2003 Niepoort Vertente Douro

[dananne]

There are some fantastic table reds coming out of Portugal these days, and they offer wonderful QPR. I keep waiting for them to become trendy (and for the price increases that would be sure to follow), but despite often high scores from Speculator and the like, they haven't seem to catch on yet. Oh well, another's loss is my gain, and all that.

The reason they might not have yet captured the popular imagination is that I find them almost universally distinct by the forward nature of the earth and so-called secondary aromas/flavors, which if they don't step in front of the fruit, at least stand shoulder-to-shoulder with it. This wine followed that pattern.

Dark garnet in color, almost opaque. Nose of dusty soil, charcoal, smoke, wet leather, and burnt caramel. It was interesting, and actually better than it sounds. Cherry fruit flavors carry with them the earthiness and some coffee/toffee elements, with some notes of bittersweet chocolate on the finish. Balancing acidity is present, as are chewy tannins for structure. Not otherworldly as a total package, but it was a nice wine. Above all, it was interesting, and it's a good counterpoint to the fruity wines that taste as if they could be made anywhere and nowhere at the same time. 13.5% alc. Ran me $25 locally. FWIW, WS 93 or 94 (I dribbled on my cellar sheet, so I can't make it out!).

[hotwine]

Now THAT's a good excuse..... dribbling on your cellar sheet!

Sounds like a mighty nice wine... will look for it. Thanks.

[TheEngineer]

I've also liked many of the Duoro reds that I've tried. I keep worrying though that they will get immensely popular though and that the demand will take off to the point where it will impact my beloved port production.....