For The Love Of Port

While most of us report on Douro wines we've loved, in picking one or more to add to this annual list, your favorite(s) can be from ANY region in Portugal. Please do feel free to share!

I haven't had too many new ones this year, but one that really stood out to me, and I mentioned it in one of the other threads here, was the 2012 Chasing Harvest Douro DOC Vinho Branco, which is described at their website: http://www.chasingharvest.com/the-wines/ I tried their 2010 Tinto and it was pretty nice after a three hour decant, but the branco (notes here: http://static.squarespace.com/static/53 ... o-2012.pdf ) was especially cool, to me anyway. I don't know if they sell this outside of Chicago, as the winemakers are from here originally and it is a pretty limited production.

This year I've had a lot of "decent" wine, but a few stood out...

2008 Herdade da Maroteira Alentejo Cem Reis Reserva http://www.maroteira.com/
I misheard the waitress tell me the price ("A Gruta" is a restaurant in Portalegre with a huge and awesome collection of wine - there's no price list, you just have to pick a bottle and ask) - I thought she said 15 euros, but she actually said 50 euros (In English they're very similar, but this was in Portuguese where the two words are really very different). Normally that's above what I pay, but this was a serendipitous mistake - this was an amazingly smooth, rich, subtle drop. I have some 2012s just waiting another 5 years that I'm hoping will get as good as this.

2009 Herdade Monte do Outeiro Alentejo Monte Cruz Syrah
A slightly rough edge (which I like), but long flavours going on and on.

I've had all the red wines from Aldeias de Juromenha (http://www.haldeias.com), but the 2008 Syrah stood out - robust but gentle with a long finish.

Yes - they're all pure Syrah - as most of my favourite wines seem to be.

But Baga is always up there vying for the lead...
I spied 1991 Sociedade Agricola E Comercial Dos Vinhos Messias Bairrada Garrafeira in Napoleão - like drinking rich, blood-red velvet. The label said nothing, but Messias confirmed that it was pure Baga. Sadly the 1983 which I bought later was past its best.

And, not quite there yet but, I think, with huge promise, is 2010 Casa de Santa Vitória Baga - in the heart of the Alentejo, I've enjoyed everything from Santa Vitória (http://www.santavitoria.pt/)

In the expectation that there won't be a similar thread on "Non-port fortified wines you've enjoyed this year", I'll put in a mention of 2010 Filipa Pato Espirito De Baga - Baga wine fortified with Baga aguadente - I'd hoped for "Port made with Baga", and I was not disappointed - style in abundance - this can only get better and better. http://www.filipapato.net/vinhos/show.a ... to-de-baga

Didn't get to drink too many Portuguese wines this year, but I immensely enjoyed the following:

- Luis Pato VR Beiras Vinha Barrosa 2005
- Quinta de la Rosa Douro Reserva 2007
- Niepoort Douro Tiara 2010

Only 3 people here drink Portuguese table wines?

OK, you've nailed me!

Quinta dos Poços Grande Reserva '09
Manoella VV '09
Quinta Vale Dona Maria CV '05
Quinta do Vale Meao '07
Procura Tinto '11
Batuta '05

For white, the soon to be released (or has it now?) 2013 Luis Seabra Xisto Cru. Amazing Douro white wine!

Presuming entries aren't closed, it was my great pleasure, a couple of days ago, to have had this...
2009 Herdade das Servas Vinhas Velhas
I bought the last case (of 3) from a local supermarket in Portalegre (I've been back several times since, and, sure enough, sadly, they have no more). 15.5%, but not seeming so - it's like drinking wet velvet - 23 euros is towards the upper end of where I normally drink, but this was well worth it.

For an actual bottle it was a Post Scriptum at Blue Ginger in Wellesley, MA. Not sure the vintage or if it was the experience as a whole, but I was quite impressed the wine. Not over done in style, just a joy of a wine.

Tasted some great VV's at a Wines of Portugal event, but I don't consider "consumption" for this thread.

The best were 2007 Crasto Vinha da Ponte during 2014 FTLOP Harvest Tour, then followed by 2005 Vale Meao, 2001 Bucaco Tinto Reservado and 2007 Chryseia.

Not only the Best Portuguese wine I had all year, but the best non-fortified wine I had all year, was a pair of bottles of 1966 Barca Velha with Richard Mayson, Dominic Symington, Ana Rosas (Port maker at Ramos Pinto) and a few board members of the Port Wine Club in Odense, Denmark. The exuberance of both bottles was incredible and loads of life remaining; soft, intricate and absolutely delicious. Having done a couple of first growth Claret verticals earlier this year and many other greats from Burgundy, CdP, CA, Spain and Portugal ... a proverbial embarrassment of riches ... these two bottles stood head and shoulders above everything else I tasted this year. My thanks to Peter S. in DK for his extraordinary generosity for sharing these from his cellar.

Been working away from home for the past 2 weeks and don't have my notes with me. Will post when I get home in a few more days.

Looking forward to your take on this, Mr. Ifune!

I haven't had that many, but I think I'm going to choose the 2011 Crasto Old Vines. Now if I can only get my hands on any of the single vinyard wines!

I also need to add the 2004 Niepoort Robustus and the 2004 Quinta de la Rosa.

Grande Reserva 2011 from Quinta das Apegadas
Grande Reserva D60 2009 from Quinta das Apegadas
Reserva 2010 from Quinta do Javali
Old Vines 2010 from Quinta do Javali
Selecao do Enolog 2011 from Quinta da Fronteira

Eric C wrote:Grande Reserva 2011 from Quinta das Apegadas
Grande Reserva D60 2009 from Quinta das Apegadas
Reserva 2010 from Quinta do Javali
Old Vines 2010 from Quinta do Javali
Selecao do Enolog 2011 from Quinta da Fronteira

The wines of Quinta do Javali are great, in my opinion!

I remember first trying them in 2003, again in 2005 and 2006 and only a handful of bottles of Javali since then. The winemaker has never been too keen on having us visit during the harvest, which is a damn shame and imo, shortsighted. But I respect his opinion.

The wines of Quinta do Javali are great, in my opinion![/quote]

Yes, they are. Still have the TN (Touriga Nacional) 2011

Eric C wrote:The wines of Quinta do Javali are great, in my opinion!

Yes, they are. Still have the TN (Touriga Nacional) 2011 [/quote]

So do I !!