Marks & Spencer LBV 2011

Marks & Spencers LBV 2011

My wife couldn't resist this magnum in her visit to Hedge End for the January sales last year. Now is the time to enjoy it in the company of my port loving family. The label indicates that Taylor's David Guimaraens was involved in the selection. Deep ruby colour with gloriously fruity nose. The flavour was full bodied rich and fruity with significant tanins moderating the sugars.

Kopke 10 Year Old

Kopke 10 Year Old

It's been eight years since I last had some of this so it is time to see if there have been any changes. Deep reddish amber colour with a distinguished nose of old wood and dark sugar. Oak flavours were very much to the fore in this full bodied and complex port. They were tempered by the sweet taste of dried fruits and orange peel. I have always been impressed by the robustness of Kopke's aged tawnies and this one certainly lives up to that reputation.

Barros 10 Year Old

Barros 10 Year Old

Well it's been ten years since I last tasted this one so let's see if anything has changed. Clear reddish amber in colour with fruit and dried peel on the nose. The taste was rich and smooth combining dried fruits and oak with notable citrus hints. It was the striking presence of orangey flavours that differed from the previous tasting. Overall they contribute to making this a fine port indeed.

Quevedo Colheita 1996 bottled in 2016

Quevedo Colheita 1996 bottled in 2016

The last Quevedo Colheita from 1996 that I tasted was bottled in 2013. This offering was very different in character which just goes to show what an interesting subject colheita ports make. The colour of this one was quite red but with a brownish tinge whilst the nose was surprisingly plummy. Rather than the dried fruits and oak that one might expect the predominant taste was of rich cooked plums tempered by a complex oakiness. I had this on taste alongside a single quinta 1997 vintage at a show; it was surprising how similar the fruit flavours in this colheita were to those in the vintage. Altogether this made for an intriguing and enjoyable port.

Poças Pink

Poças Pink

This port had a deep red colour halfway between claret and dark cherry. The nose was not striking but hinted at cherries. Similar to the nose on tasting a somewhat characterless wine was revealed. There were hints of richness and fruit flavours but nothing really stood out.

Niepoort Colheita 2005 Bottled In 2017

Niepoort Colheita 2005 Bottled In 2017

Deep reddish amber colour with a light plummy nose. This port had fruit flavours very much to the fore suggesting that a significant part of the ageing had been done in large vessels. However the sweet fruit elements were pleasantly balanced by more than a hint of dry oak giving a pleasantly balanced and elegant effect.

Quevedo LBV 2012

Quevedo LBV 2012

Deep but bright ruby colour with a fresh and fruity nose. Tasting revealed a port which exhibited great balance and depth. The sweet grapey fruit flavours were balanced with just the right amount of tanin so that there was a pleasing harmony between the sweet and bitter elements. The fruit was fresh in character but the body was so full that this only enhanced the overall effect.