2004 Meandro Do Vale Meão ($19) Quinta do Vale Meão was long a grape source for Barca-Velha, the first renowned dry Douro red. Proprietor Francisco "Vito" Olazabal began producing his own wines in 1999, aided by son and winemaker Francisco, among them this boysenberry-rich red.
2006 Crasto ($20) Quinta do Crasto produces a range of good wines. One of the most appealing also happens to be the most affordable—this lively, mulberry-inflected red.
2005 Post Scriptum ($24) As the second wine from the joint Symington-Prats project, Post Scriptum is generally more approachable on release than its big brother, Chryseia; the 2005 is full of focused dark cherry and subtle vanilla notes.
2004 Redoma ($28) This old-vine red from Dirk Niepoort, former enfant terrible of the Douro region (he's not quite so enfant anymore), has velvety tannins and potent blackberry fruit, with a citrusy edge of acidity.
2004 Cedro do Noval ($30) One of two new table wines from port producer Quinta do Noval, this blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca has oaky spice in the scent, and lush dark berry flavors.
2004 Quinta do Vale D. Maria ($35) Cristiano van Zeller established this estate in 1996; the property had been in his wife's family since the 1800s. The graceful 2004 reveals aromas of black cherries, pepper and floral esteva, the Portuguese term for rockrose.
2004 Pintas ($80) One of the best of the new Douro reds, this elegant yet powerful wine shows intense wild berry fruit with minty, herbal notes in the aroma; it's a blend of many different local grape varieties from a vineyard planted 70 years ago.
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