89| Castello d’Alba 2006 Vinhas Velhas (Douro)
Lively and crisp, this has come good concentration and almond and creamy flavors over new wood. It shows ripe fruit, but there is also a zesty lemon character that gives it a left and vibrancy. Deliciously refreshing. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

87| CARM 2006 White Wine (Douro)
Crisp, fresh, unoaked wine, with green plum and red apple flavors. It’s lively, smooth and creamy, with delicious finishing acidity. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

89| Dona Maria 2006 White Wine (Alentejano)
The use of the high quality Antao Vaz grape gives this wine considerable perfumed style and creamy white fruit flavors to go with the acidity and the clean intensity. Well balanced, the aftertaste is fresh but rich. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

87| Castello d’Alba 2006 Reserva (Douro)
There is fine crispness that goes along with strong citrus and spice flavors, and a touch of butteriness. There is also an intriguing edge of pears, lifted by a razor sharp aftertaste. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

88| Dao Sul 2005 Grilos
A burly, rough-hewn wine that has been slightly tamed by the use of French oak aging. But is remains a dense wine, packed with dry tannins, spice and herbs, and some juicy black plum flavors. The finish is dry, very firm, and the wine needs at least five years. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

87| Castello d’Alba 2005 Unoaked (Douro)
The name of this wine says it all. It relies on the spice and black plum flavors of the fruit and it works as an early-drinking, fresh wine. The tannins are dry, and boast of their hot climate, but the acidity cuts through. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

88| Dona Maria 2004 Reserva (Alentejano)
Hugely dense, this wine offers power. The fruit is sweet and super-ripe; the tannins are soft along with the creamy coffee flavor. Very intense in flavor, missing out on balance. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

88| CARM 2005 Quinta do Coa (Douro)
Initially austere, with strong mineral character, this opens up the tannins and firm structure. The fruit does show juicy freshness, but the tannins are the key here to a wine that needs 3-4 years aging. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

90| CARM 2006 Quinta do Coa (Douro)
A lively, fresh wine, whose wood aging has just enhanced the delicious fruit flavors of mango and pineapple. The acidity bounces up and down, vibrant and crisp. Considering its origin in one of the hottest regions of the Douro, this is impressive. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

89| CARM 2006 Branco Reserva (Douro)
Soft and ripe, spiced up by new wood, this is a big, rounded, shapely wine. Tropical fruits are here, along with pear skins and some creaminess. A great food wine. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

91| CARM 2005 Reserva (Douro)
A fine, ripe wine, very elegant, with its red plum and berry fruits rounded out with smooth wood flavors. The tannins, obviously here, are in a supporting role to this delicious fruit. And the aftertaste is lon g, rounded and soft. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

93| CARM 2004 Quinta do Coa Reserva Red Wine (Douro)
From vineyards in one of the most remote regions of the Douro, this wine speaks of rugged vineyards that give an austerity and structure to what is a dense power. The black fruits are almost impenetrable at this nate. Give is five years at least, probably ten. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

86| Castello d’Alba 2005 Colheita (Douro)
A mineral, dry wine, relatively light but still packing plenty of firm red fruits, solid tannins and a dry core. It could age for 2-3 years; with its fresh aftertaste, this is already a great food wine. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

91| CARM 2004 Grande Reserva (Douro)
Possibly draws too much attention to its densely packed and almost impenetrable black fruits. Its fine tannins, light herbal and bright red berries are a good counterpoint. Give it four years maybe more. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

90| Dona Maria 2004 Red Wine (Alentejano)
The wine is named after a courtesan who received the quinta in Estremoz from King Joao V. but it is anything but flighty. The blend, which includes Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, gives hugely dense fruit, with pleasurable freshness over the black jam and herbal flavors. The balance is there in the fresh, refreshing aftertaste. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

89| Dona Maria 2004 Amantis (Alentejano)
This rare blend of Cabernet, Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Touriga Nacional works surprisingly well, emphasizing tannic structure rather than fruit. The acidity of the Cab is what keeps it from being heavy, while the dense color and herbal flavors shot its southern warmth and richness. Dried plums and fresh acidity to finish. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

87| Castello d’Alba 2005 Reserva (Douro)
Very dry, with tannins that coat the mouth, this is a wine that is on the lean side. Yes, the juicy berry fruits re here, as is the intense acidity, but there is also a green element which cuts through the wood and spice. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

88| Quinta da Alorna 2005 Red Wine (Ribatejano)
Still very young, so while there is structure, some dry tannins and hints of berry fruits, at the moment it is unfocused, needing several years. Expect then a wine that has elegance rather than power, and considerable structure. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

84| Burmester
This is too young to have the true taste of a vintage-dated Colheita. It is almost a young tawny, both in color and taste. As such, it is a pleasant wine, with good ripe, sweet fruits, sultanas. At the finish. The spirit is too dominant. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

87| Burmester NV
Soft and very smooth, performed with rosehips and black figs. There’s some burnt character, but more of the soft, sweet, treacly style of tawny. GrapeMoments, New Bedford, MA.

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