1994 Offley Boa Vista Vintage Port

[Mike J. W.]

Disclaimer: I like Offley Boa Vista Vintage Ports. They're a lower tier producer, but I've always enjoyed them ever since I had my first one (1985 VP) at a tasting that John M. held. I believe it was my WOTN.

10 hour decant. The color in the glass is medium, dark purple. Held above the light it shows some brownish, prune juice color. It has the slightest rose tinged rim. I'd say about 85% opacity. It was pretty dark. It's one of the darker 94's that I've had so far. I think only the Taylor's and Smith Woodhouse have been darker. The sheeting on the sides of the glass are uniform when you swirl it until long, thin legs start to run down about 10 seconds later. The nose is medicinal yet rich. Some alcohol wafts up, but it's not over powering in the least. All in all, the aroma is heady. The mouthfeel is medium to thin, and it's warming with a fruit forward taste. I taste tart grapes and blueberries, with slight hints of cocoa powder & pepper. As I let it sit in the glass I later tasted hints of lemon and grapefruit. Some moderate tannins are present. The after taste is mediumish i.e. not long, but definitely not short either. This Port is fully integrated and ready to go. It's at its peak, but will easily last another 10 years at this plateau. It's a nice, easy drinking Port and I'm happy that I have a few more bottles. I would score it at 92 points.

[Frederick Blais]

Offley Boa Vista was also the first vintage that I bought, 2nd that I tasted, it was the 1982 circa 1998 and loved it!

I'm not sure when was the last Offley Boa Vista Vintage 2011 maybe? I think now the quinta belongs to Sogevinius, let's see what they do with it. Most of the vines were replanted from the previous owner Lima and Smith.