco 09
6 Tiara 09
6 Redoma reserva 09
3 Redoma rosé 2010
3 Dialogo 08
8 Charme 08
2 Batuta 08

A recent Lotto winner?

Moses Botbol wrote:2007 Meandro do Vale Meao at Costco. First time seeing a Douro red there for me.

Moses, I can only dream of a Costco like yours.

Moses Botbol wrote:

Frederick Blais wrote:Ok I went a bit crazy this week. It's the first time I can pick what I want from the importer, usually he'd give me a tiny allocation. Redoma tinto, Vertente and Batuta will be sold at the SAQ later...

12 redoma Branco 09
6 Tiara 09
6 Redoma reserva 09
3 Redoma rosé 2010
3 Dialogo 08
8 Charme 08
2 Batuta 08

A recent Lotto winner?

Considering 90% of my Niepoort wines was brought back from Portugal, these wines does not cost much as I don't have to pay plane ticket and custom taxes.

Brian C. wrote:

Moses Botbol wrote:2007 Meandro do Vale Meao at Costco. First time seeing a Douro red there for me.

Moses, I can only dream of a Costco like yours.

Ya, $20 too. It's from a local distributor. I heard beyond Costco's national offerings, they also buy local deals too. I have seen some real obscure French wines over the year that I usually buy blind. They'll get one pallet and it's gone in days. Not enough time to try and go back. The local buyer for here has good taste and I'll just trust them. The Meandro has actually stuck around much longer than I thought.

Been in Denmark again buying ports and Douro wines, where the prices are cheaper and possible to get a refund for the Danish VAT and alcohol taxes.
All Douro red:
6 x 2008 Quinta do Crasto Reserva
6 x 2008 Wine & Soul - Pintas
6 x 2007 Wine & Soul - Pintas Character
6 x 2007 Quinta do Vale D. Maria
6 x 2007 Quinta do Vale Meao
2 x 2007 Quinta da Leda
2 x 2007 Vinha Grande

Plus 6 x 2007 Carnuntum, Austria (Niepoorts operation there with his ex-wife)
and 6 x 2007 Casa de Santar Reserva, Dao (Dao Sul)

2 bottles of Caves Santa Marta - Douro Reserva 2005. Nothing too fancy for around $10 a bottle.

Not a Douro, but worth mentioning...

2004 Quinta do Carmo Reserva. It's an Alentejano in partnership with Lafite. Found on sale for $23.00

Moses, their Tinto da Anfora was a solid QPR. I look forward to hearing about the Quinta do Carmo Reserva.

JM Fonseca Twin Vines Vinho Verde, on sale at Whole Foods for $6. Probably not the best VV out there, but I don't drink VV for a sublime experience.

Picked up a case of 2003 Quinta de Ventozelo - Tinta Roriz for $10 a bottle.

Funny, the back label is all in Portuguese in the importer is from MA. It’s the season for bin ends.

Bought three and opened two for dinner and watching the the Rugby World Cup final, only one was a Douro:

2007 Vista, Touriga Nacional Reserva, Alianca, (dark, young, intense, forward fruit quickly followed by inkiness and tannins)
2008 Douro Reserva, Vinhos Sogrape, (lighter, less structured, and somewhat simple, not at all like the '02 which was way better)
2007 Grande'Arte Touriga Nacional, Special Selection.

First two opened, the other goes in the cellar.

Mahmoud.

My wife and I came home from FTLOP Harvest Tour 2011 with the following Douro reds:

6 x 2007 Quinta da Pedra Alta Touriga Nacional
1 x 2008 Quinta do Noval
1 x 2007 Cedro do Noval
1 x 2007 Quinta Nova Reserva
1 x 2007 Quinta Nova Grande Reserva Touriga Nacional
1 x 2005 Quinta de Roriz Reserva

A few bottles of 2002 Pintas Red Wine Douro for $30 a bottle. Has anyone tried this vintage?