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New Douro 2004 tasting
The wines
of Quinta de la Rosa

Apartado 16, 5085 Pinhão, Portugal
Tel: +351 254 732 254
Website: www.quintadelarosa.com
E-mail: sophia@quintadelarosa.com

In July 2006 Quinta de la Rosa held their centenary celebrations: it was in 1906 that the beautifully situated Quinta, a kilometre along the river from Pinhão, was bought as a christening present for Sophia Bergqvist’s grandmother Claire. And 100 years on, the Quinta is in the middle of a run of form. It has been one of the pioneers of quality Douro table wine production since the early 1990s, but since 2002 when Jorge Moreira (of Poeira fame) was hired as winemaker, quality has stepped up a notch. Now, with the purchase of some vineyard land upriver in the Douro Superior, la Rosa is one of the producers to watch.

Jorge says of the 2004 that it is an ‘extraordinary vintage’, with dehydration, alcohol and acidity. ‘There are great definition of aromas and flavours, and just the right maturation that gives the flavour of the fruit’. He describes 2005 as ‘a civilized year, with lovely fruit and freshness: it’s not big, but it fills the mouth very well, with good phenolics’.

2004 Vale de Clara
Fresh, bright, focused nose leads to a palate showing supple red and black fruits with nice freshness and some spiciness. Juicy and appealing. Very good+ 87/100

2005 Vale de Clara
Fresh, bright clean fruit on the nose. The palate shows lovely freshness of predominantly red fruits, with some grippy tannins. Lovely in this style. Very good+ 88/100

Quinta de la Rosa 2004
Pure, sweet fruit on the nose with nice definition and a bit of chocolatey spiciness. The palate shows good concentration with nice structure—lots of tannin here. Bright full fruit dominates, and there’s good balance. While it’s a substantial wine, it doesn’t rely on concentration for its effect. Very good/excellent 91/100

Quinta de la Rosa Reserva 2004
There’s some lushness to the fruit on the nose, together with a bit of chocolatey richness, but still this retains a lovely pure red and black fruit profile. The palate is nicely structured with firm spicy tannins backing up the pure red fruits. A good future ahead of this wine. Very good/excellent 93/100

See also: Earlier report on this Quinta; a newer report from 2011

Back to New Douro 2004 tasting

Wines tasted 05 and 07/06
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