For The Love Of Port

#38 - Quinta do Infantado Douro Reserva 2003 - 92 points/$19
#64 - Quinta do Vale Meão Douro Meandro 2005 - 91 points/$19

That's a beautiful result for Infantado, and a clear sign that they're on the right track with their winemaking. Congratulations Paula!

Yes, Infantado (we were there in May) is an up and coming property and their Ports have been solid for quite awhile. The 1992 is an unsung hero!

Anyway, I was disappointed that the total number of Portuguese dry reds was halved from the previous year's total in the WS Top 100. I can tell you they must have missed a lot of others, because during my last two trips to Portugal, there were a dozen or more deserving at least 92 points.

Wine spectator have many criteria to put the wines in the top 100. Price and availability in the US are both very important. Also the top 20 does have most of the time the same faces. Not that they are not great wines, but hey.... many should not be in the top 20. I'm bored of these Top X things that in the end you don't see any real logic to it appart from doubling the prices of very good QPR.

I'm really happy too with Infantado, I really like their Douro reds.

Fred you're right. Part of WS criteria is that they are a good value, readily available, and produced in large amounts. This year at least the top 10 was somewhat readily available at retail. But you look at the rest of the list and there are some wines that are generally mailing list only wines. IMO, those should not be included into the list. Only wines that are sold at retail only should be on the list. And since when is a $250 bottle a "good value"

Portuguese wines have decreased the participation in this Top 100 probably because thay've tasted all 2004's last year and counting for the previous top100. This year WS didn't tasted almost any of the 2005's

There are a couple of scores in the Nov.30th edition, but indeed the best bunch of 2005's hasn't been rated yet. Come to think of it, it has been a while since Douro reds got a major article in WS.

Who does the WS article on Douro wines these days?

I do know that next month, Mark Squires will be releasing a major article on Portuguese wines and lots of attention will be paid to the Douro.

In the July edition of Decanter, Steven Spurrier was stating the in 2007, Portugal was releasing the most exciting wines from Europe, speaking of the new releases from recent producers of course.

I'm not reading WS but my guess is that James Suckling would review those as he is mainly doing stuff from Old Europe.

I'm curious to read M. Squires. About the impact of Wine Advocate, as long as the Douro will keep the same allocation to Quebec I'm fine with that

I'll ask James if he is doing any upcoming articles on the Douro. I will be embarrassed if he says he is no longer doing the Douro wines, but you are probably right Fred. I've let my WS subscription lapse in early 2006. I prefer reading wine magazines!

Don't know...but Suckling just did a re-review of the 1977 VP's. Quite interesting to say the least...although at least one was no surprise to me. The sleeper of the vintage...and I ain't saying nothing

Andy V. wrote:Don't know...but Suckling just did a re-review of the 1977 VP's. Quite interesting to say the least...although at least one was no surprise to me. The sleeper of the vintage...and I ain't saying nothing

I got a magnum of this sleeper. I tasted from bottle this spring at the Montreal offline. A bottle serve by Steven. It was very good, but a 92-93 on my scale, not 96. But again bottle variation at this age is common.

Kim Marcus reviews Portugal for WS. And, although Squires does a good job in WA, credit must be given to WS for picking up on Portugal at least 5 years earlier.