Restaurante Ponte Romanica House Port

Restaurante Ponte Romanica House Port

The waiter told us their adega was underneath the restaurant. This port was a deep rich brown colour and had a rich tawny style nose. The taste was deliciously thick and tary almost like cough mixture, being a sweet combination of fruit, wood and phenolics.

Quinta de la Rosa Vintage 2009

Quinta de la Rosa Vintage 2009

Deep purple and red colour with an intensely fruity nose. This was rich and fruity with lots of fresh tannins to the fore.

Vista Alegre Colheita 1995

Vista Alegre Colheita 1995

This had a deep brown colour whilst the nose was reminiscent of the smells that eminate from the kitchen whilst a rich fruit cake is cooking. This port was rich, sweet and complex. The old fruits flavours were there but so was a clear woody component whose astringency balanced out the sweetness of the sugars. All in all this was a smooth and enjoyable product.

Vista Alegre Colheita 1996

Vista Alegre Colheita 1996

Deep brown colour with rich dried fruits on the nose. This was sweet and rich with striking oak flavours combining with the sweetness of the dried fruits.

Vista Alegre Colheita 1997

Vista Alegre Colheita 1997

Rich brown colour with a pleasant butterscotch nose. This was sweet and rich combining dried fruits with a good oak background.

Vista Alegre Colheita 1998

Vista Alegre Colheita 1998

Well oxidised brown colour with butterscotch on the nose. There was good combination of sweet dried fruits and oak.

Vista Alegre Fine Ruby

Vista Alegre Fine Ruby

Rich ruby colour with a fruity nose. This was a good quality and approachable ruby holding rich fruit flavours and softness in harmonious combination.

Vista Alegre LBV 2003

Vista Alegre LBV 2003

Good plummy red colour with a sweet grapey nose. This had a well balanced combination of sweet fruit grape flavours and rich depth.

Vista Alegre Dry White

Vista Alegre Dry White

Pale yellow colour with a light floral nose. This was a good example of a dry white. Like most "dry" white ports is was more off dry with a noticeable level of residual sweetness. However it was dry enough to prevent the fruit flavours from being over predominant.

Mixed with two parts tonic, ice and a slice of lemon it makes a great refreshing summer cocktail.

Vista Alegre Fine White

Vista Alegre Fine White

Pale yellow with a sweet honey nose. The taste was fresh and grapey without being overly sweet.

Quinta Nova de Nosa Senhora do Carno LBV 2004

Quinta Nova de Nosa Senhora do Carno LBV 2004

Rich red colour with a fruity nose. This was a full bodied and fruity port combining a satisfying depth with a sweet fruitiness.

Quinta de la Rosa Lagare Port

Quinta de la Rosa Lagare Port

This was provided whilst we were working hard in the lagare. Perhaps it was straight from the barrel. It was a cloud reddish brown with old fruits in a plummy nose. Perhaps it was the environment but it came across as quite delicious sucessfully balancing rich dried fruit flavours with a substantial oak astringency.

Barros White

Barros White

Pale yellow colour with a light honey nose. This was a typical medium sweet white port with a sweet honey lightness complementing fresh grape flavours.

São Pedro das Águias Tawny 10 Year Old

São Pedro das Águias Tawny 10 Year Old

There was a well oxidised brown colour with a hint of redness. The nose was rich and redolent with old dried fruits. The flavour was a rich, warming and intense marriage of sweet dried fruits tempered with a complex oakey astringency.

São Pedro das Águias White

São Pedro das Águias White

This was served well chilled. It had a bright golden colour with a grapey honey nose. The taste was rich, smooth and grapey. The style was medium sweet allowing the berry flavours to come through. There was noticeable depth as well.

Dom Pablo Ruby

Dom Pablo Ruby

I had this as a digestive in a restaurant so there are no guarantees as to its authenticity. It had a deep rich ruby colour with a light nose. It was very acceptable being rich and warming. The impression was more of a young tawny than a ruby as the sweet fruit flavours were leaning towards dried fruits rather than young berries. In addition there was a hint of oakiness.