Quinta de Val da Figueira Vintage 2000

Quinta de Val da Figueira Vintage 2000

Clear very slightly oxidised dark ruby colour with a sweet and fruity nose. On tasting this port revealed an excellent balance between tannins, sweetness and fruit flavours. It was at a really good point as the various elements combined into a satisfyingly rich harmonious composition. Underneath the rich vintage character there were hints of fresh fruit and oak supplementing the predominant but balanced tannic and sweet characteristics.

Barros Colheita 2003 Bottled 2015

Barros Colheita 2003 Bottled 2015

2003 is shaping up as a pretty good year for vintage port. Now what is a good year for a
vintage is not always reflected in the colheitas for the same year so we thought it would be interesting to see what this one was like. It had a typical deep amber colour combined with a sweet oaky nose. The scent was reminiscent of a rich nutty fruit cake. Tasting revealed a rich and full bodied experience of oak astringency balanced with sweet dried fruit flavours. I usually find that, compared with a port of deliminated age, colheitas lack complexity but make up for it in their finesse. This was born out in this wine where the harmony between bitter wood flavours was so well matched by the sweet dried, almost plummy, fruit elements. This was an excellent representative of this style of port at just 12 years of age.

Fonseca Vintage 1985

Fonseca Vintage 1985

This port had a clear inky dark ruby colour. The appearance was matched with a moderately plummy and fruity nose which was still fresh after 30 years. Tasting revealed a pleasantly plummy and smooth port without a great deal of depth. The ageing had removed all the tannins to leave just a pleasantly fruity and sweet drink with a degree of spiciness that was reminiscent of a plum pie served with custard.

The lack of depth meant this was more akin to a typical single quinta vintage than a full bodied vintage from a really great harvest. However it was pleasant enough in its own right and in perfect condition for current drinking.

Quevedo 30 Year Old White Port

Quevedo 30 Year Old White Port

A golden brown colour was accompanied by a distinctly spicey and oakey nose. There was little sensation of fruit or sweetness in the taste as complex astringent oak and citrus flavours were very much in predominance. This made for a very special port experience that could only have developed in a wine made from white grapes; tawnies of this age usually have quite a significant body built on dried fruit flavours derived from the red berries. This is a port to be sipped and savoured at leisure to allow a full appreciation of its unique properties.

Quevedo Colheita 1996 Bottled in 2013

Quevedo Colheita 1996 Bottled in 2013

A deep brown colour was matched with a rich christmassy nose of dried fruits and mixed nuts. The taste was marked by contrasting flavours of sweet dried fruits and the bitterness of old oak. The counterbalance of the sweet and bitter elements was reminiscent of a good quality dark chocolate.

Quinta do Portal 29 Grapes

Quinta do Portal 29 Grapes

At a recent visit to Quinta do Portal I asked for a couple of bottles of 27 Grapes as it is a reserve ruby to which I am particularly partial. I was informed that they didn't sell 27 Grapes but they did have some 29 Grapes! So now it contains another two grape varieties.

There was a deep ruby colour with a rich grapey nose. It had a rich smooth fruity taste coupled with a warm, deep body and a hint of spice. This remains one of my favourite examples of this type of port.

Vista Alegra LBV 2009

Vista Alegra LBV 2009

Dark ruby colour with a fruity nose. This port has good body combined with fresh soft fruity flavours. There was a slight tannic sparkle in the background.