TN: 2002 Quinta do Vale Meao Douro

[Frederick Blais]

My first experience with this wine made in the Douro superior by Francisco de Olazabal and Nicolau Almeida. The blend is made from 60% Touriga Nacional, 30% touriga franca, 5% tinta roriz and 5% tinta barroca.

It was served side by side with a Pape Clement 2002 and most of my guests really preferred the Vale Meao, and many were asking where to get one bottle. This one was brought back from Portugal but I manage to find a case here in Montreal, sweet! Paid 65$ can, don't hesitate to buy if you can find some!

The tasting notes now, the colour is ruby intense, good saturation. Nose is narrow but intense and concentrate with very well defined flavours of red berries jam, sweet plums and pink pepper. Everybody thought it was a young hermitage. The mouth is powerful yet caressing with lot of freshness and balance, full body, expressive with berry jam notes, minerality and dark chocolate shows on the finale that is very long with a touch of wood on the after taste. Tour de force Parker would say :) 17.5/20+

It was funny to hear people speak about the wine. When they felt the nice minerality on the palate, I could hear some "oH! this is terroir speaking and it must come from France" And by the way, none of the 14,5 % alc/vol was showing!

[Joe Cz]

Frederick,

If you and your guests liked the 2002, try to see if you can get hold of the 2000, 2001 or 2003. IMO, they're all much stronger vintages. Even the second wine, Meandro is excellent in 2003.

Joe Cz

[Frederick Blais]

Thank You Joe, I've already brought back a 2001 from Portugal. The 2000 is rare and selling for 80+ Euros out there so I did pass on it. I'm in touch with the importer in Québec so I should get some 2003 when they gonna arrive. I'll keep my eyes open. Next big thing to come here is the Pintas 2003

[Ronald Wortel]

Make sure to get some of the Pintas Fred, it's amazing stuff!

[Pedro Guimaraes]

I revisited this bottle in my August visit to Portugal...still young, perfumed, amazing freshness and much more sustained by the acidity than other vintages. Long and silky!!!! Drinking great but one feels that the best is still to come....