LAST NIGHT's DOURO WINE TASTING

[Roy Hersh]

I have to write up my TNs, but last night I held an ALL DOURO wine tasting ... blind ... here with one of my tasting groups. It was not only fun for me, but the vast majority of folks at the table had NEVER had a single Douro wine before.

This was enlightening. Everyone brought a bottle and I put in 5. In addition to two reds, I opened the Niepoort '05 Tiara as well as the great 2005 Niepoort Redoma Branco Reserva. Everybody really enjoyed the Tiara but they were literally blown away by the quality of the Reserva. Most of us found the oak the only negative and I explained that this was still so young and that with 2-3 years this would totally integrate and show like a beautiful Meursault (a special White Burgundy that is quite terroir driven). Lots of us in the group are seriously into Burgs, so they go the analogy.

There were also two flights of reds with big names mostly and I will have to write them up and do a brief report here or in the next newsletter. IMO, 4 of the 8 showed very well and the other 4 not too well at all. The surprise of the night was an excellent showing of Chryseia ... again, blind tasted, but it was very much in a pleasing international style and a good dollop of oak. However, it was a balanced beauty otherwise and I need to check, but think it was the 2003. Anyway, the biggest disappointment for me was the Vale Meao 2004 Meandro. More to come ...

Roy