Douro River Valley is considered the jewel of Portugal and while better known for Port wine, it also makes still wines that are stunning. Below you will find a Vintage Chart to help you select between the years when purchasing it at a store. Overall, you can’t go wrong with a 2006-2009. I’ve found all of them to be stunning wines.
Vintage | Score | Drinking Rec | Description |
2010 | 86-89 | NYR | Generous winter rains yielded a bumper crop, but excessive summer heat diluted flavors and delivered open-textured wines |
2009 | 91 | Drink or hold | Many balanced wines emerged from a challenging vintage, with many in a lighter style |
2008 | 94 | Drink or hold | Cool growing conditions led to even ripening, with wines full of finesse |
2007 | 96 | Drink | Yields down by 20 percent, but ideal harvest weather delivered optimal ripeness |
2006 | 90 | Drink | Summer heat made for an early harvest, with lighter-style reds showing balance |
2005 | 94 | Drink | Warm weather, with even ripening during harvest, made balanced and powerful reds |
2004 | 93 | Drink | Ideal growing season; rich wines with polished tannins and concentrated flavors |
2003 | 91 | Drink | Record heat; big, ripe, powerful wines with up-front appeal |
2002 | 81 | Drink | Harvest rains cut quality; top producers fared well by harvesting early |
2001 | 89 | Drink | Cool summer weather fostered even ripening; wines have good acidity |
2000 | 94 | Drink | Small yields, but many exceptional wines made as a new wave emerged in Douro |
¹ Vintage Description from Wine Spectator |