TN: 2005 Consensual Vinhas Velhas Douro Red

[Pedro Guimaraes]

Im drinking this side by side with these few words....grand wine!!!!!! Dont know if you can find it outside of Portugal but, please do search, at 25 euros it is as serious as you can get.....built for the long haul. Definitely my kind of Douro red wine.....from the Baixo Corgo sub-region in Douro.

[Roy Hersh]

Pedro,

Wow, at that price point, I'm very intrigued. Who is the producer, I'd love to get my hands on some based on your suggestion. How would you compare this to the Abandonado stylistically?

[Pedro Guimaraes]

Pedro,

Wow, at that price point, I'm very intrigued. Who is the producer, I'd love to get my hands on some based on your suggestion. How would you compare this to the Abandonado stylistically?

Well,

The producer is António Caetano de Faria e Sousa Girão, and i guess this wine is a real step up in quality for him compared with his previous releases. Outside of Portugal this is not an easy bottle to get (i know some of it was exported to China and i'm not going to say how much it sells there - it's mad!!!!) but if/when you are in Portugal feel free to contact me and i will be pleased to solve it for you...it's also not so easy to find it here (only 3500 bottles made). Comparing it with Abandonado (knowing that they come both from the same sub-region - Baixo Corgo), i would say that the Consensual is less extracted, the fruit tends to be less ripe, a bit more austere and finishes slightly drier (more "old" world)....less exuberant but maybe with greater suprise factor for the future. Still if you want a similarity check its closer to Abandonado 2004 than 2005....

This is a bottle that needs to be left alone 6/8 years...

[Roy Hersh]

Pedro,

Thanks for the comparison. I bought two three-packs of the the 2004 after trying it at DOC and think it will be great in a couple of years when the oak settles down. So if it is really anything close to that level, that is pretty darn good!

[Pedro Guimaraes]

Roy,

I would leave the Abandonado 2004 alone for more than just a couple of years...

i've been drinking some top Douro from 2000/2001 and they are opening just now for, IMHP, a much more interesting profile, though the vinification was probably weaker compared to 2004/2005!!!!

Be pacient my friend

[Roy Hersh]

Patient, moi?

I still have the first and also the second bottles of Vintage Port I ever purchased, from over 22 years ago. Patient enough for you Pedro?

I felt the 2004 was a slightly "international style" that also spoke "Douro" as well. It was quite ripe and I had it again about 2 months ago and produced a tasting note. Funny, I enjoyed it more when we had it at DOC but I'm not too surprised at that. Again, I realize this one needs time to really come together and has great promise for upside pleasure.