TN: 2003 Alves de Sousa Reserva Pessoal Tinto

[Frederick Blais]

After 8 months of waiting, I finally was able to receive my order of Sousa wines. I really like this producer, he is a serious underground raising star of the Douro on this side of the Atlantic. He has already acumulated many credits for a few wines.

Tonight it was time to open Reserva Pessoal Tinto 2003: A classic Douro wine at the first wiff. The nose is intense and open displaying flavours of licorice, ripe black cherries, currants and a touch of vanilla. Young ruby color with not much saturation, like a young claret, the palate is silky, still feel some grain of the tannins on mid palate, the finish is full of bright young red fruits, good lenght. Overall a surprisingly fresh and elegant douro wine remaining classic in the tannins structure and flavours displayed. This should age well with a very good potential for complexity. 17/20

[Roy Hersh]

The USA importer of Alves de Sousa is right near my home. I am fortunate to receive sample bottles from them and have really enjoyed their Douro wines.

I have tasted their Vale da Raposa Grande Escolha the Touriga Nacional and the Lordelo off the top of my head, but have typically been quite impressed, especially with the Quinta d Gaivosa bottlings.

While at DOC at the end of the Harvest Tour this year, we were staring across at their vineyards on the other side of the river and who walks over to our table ... but Mr. de Sousa. After introducing himself, he dropped off several bottles for us to try. Talk about great timing.

[Pedro Guimaraes]

Frederick,

If you have the chance dont miss, maybe, the top botling from the same producer. Its called Abandonado and made with very old wines. The 2004 vintage is sublime and i got to taste the 2005 - also extremly good!!!!

In comparison with the Reserva Pessoal, i believe its a wine made in a more austere style but with huge tannins burried in an immense silky body...loads of potential for the long term. Also the fruit is more bluish than the Reserva Pessoal...

Hope you have the chance to drink it and share after your thoughts

[Frederick Blais]

Unfortunately this wine was not available for me to buy. I did get a hand on Reserva Pessoal white 2003, VIntage 2003 and Vinha Lordelo 2005 that I should taste very soon, the 15,5% of alcohol worries me a bit though :)

[Pedro Guimaraes]

If you were talking about the 2003 Lordelo, your worries would have been true...the alchool is noticeble though not imposing. I mean to my liking, 2003 heat vintage in the Douro produced very unbalanced wines...lets see if with time some of them can turn into something more interesting - i believe some will!!!!!

Regarding the 2005 Lordelo, i tasted it twice (last time one month ago) and the alchool was fully integrated. It is a beast of a wine but showing much more elegance/balance than its older brother. I Think it will outlive the 2003. Still i reckon both need some time in bottle...they are very primary in their aromas!!!!

waiting for your impressions on the wine...