This tasting of primarily 1994 Vintage Ports was organized by Eric Menchen. Wines were tasted blind, and average scores are listed at the end.
- 2008 Agri-Roncão Douro DR White Colheita - Portugal, Douro (5/26/2023)
Bottled in 2021. Amber-golden color. Beautiful nose of honey and caramel. On the palate, there is honey, grilled pineapple, and dried nuts. The acidity is superb in this wine, making it refreshing, while it still retains fantastic structure and richness. It has a very long, balanced finish. (94 pts.) - 1960 Fonseca Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/26/2023)
Light amber in color. Notes of plum, ripe red fruits, and a touch of spice on the nose. Extremely rich flavor profile with Christmas spices and great acidity. Very long finish with just a touch of spirit. (93 pts.)
- 1994 Quinta do Vesuvio Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Dark Ruby in color with some bricking. Black current and some light herbal notes on the nose. Rich entry with cranberry and good acidity. There are some nice, fresh-crushed blueberries on the mid-palate, and a lush, long finish. (93 pts.) - 1994 Smith Woodhouse Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Dark amber in color with light magenta on the edge. Christmas spice with just a touch of alcohol on the nose. Bing cherry on the entry with a nice balance. Good sweetness with good structure through the nice, long finish. (94 pts.) - 1994 Churchill/Graham Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Light amber with a medium ruby edge. Shy nose. I was able to coax out some subtle spice and dried red fruits. The palate has an underlying richness that is pleasant, although there is noticeable tartness and some pronounced tannins on the end of the palette. The tannins carry through the long finish. (91 pts.) - 1994 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage Quinta de Vargellas - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Dark ruby color with light garnet on the edge. A little mustiness on the nose with dusty red fruit and a touch of cocoa powder. Medium-bodied with a touch of tannins on the medium-long finish. This is a smooth wine with just a touch of heat on the finish. (90 pts.)
- 1994 Dow Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Ruby in color. Chocolate and some wonderful dried fruit notes on the nose. Interesting rich profile on the palate with ripe blackberry and blueberry. Great structure and balanced tannins. Good acidity on the finish. The tannins need to settle down a little bit on this wine, but otherwise, this is a fantastic wine. (95 pts.) - 1994 Smith Woodhouse Porto Late Bottled Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Dark Ruby in color with light magenta on the edge. Dark fruits on t the nose, with some light herbal notes. Freshly crushed blackberries and blueberries on the palate. Well balanced and super young. Long finish. (93 pts.) - 1994 Heitz Cellar Vintage Port - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/27/2023)
Dark Ruby in color. Boysenberry and cranberry on the nose. On the palate, there isn't a lot of complexity - mostly monolithic dark fruit and some unusual fruit notes. Tasted blind, I immediately wondered if it was even Portuguese. While not unpleasant to drink, there is something missing here. (88 pts.) - 1994 Quinta do Crasto Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Dark Ruby in color. There are some slight hints of pool chlorine on the nose with some subtle dark fruit. Tart cranberry on the palate with some chocolate and some coarse, unrefined tannins. Medium-long finish. (90 pts.)
