Tom Kobylarz

8.9

Meao Tawny NV (1999 stock)
From stocks that Francisco is experimenting with, these Tawny wines may or may not turn into a commercial bottling. From what I gather with discussing it with Luisa they are still tinkering with the blend and the style they want to represent as a Meao Tawny.
Caramel and roasted nuts jump from the glass and fan out over the thicker textured wine that adds oxidized notes of orange and ginger. If anything for me as good as this is it could use a little more freshness.
Tasted at Quinta do Vale Meao 10/16/2015.
#meao #topsecret #tawny — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.0

Not many better "regular" Douro Tinta wines, but then again this consistently performs at a level above its basic Douro designation. At around $18-23 USD this is a perennial over achiever and model of approachable young Douro that is expressive and a little finer in texture so it's ready to go but can be aged 5-8 years easy. Red to dark red fruits, spice and a stony schist component add complexity on the nose and palate with good acidity.
Tasted at Quinta do Vale Meao 10/16/2015, tasted at opening and 1.5 hours later.
#meao #dourovalley — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.3

Youthful, with power and concentration in the nose and palate. A very traditional styled Meao showing the typical style of this wine. The nose shows a mix of red and blue berry fruits, subtle spices, and barely a trace of oak. These wines are always masterfully aged in oak to impart just the right amount of oxygen and wood character. The palate is well balanced, youthful and medium+ in intensity and a fresh, persistent finish. This is just as good or better, depending on your tastes of course, of the recent string of many excellent Meao and reminded me of the 2009.
Tasted at Quinta do Vale Meao 10/16/2015, tasted at opening and 1.5 hours later. #meao #dourovalley — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.8

One of the best wines in 2014 for me so far. Drinkable now but easily will age 30 years! Blueberries, violets, black and red fruits, beautifully layered, full bodied, ripe and full grain tannin, though there is an elegance to this. Best Portuguese table wine I have ever had. #2011 #portugal #douro #meao — 11 years ago

with Miguel

Tom Kobylarz

9.6

A deep red and purple colored core, with a vibrant cherry red on the edges. The nose is intense, but more expressive like a wine showing the red and black fruits, with more elegant and tertiary character of spices like star anise, lavender, and other wild flowers. The length is superb, with a similar persistence to the Meao table red in that it shows strength without trying hard.
This further convinces me of the ability of the Quinta single vineyard Ports to excel above all of the regular big house Port wines. I consider these to be more wine like in their character, being less intensely fiery from the spirit when young and allowing for more compelxity and approchability earlier in life, but with the ability to still age very well and in excellent vintages much longer. Will a VP from a big house age longer, probably but it has less of the wine like character and the world can use more variation in great Port for sure.
Tasted at Quinta do Vale Meao 10/16/2015.
#meao #dourovalley #port — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.5

If you want to try a Meao that is starting to show what age in bottle will do this is the wine to try. 2005 and 2006 are drinking much younger, but 2007 is showing brick red tones at the edges, while the nose and palate have given way to time due talk the more difficult growing season. Aromas and flavors of forest floor, especially fall leaves, red savory fruits, roasted plum and subtle licorice spice and lavender. The structure is fine and silky as the tannin have mellowed, while the fruit has evolved completely into the tertiary phase. Drink now or hold for 2-3 years.
Tasted at Quinta do Vale Meao 10/16/2015, bottle open 24 hours.
#meao #dourovalley — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.5

At 10 years young drinking really well right now.
The color is entirely youthful with a deep ruby color, vibrant and youthful edges.
The nose is very complex, though my read on it tonight is a lot of Touriga Nacional, with bright red cherries, a streak of chalk (mineral), and a floral edge of lavender.
The palate is firm, yet fine with lighter grain tannin that has mellowed in texture but not in intensity. The palate shows a little more maturity with cherry, raspberry, licorice sweet spices, lavender and a solid layer of rocky schiste minerality. Really good acidity keeps things fresh while the tannins provides structure to go with the long, put finish.
#therealbarcavelha #meao
#douro #dourovalley #dourosuperior — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.2

Finally I get to try this as it is nearly impossible to find with production limited to 500 cases. Latin for sure in its signature, but with a nod north to the great wines of the Anjou-Saumur of Loire. Chenin Blanc comes to mind with the lime and loads of minerality and a touch of wild reminding me of Savienniere. 100% stainless steel and no malolactic fermentation keeps the edgy and fresh acidity live and refreshing. The fruit is 50/50 Rabigato/Arinto and sourced from a single site, and quite a good one I would add.
Tasted at Quinta do Vale Meao 10/16/2015.
#meao #dourovalley — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.4

Extremely rare, not sold in the USA but available at the Quinta to taste and take with you. 100% Touriga Nacional from both schist and granite, the combination of both soil types adds power, structure, freshness and complexity from the schist, while the granite rounds out the wine with more body, deeper fruit and plush tannins. Well structured and balanced, this is an elegant version of TN that will please traditional Douro wine consumers, as well as those that appreciate precision and elegance matched with power and grace. We were able to taste the 2014 individual parcels that allowed us to see the components that each soil type bring to the wine. This should go 95+ as it ages, it sure has the potential to do so.
Tasted at Quinta do Vale Meao 10/16/2015, tasted at opening and 1.5 hours later.
#meao #dourovalley — 9 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.4

Classic Meao that is intense but at the same time light on its feet. But that is what you get when you combine the great 3 main terroirs of the Meao property: schist, granite and riverside alluvial mounds. Power, grace and depth are achieved on the palate without trying hard. The wine delivers layer upon layer of flavor and complexity effortlessly. The wine is young, so the longer you can decant the better. A few hours is ideal, but open in the bottle for 1 day is better (how we had it). More black to dark red fruits, spice and the most intense depth and complexity of all the the Meao on the day.
Tasted at Quinta do Vale Meao 10/16/2015, bottle open 24 hours.
#meao #dourovalley — 9 years ago