Quinta do Crasto ‘Crasto’ 2006

Another quick note.  I've stolen GW's good work with the "Other Vintages" tag until I come up with something better.  So you can get all the info on the wine from the my first write up. 

2006 is looking quite good for the Douro so far, the 2005s are undoubtedly excellent however.  A whole raft are now available or on their way in the next month or so.

Dark purple/red in colour, this one bolts out of the blocks with plum, mulberry and blueberry with pepper and meaty notes.  Lots of plush, comfy tannins and a touch of acid.  Juby fruit: plum, red currents and blueberry with a bit of cola and earthy, charry spice.  Far too easy to drink and enjoy.  89 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Price: $28 Closure: Conventional Cork

Other vintages: 2005

Niepoort Late Bottled Vintage Port 2001

So what is an Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) port I hear you ask?  Well basically, its a vintage port that is left in the barrel past the normal 2.5 years.  Historically, it was left if barrel because an order had been cancelled or there was a lack of demand for that vintage.  They usually stay in barrel for 4 to 6 years and can be filtered or unfiltered.  I know this one is unfiltered, but if there is no mention of filtration on the bottle usually the cork is the give away.  If it has a normal wine style cork, it is usually unfiltered.  If it comes with a stopper type cork, its filtered.

Dark red and purple in the glass with intense aromas of clove, mulberry, white pepper, raisins, plums and dates.  Well textured in the mouth with a sweet/savoury thing going on.  Just the right level of sweetness and very good length.  Bursting with Christmas cake, plum, and mulberry on the palate.  This is great value, I don't think you'll find better for the money.  90 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Price: $26 (375ml) Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.niepoort-vinhos.com

Quinta do Vallado 2005

Quinta do Vallado was a grower for the big port houses for many years, but had branched out to produce its own table wines and ports.  A big rejunivation project over the past 10 or so years has seen loads of new plantings and a new winery built on the site.  

This wine is a field blend of Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca and National with a dollop of Sousao.  I'm calling most of these wine from the Douro simply: Douro field blends.  It saves typing.  Most of the wine is fermented in stainless steel, with 20% in 1 to 2 year old French oak.

A great douro nose of Sarsaparilla, clove, violets, earth, old fireplace and blackberry.  Savoury and textured in the mouth, well balanced and easy to drink.  After that great nose the palate is a bit lacking, not bad just flat.  A bit of sars, smoke, pepper, red cherry and plums.  If the palate lived up to the nose, this would scoring something in the low 90s, but its worth a look regardless.  88 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Price: $35 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.quintadovallado.com

Flor de Crasto 2004

This is the early drinker from the guys and girls and Quinta do Crasto.  Its a blend of mostly Tinta Roriz and the two Tourigas: Nacional and Franca.  That's about all the info I have a the moment, I'll update this post when I get some more info.  Regardless, this is a very handy wine to have hanging around, highly drinkable and very different flavours.  Good winter/spring drinking.

Deep red at the centre with purple towards the rim.  Starts off with sarsaparilla, sooty earth, blackberry, blueberries and baking spices.  With some more air, a kind of salty note and the spices turn into cloves.  Very nice.  In the mouth its open and inviting, there is some good texture with nice tannins.  A bit low on acid, but this increases the drinkablity.  On the palate it shows sunny plums, pepper, clove and nutmeg, cherry liqueur and cola.  Good length and some minerals on the finish.  Drink over the next couple of years.  88 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Price: $24 Closure: Conventional Cork

Quinta do Vale D. Maria Vintage Port 2003

Cristiano van Zeller is a fairly big name in the Port game.  He was part owner in one of the most prestigious port houses, Quinta do Noval, for many years and branched out on his own in 1993.  He started off making table wines and when the lease came up on his wife's family vineyard, Qunta do Vale Dona Maria, they quickly took over and started a reno project. 

The wine is made in a more tradition way,foot trodding in concrette lagares etc, from vines from a particular area of the vineyard.

Now this is a port that is open for business.  Wide open.  I would challenge any wine lover to stop at one glass of this stuff.  Its full of raisins, currents, plum mixed with Christmas spice, hot cinnamon and black pepper.  Smooth and luscious, the tannins give great texture and the sweetness is well balanced by the acid and not over-powering.  There are some crunchy minerals and sarsaparilla/cola that add even more interest.  Great stuff, full of character and all the flavour you want in a good Vintage Port. 93 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Price: $105 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.valedonamaria.com

Niepoort Vintage Port 2003

We are at last having a real winter here in Melbourne.  Loads of rain, cold nights and plenty of wood for the fireplace have kicked off port drinking season.  I've heard this theory that these "new wave" vintage ports from the Douro boys drink well for about 5 years from vintage, then need to sleep for another 10.  From what I've seen so far, it seems to work.  However, I think this applies to 750ml bottles, this half bottle was closed down on day 1 and started to open up when I finished it off on 2. 

So no real tasting note on this one, more of an impression.  There is some intense, pure fruit there waiting to come out, a bit of aniseed and Christmas cake spices (nutmeg, cinnamon etc).  The sweetness level is just right, with big brawny structure and to-die-for tannins.  I think it's going to be great in 10-20s years, whatever you do, don't drink it now.  If Tinto y Blanco in still going in 2017, I'll let you know.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Price: $110 (375ml) Closure: Conventional Cork

Meandro do Vale Meão 2004

A bit of a quiet week drinks wise, this week.  But I've had a couple of great wines over the last couple of days.  This fantastic wine is from the Douro Valley and is a blend of  30% Touriga Nacional, 30% Tinta Roriz, 30%Touriga Franca, 5% Tinta Barroca and 5% Tinta Amarela.  The vineyards here were originally planted by the Ferreira family (the famous Port house) in the 1870s.  The family has held on to this vineyard through all the corporate buying and selling over the years and is now run by Francisco Javier de Olazabal, the great grandson.It is an interesting plot of land, there are a range of soil types, some areas of schist with granite and alluvial gravel.  It also has a significant red wine history, it was used to produce one of Portugal's top red wines, Barca Velha, which has a status similar to Grange in Australia or Vega Sicilia Unico in Spain.  Meandro is the second wine, Quinta do Vale Meão  is the top wine.  These wines are great value at present, get on the train before the prices skyrocket.

A nice deep red/purple colour in the glass with aromas of blueberry,light red fruit, licorice and spice with a little coffee.  Suave tannins provide excellent mouthfeel.  Well balanced, but powerful and full of attractive fruit.  Blueberry, blackberry, currents, crunchy minerals with hints of chocolate and vanilla. Long finish with minerals and a slight orange note. A great place to start adding a Portuguese section to the cellar.  92 Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Price: $40 Closure: Conventional Cork