Is This Portugal's Greatest Red Table Wine?

I adore Port wines from the Douro, but in the last couple of decades some stunning dry table wines have emerged from Portugal's Douro Valley over the past two decades. Among them are Quinta do Crasto, Chryseia, Post Scriptum (easily the best value), and Quinta do Vallado. And there's one more that always dazzles me - that's Quinta do Vale Meao.

Last night I cracked a bottle of the 2012 Quinta do Valey Meao Douro Red ($95), and let me tell you, it's drinking great! It has an incredible balance of floral freshness, decadent black fruit, and minerally grip. The nose opens with notes of blueberry, violet and cocoa, then the rich blackcurrant fruit and framboise flavors hit your tongue. The finish sails through on a seemingly endless magic carpet ride of schist minerality and white pepper. I suspect this wine will age gracefully under good conditions for another 15 years, but it's killer right now. (96 Points)

 

- Tim Teichgraeber

Review: Prats + Symington 2015 Prazo de Roriz Douro Red ($18)

This well-established winery and brand is a joint venture between Bruno Prats of Bordeaux and the Symington Family (Graham's, Dow's, Cockburn's, etc...) of Portugal's Douro Valley. I can't say enough about all of the wines made under this brand, from the flagship Chryseia ($60) to the brilliant Post Scriptum ($27) and this lovely, very affordable Prazo de Roriz, which punches well above its weight for an under-$20 red. It has bold, fresh red fruit and dried flower notes, and the rocky Douro landscape lends it great tension and structure. Blended from traditional Douro grapes, it's a wine that delivers plenty of class as well as a genuine sense of place. Highly recommended. (91 Points)

-Tim Teichgraeber