The wines of Pintas/Wine&Soul, Douro

New Douro 2004 tasting
The wines of Pintas/Wine&Soul

Wine&Soul, Venida Júlio de Freitas, 6 Vale de Mendiz, 5085-101 Pinhão, Portugal
Tel: +351 936 161408
E-mail: pintas.douro@mail.telepac.pt

UK agent: Corney & Barrow (www.corneyandbarrow.com)

Jorge Borges and Sandra Tavares are the dream team behind new Douro cult wine Pintas. While Jorge was winemaker at Niepoort and Sandra was doing the honours at Vale Dona Maria, they decided to make wine together. Jorge has subsequently left Niepoort’s employ. They have a small old vine vineyard facing south in Vale de Mendiz, and the wines are made in an old winery they acquired with the help of Niepoort in time for the 2001 vintage. The key here is rigorous fruit selection and careful winemaking, resulting in rich, modern, stylish wines. In 2003 they made a vintage Port for the first time (it’s great) and in 2004 their first white, a blend of traditional Douro varieties, was produced.

Pintas 2004
Concentrated, ripe nose with smooth, pure, liqueur-like dark fruits and a hint of chocolate. Sweet but still focused, with great definition and purity. The palate is supremely pure with modern sweet, supple dark fruits, well integrated oak and some structure. A fresh, polished fruit-driven wine. Very good/excellent 94/100

Guru 2004
The first vintage of the white Pintas. From a 44 year old vineyard, this is a blend of Viosinho, Códega, Rabigato and Gouveio. Fine, refined perfumed fruity nose with lemony notes and subtle oak. The palate is fresh and clean with lovely fresh fruit and a nice creamy oak influence. Very refined. Very good/excellent 92/100

Guru 2005
Smooth, ripe, lemony nose is elegant. It’s rich but not overdone. Great concentration of clean, crisp fruit on the palate with well judged oak. A stylish white wine. Very good/excellent 92/100