TN: 1968 D’Oliveiras Boal

[Eric Menchen]

(Bottled 2023, 94 g/l RS, 9.87 g/l TA.) Great clarity, ~20 SRM. Pleasant wood attic aroma, along with butter and caramel. Swirling gives some VA. Nice sugar flavor along with orange, gaining depth and thickness of body. This has a long finish with a hint of nuts mixing in with the acid. This is better than the 1980 Boal because of the body, but not as wonderful as the 1912 Verdelho. 94+ points.

[Eric Menchen]

Context matters. I had this with Luis D'Oliveira in a tasting of 24+ wines and it was good, 94+ points. Was it the greatest wine of the day? No. I brought a bottle home and opened it for my birthday. It was good then too, but I was caught up making a dish from Alinea and foie gras to pair with the wines. I enjoyed it, but I didn't fully appreciate it. Tonight I had friends over and we ate leftovers and I poured some of this wine.

It is awesome.

I'm not sure I would score it any better, but tonight I am just loving this. A 94+ wine tonight explains what the + is for, and tells me that a 94 point wine can be great too.