Its not the basic Quinta de la Rosa Douro red. It's a Costco Exclusive (at least up here in Seattle) and its actually the 2011 Estate Red. Excellent! I'm heading to costco to rummage for a few more bottles...
Very cool!
Last night was a really good 2011 Quinta do Crasto "Crasto" Superior Douro wine. For $22 it drinks well above that price point. Darn good stuff.
2001 Caves Sao Joao "Frei Jaoao" Bairrada. Caves Sao Joao for me is one of the best names in Portuguese wines all considered. They are all long lived and done in a classic style. This one is no exception. Dry with silky tannins and some fruit hanging in there. Could age 5-10 years more no problem. Was around $16 and an ex-cellar bottle.
1999 Quinta d. Vale Dona Maria Douro (the first vintage of this wine)
2006 Niepoort Projectos Pinot Noir Douro
2004 Quinta do Crasto Touriga Nacional Douro
About 2 cases of mixed white, red and sparkling wines that I will elaborate on when looking at my photos, opened for the events of the FTLOP 10th Anniversary celebration.
2011 Vale do Bomfim Reserva - I did a double take as I had not had the Reserva since the 2005 vintage. It is in decanter and I am looking forward to begin tasting this in about 15 minutes.
Roy Hersh wrote:2011 Vale do Bomfim Reserva - I did a double take as I had not had the Reserva since the 2005 vintage. It is in decanter and I am looking forward to begin tasting this in about 15 minutes.
I've generally found this ok given the price point.
I found it good with only a small amount of alcohol on the nose keeping this from reaching 90 points. Will see later today when I revisit it. But the weight and smooth texture are wonderfully wrapped in bold fruit flavors, plenty of acidity and it is cellar worthy even at only $10 per btl., as it will drink even better with a 2-3 more years of bottle age.
Tried Carcavelos. This wasn't an ancient bottling, but the only current commercial release, the aged white, ~10 year old Villa Oeiras.
But I don't know that this belongs in this section. It's a sweet wine, the fourth of the generosas, the others being Port, Madeira, and Moscatel de Sebtúbal.
2004 Altano. Wow, this really is the benchmark Douro for its price. This wine is fully mature and ready for drinking now. I hope the same goes for the newer vintages.
Has anyone noticed a difference in the newer vintages; more oak? Like the newer Altano is a different wine (in not a good way perhaps).
The wine shows a lot of concentration on colour and a complex aroma where the black fruit and barrel bind well, some mentholated notes. The style is vigorous but the evidence shows that the mouth is a effectively well designed because it does not hurt, the wine has good structure, very engaging and long final, soft and good aromatic make notes. Set of very good level.
