TN: 2004 Quinta de Roriz Prazo de Roriz Douro

[Kris Henderson]

As I was picking a few things up for dinner at the grocery store, I decided to wander through the wine aisle (which can be a very dangerous thing) to see if I could find anything interesting. I successfully dodged the Southern Rhone section with a 2000 Beaucastel calling my name and found myself in front of a small but interesting selection of Douro table wines.

For about $16.50 after tax I decided this Quinta de Roriz wasn't too risky. The back label states:

This red Douro wine was produced exclusively with grapes grown at Quinta de Roriz and was matured in French oak casks for seven months. Excellent for drinking young. PRAZO (meaning lease) was the name given to Quinta de Roriz during most of the XVIII century.

Grape Varieties: Tinta Roriz (40%), Touriga Nacional (40%), Touriga Franca (10%), Tinta Barroca (10%).

On to my tasting note:

Dark red with a little purple. The nose is not very expressive but gives off some dark fruits, a touch of smoke, and some cinnamon. On the palate the wine is medium weight with moderate tannins and good acidity. As it breathes, I notice the tannins starting to become more prominent. The finish is nice enough but nothing to write home about. A tasty wine with a simple fruit profile. The label says to drink young but I suspect a year or two in the cellar wouldn't hurt. 86

[Roy Hersh]

Kris,

Sounds like a fun one to try. Where did you happen to find that one, locally in Ballard?

[Kris Henderson]

Hi Roy,

I found this one at Ballard Market: http://www.townandcountrymarkets.com/ba ... ation.html