A month (or so) before Christmas and the Portuguese came to town for a minor tasting of Douro wines and their most well-known, and winter-ready wine, Port.
The majority of the wines were red, I think there was but one white in the whole place, and it wasn't all that impressive anyway ... but there were some very good Ports on the tables and some pretty decent red wines.
Alas the organization of the event was pretty shoddy - no booklet about the wines, or to even list the wines being poured, doors were 20 minutes lat in opening and there was a surprising/shocking lack of nibblies - the Port should have at least had some blue cheese to go with it. Good thing I found the best value LBV I've tasted in quite a while and that made this tasting so worthwhile.
The Table Wines of Note ...
 |
| Bulas 2009 Grande Reserve Touriga Nacional black cherry, plum, spice and good acidity for backbone *** 1/2+ |
 |
| Vila Regia 2012 Reserva, Douro spiced cherry and plum *** 1/2+ |
 |
| Quinta de Azinhate 2007 Reserva nice dark fruit, plum, cherry, mocha and silky tannins **** |
 |
| Prats & Symington 2011 Post Scriptum de Chryseia smooth and sexy - plum, blueberry, black cherry and chocolate; a real beauty and a must try wine ****+ |
 |
| Quinta do Portal 2008 Mural Red a mix of cherry and sour cherry with a hint of herbal and plum *** 1/2+ |
 |
| Quinta do Portal 2012 Colheita Tinto smooth and silky with mocha-coffee hints and blackberry and red plum **** |
 |
| Quinta dos Murcas 2011 Assobio Red nice, almost creamy, cassis, raspberry and cherry with elements of plum and chocolate (this is a special label to stop the dam of the Tua River "Salver o Tua") *** 1/2+ |
 |
| Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Old Tawny creamy cherry, hint of almond, smooth mid yet with good acidity **** |
 |
| Taylor Fladgate 2008 Late Bottled Vintage Port rich cherry, smooth yet with good acidityalong with plum and chocolate **** |
 |
| Taylor Fladgate 2009 Late Bottled Vintage Port richer, creamier, plummier with deep black cherry, a chocolate seam - pure hedonistic Port pleasure The best value LBV I've tasted in a long time ... **** 1/2+ |
 |
| Sandeman 2009 Late Bottled Vintage Port silky smooth cherry with a lovely length *** 1/2 |
 |
| Sandeman 2000 Vau Vintage ready to drink with nice sour and spiced cherry with notes of almond and hazelnut **** |
 |
| Bulas 2009 Vintage Port rich and juicy cherry/blackberry, plum, chocolate and well-balanced acidity **** |
 |
| Senhora do Convento Ruby light and flavourful with plenty of cherry, a Port for those just starting out with the style *** 1/2+ |
 |
| Senhora do Convento Tawny spearmint/menthol/slightly medicinal very young with decent acidity *** 1/2 |
 |
| Warre's Optima 10 Year Old Tawny cherry, plum, spice, plus a chocolate mid-palate **** |
 |
| Warre's Optima 10 Year Old Tawnyunctuous, cherry and spice with a lovely almond woodsy-cherry-caramel finish **** |
 |
| Quinta do Portal 1999 Vintage Port pepper-cherries, creamy smooth mouthfeel, good acid for balance **** |
No comments:
Post a Comment