2003 Quinta do Portal Douro Grande Reserva - Portugal, Douro (7/25/2009)
WIML91
Tasted July 25, 2009 at a retail tasting.
Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of wet stones, berries and fertilizer. Flavors of berries, cherries and a dash of plums. Medium acidity, firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Can be drank now with air time or hold until the medium term and go from there. (91 pts.)
Portal has become one of my favorite all around wine producers of the Douro. Great Vintage, LBV, and tawny Ports. Great table wines as well. I had the great fortune of having dinner there with Roy Hersh and the principles of the estate this past spring. Some of their best wines are not even imported to the States and some of their prices are ridiculously cheap (at least in Portugal.) They also have a very fine, very young, in house chef and a lovely hotel on premises.
I’ll echo Eric’s sentiments, Portal produces not only some very fine Ports but some really nice dry wines as well. Their 2001 Touriga Nacional I had in 2008 was a very solid wine that still wasn’t at peak yet.
I’ve stayed at the winery, they have a small B&B there, on several occasions and done several large tastings of their wines, Ports, and Moscatel’s (which are also really good). They can be a bit tough to find in the US, but this is a producer to keep your eye on. They have invested a ton of money into the Quinta, building a massive and beautiful new Adega. As well as a massive re-planting in the past few years. Their hard work is paying off as I’ve seen the overall quality of their wines improving each year. I just wish they were easier to find near me.