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The wine list · Douro

Douro wines worth buying again.

The Douro wines I buy again: Niepoort, Quinta do Crasto, Alves de Sousa and Chryseia. It is the region I open most, 81 bottles of red and port so far, and buying again is the real recommendation.

What 81 Douro bottles say about me

  1. Niepoort is the house I return to. 11 bottles, more than any other Douro producer.
  2. 8 Douro bottles I rate exceptional. Vintage Port 2019, Chryseia Douro, Alves de Sousa and 5 more.
  3. Altitude 430 drinks like Burgundy. Red fruit and a light touch, from vines 430 metres up.

Drinks like Burgundy

My call, bottle by bottle

The Douro bottle that drinks most like Burgundy.

01Altitude 430 by Quinta do Crasto

Quinta do Crasto Altitude 430

loved it

Tinta Francisca and Touriga Nacional grown at 430 metres, facing north. Lots of strawberries, and a world away from the heavier Douro. My newest find, from Douro Boys Day.

More Portuguese Burgundians →

What I buy again

One mark per bottle

One great bottle can impress me. What I buy again tells you what I actually love.

I liked it the rest

Niepoort

11 bottles

Best: Vintage Port 2019 · 8 vintages, 1985–2024

Quinta do Crasto

6 bottles

Best: Touriga Nacional · 5 vintages, 2017–2022

Alves de Sousa

4 bottles

Prats & Symington (P+S)

4 bottles

Best: Chryseia Douro

Quinta do Vesuvio

4 bottles

Best: Pombal do Vesuvio

Quinta do Vallado

3 bottles

Best: Vinha da Coroa

Conceito

3 bottles

Luis Seabra

3 bottles

Best: Indie Xisto Tinto

The best Douro bottles I’ve opened

Really liked it and up
ProducerWineMy verdict
01Chryseia Douro by Prats & Symington (P+S)Prats & Symington (P+S)Chryseia Douroexceptional
02Alves de Sousaexceptional
03Vinhas Velhas Tinto by FerradosaFerradosaVinhas Velhas Tintoexceptional
04Quinta da Leda Douro by Casa FerreirinhaCasa FerreirinhaQuinta da Leda Douroexceptional
05Touriga Nacional by Quinta do CrastoQuinta do CrastoTouriga Nacionalexceptional
06Vinha da Coroa by Quinta do ValladoQuinta do ValladoVinha da Coroaexceptional
07Quinta do FojoVinha do Fojo Tintoexceptional
08Grande Reserva by Pai HorácioPai HorácioGrande Reservaloved it
09Trufa Tinto by Quinta do Olival VelhoQuinta do Olival VelhoTrufa Tintoloved it
10Titan of DouroEstágio em Barroloved it

Port

The vintage is the wine here
ProducerPortMy verdict
01NiepoortVintage Port 2019exceptional
02W. & J. Graham'sVintage Port 2011loved it
03W. & J. Graham'sVintage Portreally liked it
04Quinta da Gaivosa 20 Anos Old Tawny Port by Alves de SousaAlves de SousaQuinta da Gaivosa 20 Anos Old Tawny Portreally liked it

Questions

What are the best Douro wines to buy?
The ones I buy again: Niepoort for the Vintage Port 2019; Quinta do Crasto for the Touriga Nacional; Alves de Sousa; Prats & Symington (P+S) for the Chryseia Douro; Quinta do Vesuvio for the Pombal do Vesuvio. The bottles I rate exceptional: Niepoort Vintage Port 2019, Prats & Symington (P+S) Chryseia Douro, Alves de Sousa, Ferradosa Vinhas Velhas Tinto.
Which Douro wine drinks most like Burgundy?
Quinta do Crasto's Altitude 430, a Tinta Francisca and Touriga Nacional red from north-facing vines 430 metres up. Strawberry-bright and light on its feet: the Douro at its freshest.
What is the best port you have opened?
Niepoort Vintage Port 2019, which I rate exceptional.