Adnams of Southwold Reserve Ruby Port

Adnams of Southwold Reserve Ruby Port

Deep ruby colour with a rich and spicy nose. Although young, this port was rich and full bodied with spicy flavours predominating. These were supported by a satisfyingly soft undercurrent of plummy fruits with just the right amount of fresh tannins. All round this was a good example of a reserve ruby considering how it managed to combine fresh fruity flavours with an elegant and rich spiciness. Adnams have done will to track this one down for their own label offering.

Porto Messias Tawny

Porto Messias Tawny

Well here we were in Toulouse and we just couldn't help ourselves but, on the other hand, the meal just didn't feel complete without a glass of port at the end. Interestingly enough, in this French restaurant it was listed as an aperitif. While we were drinking our ports there was a terrific thunderstorm so we were able to linger over our glasses until the rain eased up.

The port was dark and predominantly red in colour with a fresh and fruity nose. The taste was quite unrefined with young berry flavours predominating and undeveloped tannins very much in evidence. There was little evidence of any oak influence but then what can you expect at €3 a glass.

Vista Alegre Coheita 2000 Bottled 2013

Vista Alegre Colheita 2000 Bottled 2013

It is always interesting to see how a colheita develops with subsequent bottlings. This port had a bright clear amber colour with a rich nose redolent with the scent of dried fruits, which was significantly more developed that at our first encounter. The flavour was rich and warming with a subtle sweetness tempered by the astringent oak elements. This was followed by a long after taste marked by a satisfyingly smooth caramel experience.

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.