Tough decision

[Roy Hersh]

On Thursday, I am having a friend over for lunch who is also a serious Douro lover. His bottle is a 2003 Quinta do Crasto Maria Theresa. I am deciding between three bottles to pair it with. A 2003 Vinha da Ponte, a 2004 Vinha da Ponte, or most likely ... a 2005 Maria Theresa. Tough choice and my decision is not made yet. I am thinking that it would be cool to have both wines from 2003, but I've had them side by side before. I am intrigued to have both the 2003 and 2005 MT to compare and contrast.

Your suggestions?

[Andy Velebil]

As much fun as it would be to pit the 2 MT's together, I vote for the 2003 Vinha da Ponte. What better fun then to slowly drink these two wines from the same year side by side and note their similarities and differences.

[Roy Hersh]

The only issue is that I have only one of those (2003 VdPs) and am considering that it might be best left to mature in cellar a bit before taking advantage, as I have already had it a few times in Canada and Portugal and know that it is sooooo young. I still might do that as I am deciding on what Port too. I am also seriously considering a 2003 Niepoort Redoma (red of course) which I know he has never tried and one that I have not had in awhile. Who knows?

He loves Vesuvio and I know he never has had the 1991. It is a possibility.

This may just be my last wine celebration prior to disappearing for many weeks leading up to our trip to Portugal. Although I am planning to get together with Glenn and also Stewart before I become an ostrich in a couple of weeks.

[Andy Velebil]

If you only have one of the '03 VdP, then I'd chose something else and leave that one to mature for another 10 years in the cellar. If you have a Batuta, that would be a better choice to pair with the MT than the Redoma. Or if you have any CV, that would be fun to pit against the MT.

[Roy Hersh]

I did do the Redoma and it was actually better than the MT. I was pretty darn surprised by that and would have bet just the opposite. I have saved 1/3 of each bottle to taste again tonight. The Redoma is a stellar wine and I had no idea it was THAT good. Whoa!

I liked the MT too, but with time open it started to show a very sweet almost candied profile and lots of oak was protruding. Still a very fine wine that needs a lot more time to hit its stride. It was better over the first two hours open. We'll see how it shows by tonight.

[Ronald Wortel]

I find that the MT's usually need a lot of time to come together. I wish I owned some of the young ones, so I could lay them down in the cellar. The 1998 is just coming around the corner and still needs a bit of time to truly shine, IMO. Good choice on the Redoma! :)

[Roy Hersh]

The TNs for these wines will be in the next newsletter, but solid impressions are on the homepage: Roy's Blog if you are interested. That Redoma rocks. I am going to keep my hands off the rest for years!