Multi: Impressions from a big Port tasting

[Otto Nieminen]

Ramos Pinto Quinta do Bom Retiro 20YO Tawny is lovely like always. Sweet, yet elegant and with nice acidity. Very complex.

Q. do Crasto LBV 2000 is nice for an LBV (usually a style I don't appreciate much): chocolate, some true complexity and full of the dark toned fruit I find in their VP. Unfiltered.

Q. do Crasto VP 2003 is deep and savoury yet sweet and dark. Nice!

Poças Tawny 10YO is pretty nice. It isn’t overly complex, but it does have a nice and lovable personality and seems older than 10YO – which is always nice.

Poças Colheita 1991 was pretty damn nice! It has all the orange notes I hope to smell and taste and has nice acidity and a general savoury character. Very nice and complex.

Poças VP 1996 was correct but unexciting. The finish was a bit short also. I’m happy to drink it though – correct port is correct!

Q. do Portal Moscatel do Douro Reserva 1996 is nice and savoury with true Moscatel character. It is sweet, but not as sweet as port, it is alcoholic but a couple degrees lower than Port. It is very moreish. I love it.

Q. do Portal VP 2003 is quite a monster, full of dark toned fruit yet it is also a savoury style – it isn’t all about the fruit and sugar. Vibrant and tannic with fair acidity makes this a Port I would love to get my hands on.

Pintas VP 2004 is a nice, darker toned Port with some herbal character and liquorice. Big and dark and sweet and very nice.

Quinta da Eira Velha VP 1995 was orange flavoured, reminding me more of a Colheita than a VP! It was still enjoyable, though uncomplex.

Warre’s Q. do Cavadinha VP 1995 is on the other hand a very nice Port, sweet yet gentlemanly, very proper but very lovable. Before, I wasn’t too enamoured with Warre’s, but I’ve begun to find that it really does suit my taste very much.

[Andy Velebil]

Otto,

Nice notes, Here are my thoughs on some of them.

Duas Quintas Reserva 2003 I agree this is a nice wine that is done in a more traditional method. It is about 2/3 Touriga Nacional 1/3 Baroca and a touch of Franca. Much better than all other RP wines I've had.

Quinta do Bom Retiro 20YO Tawny always a great 20 year tawny

Q do Crasto Douro Reserva 2004 Can't comment on the international style but I though this was decent, although still young, and gave it 90+ points. Granted this had just recently been bottled when I tried it.

Q. do Crasto LBV 2000 awe yes, a very good LBV, and I liked as much as the 2003 VP.

Q. do Crasto VP 2003 Although i enjoyed this, I think it will make a better mid-term ager (what do you think??)

CV 2004 this needs lots of decant (or cellar) time right now. but she is a beauty who is just sleeping at the moment.

Pocas Tawny 10YO This one I will disagree with, I do not like this and think it is a poor effort of their part (just my opinion )

Portal VP 2003 Ahh yes, don't listen to some reviewers on this one. If you can find some, buy...what a great VP
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