Quinta de la Rosa Val do Inferno Vintage 1999
Clear deep ruby colour with a moderately plummy nose. On tasting it was apparent that this bottle was in peak condition. The fruit flavours were rich and jammy in character combined with a slight spiciness to pep things up. These elements melded together in a satisfyingly full taste with no hints of harshness. All traces of tannin have been removed by the ageing process. Having followed this wine for a few years it was a pleasure to find that the vision of its creators has been realised in the classic character that it had developed.
Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage 1974
The appearance was of a clear pale but deep ruby colour with a slight amber tinge. The nose was light with raw alcohol predominating. On tasting it became apparent that this did not have the deep richness of a classic vintage, which was not surprising considering that it didn't come from one of the classic years. Instead there was a pleasant balance between the moderate degree of sweetness and the warming bite of the alcohol accompanied by a tinge of lemon. There wasn't the slightest hint of any harshness, just a good balance of grape sugar and fortifying spirit. Although towards the end of its drinking life it was interesting to find out what a good experience could be obtained from a light vintage port after long ageing. It was different and unlikely to be reproduced by any other means.