- 1994 Martinez Gassiot & Co. Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Medium purple in color. Floral notes and cassis, and red fruits on the nose. Nice entry with some primary blackberry and black plum on the palate. Great structure, with well-balanced tannins and acidity. Long finish with some dark fruits and chocolate notes arriving late. (94 pts.) - 1994 Romariz Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Medium purple-amber in color. Light woody and herbal notes on the nose, backed by a nice red fruit profile and some light spirit. On the palate, there are lemon and tart red fruits. It is full-bodied with a touch of bitterness on the finish. (91 pts.) - 1994 J.W. Burmester Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Spectacular nose on this wine - vanilla, oak, cranberry, and black cherry. The palate is well-structured, with the tannins, acidity, and sweetness all playing nicely together. Pomegranate, black currant, and dried fig on the palate. Nice long finish. There's a little bit of bitterness on the tail end of the palate. (93 pts.) - 1994 Fonseca Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Dark ruby in color. Rich nose of dark fruit with boysenberry, blackberry, and dried herbs. There are intense tannins on the entry, with boysenberry, black cherry, and just a hint of spice. The concentration is impressive, although this particular bottle could have used more decant time or more time in the bottle. There is still a significant aging upside. (94 pts.) - 1994 Warre Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Dark, extracted purple-ruby in color. anise, black licorice, plum, and some light herbal notes on the nose. Rich palate with lush boysenberry, cocoa powder, and plum. Elegant and approachable wine with smooth tannins on the long finish. (93 pts.) - 1994 Graham Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Purple-magenta in color. Expressive nose of violets, spices, lush dark fruits, and fennel. The palate is well-balanced with mocha, raspberry, and spices. Spices and cassis arrive late on the very long finish. Well-balanced with good acidity. (93 pts.) - 1994 Delaforce Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Medium-dark ruby in color. Pleasant cocoa powder, red fruits, pomegranate, and light spirit on the nose. The spirit also shows up on the palate, along with raspberry jam and cassis. The finish has noticeable acidity and there is still that touch of spirit. (91 pts.) - 1994 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Medium garnet in color with some bricking. Aromas of red currant, mocha, huckleberry, and black licorice. Full-bodied, with boysenberry, lingonberry, and some chalky tannins. The first sips come across as an easy-to-drink Port, but the acidity seems just slightly out of balance. With more air, this is showing more and more like an off bottle. NR (flawed)
- 1974 Vinhos Oscar Quevedo Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Bottled in 2020. Orange-amber in color with pale yellow on the edges. Dried fruit, nuts, and salted caramel on the nose. Intense entry with noticeable acidity. Lime, saline, caramel, and orange spices on the palate. There is just a bit of bitterness on the end of the mid-palate. Long finish with noticeable acidity. (93 pts.) - NV Casa de Sta. Eufemia Porto 40 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Bottled in 2019. Dark amber with a tinge of brown and yellow-green on the edge. Lime, vinagrinho, and sweet toffee on the nose. Massive rich flavor profile with lime, crème brulee, and cocoa powder. The mid-palate and long finish show off a ton of citrus, good acidity, and nice complexity. Extremely long finish. (93 pts.) - NV Quinta de Brunheda Porto 40 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Bottled in 2021. Amber-brown in color with a hint of yellow on the edge. Some light woody notes with vanilla, caramel, and smokey notes on the nose. There is molasses, dried figs, chocolate, and dates on the palate. Smooth flavor profile with a very long finish. (94 pts.) - 1957 Kopke Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Bottled in 2017. Clear amber-orange in color. Cocoa powder, espresso, caramel, and dried fruit on the nose. Noticeable acidity on the palate with vanilla, caramel, and baking spices. It has a very long finish, with bright acidity. (93 pts.)
- 1969 Vallegre Porto Colheita Vista Alegre - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Bottled in 2022. Brown-amber in the center with orange-yellow on the edges. There are some light woody notes on this with maybe a touch of VA. It has a very rich mouthfeel, although there is some bitterness and acidity on the palate. Even though I have had better showings of this wine, it is still a remarkable, beautiful Port. (94 pts.) - NV Agri-Roncão Porto DR - L70 - Portugal, Douro, Porto (5/27/2023)
Bottled in 2018. Sweet nose of confectioner sugar, caramel, and some light woody notes. Incredible rich flavor profile with beautiful sweetness, complexity, and balance. Waves of flavor crash through the mid-palate with salted caramel, molasses, toffee, espresso, and butterscotch. Rich caramel and honey on the long finish. (97 pts.)
94.25 - 1994 Vesuvio
94.14 - 1994 Dow
93.86 - 1994 Smith Woodhouse LBV
93.75 - 1994 Smith Woodhouse
93.00 - 1994 Martinez
92.43 - 1994 Romariz
92.43 - 1994 Fonseca
91.83 - 1994 Crasto
91.57 - 1994 Warre
91.14 - 1994 Taylor Vargellas
90.86 - 1994 Graham's
90.00 - 1994 Heitz
89.6 - 1994 Burmester
89.5 - 1994 Delaforce
89.16 - 1994 Churchills
00.00 - 1994 Noval
Overall Ranking of Tawnies:
96.38 - 1969 Vista Colheita
95.00 - Brunheda 40 YO
94.62 - DR L70
94.43 - 1974 Quevedo Colheita
94.43 - 1957 Kopke Colheita
91.71 - Eufemia 40 YO