For The Love Of Port

I've had several samples of the 2000 Chryseia and one bottle of the 2000 Quinta do Vale d. Maria over the last month that were very unapplealing.

They were hard, ungiving, and in the case of the Chryseia, the fruit seemed well on it's way to drying out.

With my limited experience with Douro table wines, I wonder if these wines are shutting down, or should have been drunk earlier? With an area as large as the Douro (and various winemaking styles), I suspect general statements cannot be easily made.

Any opinions?

2 weeks ago I was suprised to taste my Duas Quinta Reserva... not as good a I thought it would be. But again, generalisation is hard with Douro wines. We don't know yet how they behave as they have not been produced for many years now.

When I compare the Fojo 2000 I got last year VS the 96 I got 3 weeks ago... I said to myself, it will never be a Bordeaux or Burgundy complex wine. It will change, get more enjoyable than in its youth, but probably never be the wine we tought it would be.

What I want to say is that douro wines may not be shutting down but mainly being less fruit bomb than in their youth could transpose in a "dumb period" with the lack of information we possess at the moment.

Very good question BTW!

Marco,

I must say good timing on the question as last week I had a 2001 Chryseia. Although I'm not a big fan of its more new-world style, I too wondered if this was in a dumb period. I've had several of the Chryseia's and this one was really closed up like a snare. It did start coming around eventually, but I felt it was not as expressive as other bottles I've had. This may be a good question for the Port trade to answer.

I remember a similar thread on another board about Priorat wines. Many people felt the wines have not aged well, or rather, tasted better in their youth. Much like these new Douro wines, there is not enough history to really have a definitive answer. We'll have to continue to wait and taste...

Marco D. wrote: We'll have to continue to wait and taste...

Don't you just love that part of it

2000 Douro vintage is one of the most available vintages of Douro wine in my area. After trying about 15-20 different ones (all under $15.00), I'd say they are drinking fine. We had a lovely one last night that really showed off the varietal... I don't bother with notes as these are difficult wines to find if you don't live in Massachusetts or Rhode Island.

Some of the wines I see reviewed nationally are not the ones sold in my area as all of the Douros here are imported locally. Even the 2000 Dao's are still fine in my opinion.

What I want to say is that douro wines may not be shutting down but mainly being less fruit bomb than in their youth could transpose in a "dumb period" with the lack of information we possess at the moment.

Agree. This is not only with 2000's and neither with all douros.I think some wines are evolving great and other not as we tought they would be.

For instance, there are several reports of some aging problems with Meão 1999. 2 weeks ago a tasted a Quinta da Leda Touriga Nacional 1997 and was still with great fruit.
Had Chryseia 2000 in the begining of 2007 and the wine was so elegant but as Marco said the fruit was fading away.
The 2000's were one of the begining vintages for dry wines and i think only from 2003 we will have some great aging (specially 2004).


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Moses,

I'd be very interested to see a list of what is available in your area. If you find the time, please do let us know. Thanks!