New Douro, new releases

Decanter Aril 2015 – Expert’s Choice – Douro new releases

If last year was hectic, this year has been my busiest yet.  Which is my way of apologising for not yet having followed up on my detailed report on the 2011 Douro reds and 2012 whites with my report on the latest 2012 reds and 2013 whites. Sorry!  It’s coming!!! Meantime, you will find my analysis of the vintage together with 18 recommendations (including tasting notes) in the Expert’s Choice section of April’s Decanter magazine, out now.  

And if you are a member of the trade, the annual London New Douro Tasting is due to take place later this month on 26 March, full details below.

I’m glad to see that this year’s programme includes a symposium at which four leading Douro producers will discuss the minutiae which makes this exalted mountainside terroir such a winemakers’ playground.

A slide from Paul Symington’s recent Douro presentation

Paul Symington provided a sneak preview of the very diverse conditions which influence Symington Family Estates’ 27 quintas (estates) at his importer’s tasting recently.  It will be fascinating.