Graham's 20 Year Old Port Bottled In 2025

 Graham's 20 Year Old Port Bottled In 2025

This had a moderate tawny colour mixing amber with deeper brown elements. There was also a hint of residual redness. The nose was sweet and oaky. On tasting a full bodied port was revealed which was long lasting in mouth. The sweetness allowed a harmonious expression of citrus fruits, dried fruits, nuts and dry oak.

We recently tried the Graham's 30 year old at twice the price of this 20 year old. I can only conclude by saying that the 20 year old stacks up well so if you want a real treat bag yourself two bottles of 20 year old instead of one 30 year old. 

Warre's Otima Colheita 2013 Bottled In 2022

 Warre's Otima Colheita 2013 Bottled In 2022

Clear deep reddish brown colour with sweet oak on the nose. This port was sweet with subtle flavours of oak, citrus fruits, and dried fruits. It had the typical finesse of a colheita after only 9 years in oak so one wonders how the 2013 will come along over the years. It has enough sweetness to cope with a longer and larger contribution from the wood.

Dow's 1994 Vintage Port

 Dow's 1994 Vintage Port

Very deep ruby colour with fruit and spice on the nose. This was quite dry in character so spiciness was to the fore with just a hint of fruit. Personally not my favourite style of vintage port but that is subjective.

This was described as a "Library Release" meaning that it had been aged by the producer with great care and recorking as necessary. Having had some duff bottles of vintage port over the years I can see buying one of these means you're more likely to get something as the producer intended it to be compared with buying a bottle that has been goodness knows where. I do have some bottles of vintage port laid down that I bought soon after their release so I know where they have been. I also notice that the price per bottle doesn't change a lot over the years so, if I exhaust my stocks, I'll be looking for Library Releases for my current drinking.

Warre's Quinta da Cavadinha Vintage Port 2010

 Warre's Quinta da Cavadinha Vintage Port 2010

Deep ruby colour with a fruity nose. This port was rich with jammy fruit flavours and quite plummy in the mouth. It had quite a light character without the depth one usually finds in a Vintage Port. It is quite drinkable now after only 15 years of aging. 

Dow's Late Bottled Vintage 2020

Dow's Late Bottled Vintage 2020 

Deep red colour with a plummy nose. This was a rich and fruity port with a hint of softness. Fruit and spice flavour elements were pleasantly balanced. 

Morrison's The Best 10 Year Old Bottled In 2024

 Morrison's The Best 10 Year Old Bottled In 2024

Clear reddish brown colour with old citrus hints on the nose. Tasting revealed a rich and full bodied port. The taste was of cooked citrus fruits combined with a dry oakiness and a sweetness that brought the whole thing together. What surprised me was the lingering depth of this port because I wasn't expecting a supermarket offering to be this good. The price was £14 a bottle to holders of a Morrison's store card; I have tasted 10 year olds at twice this price that this could stand up against.

Cockburn's LBV 2019

 Cockburn's LBV 2019

Deep ruby colour with a lightly fruity nose. The initial taste was sweet and spicy then the plummy fruit flavours came in as the mouthful was swallowed. This left a lingering rich, peppery and fruity taste to enjoy between sips.