Tag Archive | "Douro"
Life on the Douro – a film by Zev Robinson
Yesterday’s report (here) of the Symington’s remarkable Single Quinta Vintage Port tasting (2006-1950) may have given you a sense of the Douro Valley - the place, the people and, of course, the Ports, but there’s no substitute for seeing the region yourself. And if you can’t go any time soon, the good news is that Zev Robinson’s understated film, Life on [...]
Continue reading...Symington Family Estates Douro 2011 Harvest Report
Posted Wednesday 12th October 2011
Following on from Monday’s 2011 vintage report focused on Portuguese table wines, here’s Symington Family Estates’ Douro vintage report for this year. The family’s illustrious portfolio includes Graham’s, Cockburn’s, Dow’s, Warre’s, Quinta do Vesuvio (pictured) and Altano (table wines). The report’s author, Paul Symington, told me he compiled it on Sunday evening in the Pinhao Valley as he [...]
Continue reading...Lavradores de Feitoria – a full range of Douro tasting notes
Posted Wednesday 30th March 2011
While in the Portugal the week before I last I posted a blog about my visit with Douro producer Lavradores de Feitoria . This innovative group of 18 growers pool grapes from vineyards totalling 800ha. Each vineyard is vinfied separately, which explains the multitude and range of vat sizes (pictured), though most of their wines are blends. As chief winemaker Paulo Ruão told me, [...]
Continue reading...A week in Portugal in pictures
Posted Sunday 20th March 2011
I’m just back from travels in the Douro, Bairrada and Celorico da Beira, Serra da Estrela where I was speaking at the 1st Portugal International Wine Meeting & Tasting. Quite a week, here are some pictures for now: First buds at Quinta das Carvalhas, the Douro: the 2011 growing season is underway! And when it all kicks [...]
Continue reading...The Douro: Lavradores de Feitoria’s new “winter white” & first taste of Poeira 2009 & 2010 reds
Posted Tuesday 15th March 2011
Yesterday I arrived in the drizzly Douro. If I had a penny for every time someone said “you’re unlucky, it’s usually glorious at this time” I’d be a wealthy woman! (Note to self: consider alternative career as a rainmaker to drought-impacted regions). Still, the snow and rain over the winter has been good to replenish the [...]
Continue reading...Passa me the Passa Pequena: a Jorge Serôdio Borges red for £8.49
Posted Wednesday 9th June 2010
In last week’s in depth report on the Douro “nose to tail” (see here) I explored the Douro’s increasingly wide repertoire of vinous goodies. One of the exciting developments I mentioned is the emergence of sophisticated Douro reds for a tenner or less. I promised to write up another great new find and here it [...]
Continue reading...The Douro, dynamic, diverse, red, white & pink!
Posted Friday 4th June 2010
Ask anyone why the Douro Valley is famous and they’ll say Port – most likely vintage port, which accounts for a measly 1-2% of all Port wine. At London Wine Fair I was delighted to be asked to talk about the Douro by the Instituto do Vinho do Porto. It’s one of my favourite wine [...]
Continue reading...A video sweetie – the making of Quinta do Portal Late Harvest Wine
Posted Friday 30th April 2010
When I tasted Quinta do Portal Late Harvest 2007 in the Douro last December (see here) it blew me away, making the cut for my 50 Great Portuguese Wine selection. Aside from its absolute quality, I chose it because it also illustrates the Douro’s exciting growing repertoire. Winemaker Paulo Coutinho just sent me this video/series [...]
Continue reading...The Big Fortified Tasting – a big thumbs up
Posted Monday 19th April 2010
Nine out of 10 vegetarians miss bacon and I still hanker after BLT sandwiches. Happily a similar new acronym, BFT – short for Big Fortified Tasting – has entered my vocabulary and I feel well compensated! The name pulls no punches. With over 300 wines at today’s inaugural tasting, it provided a unique opportunity to [...]
Continue reading...The Douro Boys – 2007 table wines & port report
Posted Friday 18th September 2009
Just to say I’ve posted my full report of my visit earlier this month to meet with the Douro Boys here. It features tasting notes of new releases (2008 whites, 2007 reds and ports) and a report of vertical tastings with each of the famous five – Quintas do Vallado, do Crasto, do Vale Dona [...]
Continue reading...The Douro Boys – the 2007 releases
Posted Tuesday 1st September 2009
Hey, just to let you know I’m off to see the wizards today a.k.a. the Douro Boys! I’ll be reviewing the latest 07 vintage releases - I had a sneak preview when I visited with Dirk Niepoort in June and the wines were looking pretty fab though just bottled. As for the ports, check out [...]
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Posted Saturday 5th November 2011
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