ThePortForum.com

I have very little experiance on this part of vintage port.Apart from the Symingtons and the other big hitters,Which is your top three of the smaller not so well known Quinta's that are consistently making good port.

My three lesser known favorites in 2005 are:

Quinta Seara d'Ordens - lovely
Quinta das Carvalhas (Royal Oporto/ Real Companhia Velha) - good backbone
Messias - fruit cake

Axel

In order

Qta do Portal 05
Qta seara de ordens (was there last summer - great place)
Calem Qta de foz 97

I don't think I have drunk many SQs from small or lesser known producers. My reliable, go to, single quintas are:

1) Vesuvio
2) Noval
3) Vargellas
4) Malvedos

After that it's probably still people you would consider to be big hitters.
5) Roeda
6) Bomfim
7) Cavadinha
8) Corte

and a couple more that I will add when I can remember their names.

Score me for Ramos-Pinto Quinta de Ervamoira.

I've had chance to refer back to my notes and can now compose a more sensible reply.

When looking for a single quinta wine, I tend to discount Vesuvio, Vargellas and Noval and consider these to be more akin to top shippers than a cheap single quinta.

If I feel that I want a good, reliable port from a single quinta that is reasonably priced and has the structure and fruit to mature well for 10-20 years, I will generally go for:

1) Roeda
2) Corte
3) Cavadinha

Crasto's 2004 impressed me a lot, but the earlier vintages I have tried were good but not as good as 2004.

And then, of course, there is the stunning 1988 Madalena. But I haven't had any other vintages so don't know how good they are in general.

Alex

Arrghhhhhhh..

I forgot Qta. de Ervamoira

need to be on my list

I will not include single quinta bottlings from major shippers, as they function mainly as a second brand VP in lesser years (although, I admit, this does not do the likes of Vargellas and Malvedos justice). My top 3:

1. Quinta do Vale Meao
2. Quinta do Vesuvio
3. Pintas (which is, in fact, a single quinta)

AHB wrote: When looking for a single quinta wine, I tend to discount Vesuvio, Vargellas and Noval and consider these to be more akin to top shippers than a cheap single quinta.

I agree, I would shop them the same intent as Dow, Ramos, Ferreira, and Warre. Certainly the price might be lower with most SQ's but my excietment to drink them is none-the-less.

RonnieRoots wrote:1. Quinta do Vale Meao

Yay! I just picked up some bottles of this, cheap, and you've made me hopeful about its future.

Well - I thought in the very beginning of this treat, Simon asked for some not so known quintas.

I think we lost this a bit...

Axel

Casal dos Jordes

Anyone ever heard of this ???

I have talket with the owner/winemaker - he`s a serious great, old man
and he makes a top nice product.

No, havent. Do you have more info on that (location, webside & stuff)

Axel

ac-fast wrote:Casal dos Jordes

Anyone ever heard of this ???

I have talket with the owner/winemaker - he`s a serious great, old man
and he makes a top nice product.

Yes, I have. Casal dos Jordões. It's made from organically grown grapes and bottled in the Douro region (São João de Pesqueira). So far I've only seen a ruby and a white by CdJ in a supermarket specialised in organic food and it's more expensive than most LBVs.

A little more info,
A very nice mann, I meet him on Grande hotel do Porto, where we eat dinner and have tasting

He make Rose. white and red wine - and of course port.
He`s production is organic

The port production is
White
Ruby
Tawny
10 y tawny
and Vintage 2004

I ask him of he had made a VP 2005 - and he said
No, it`s to easy, everybody can make a VP 05, I have my 04

And It`s perfect

That's a cool answer. I like the 04s, but would normally prefer the 05s. Anyway: funny.

Axel

ac-fast wrote:Casal dos Jordes

Anyone ever heard of this ???

I have talket with the owner/winemaker - he`s a serious great, old man
and he makes a top nice product.

This Port house along with Quinta da Seara D'Ordens are making easy SQVP style. Easy to drink with great fruit purity for cheap prices. Volative are a problem though. A good introduction to VP but nothing that will develop in the cellar. My personnal opinion over a couple of Vintages I've tasted from them.

SQVP top houses are of course Vesuvio, Noval, Vale Meao(in his own style), Quinta do Roriz(recently) and Vargellas. A few others are right behind but not as regular in my opinion.