May / June / July 2025 - 10YO Tawny Virtual Tasting

[Al B.]

With the recent increase in price we've seen for the 20YO tawnies, I now wonder whether the sweet spot for QPR, which I used to feel was with the 20YOs, has now moved to the 10YOs.

I also have the opinion that 10YO tawnies have really improved in quality in the last couple of years.

Is anyone interested in doing a 10YO virtual tasting in April / May / June 2025? Ideally of bottles filled in the last 2-3 years. I'd be really interested to hear what people think of whatever they can get hold of.

Post here if you're interested. If there's enough interest, I'll change the title and we can capture tasting notes and thoughts in this thread.

[Mike J. W.]

I'd be game for this, Alex. I don't have many 10 year-olds at all because I've never found them interesting for the most part. I'm sure I can find a bottle though in the state stores in PA, or possibly NJ.

[Moses Botbol]

I usually go for the Maynards or Noval 10.

[Glenn E.]

I also have the opinion that 10YO tawnies have really improved in quality in the last couple of years.

I am of the same opinion. When I first got into Port (which was a mere 20-ish years ago) I didn't like 10 Year Olds. They were confused, seemly neither tawny nor ruby. Only rarely would I bother drinking one, and I basically never bought them.

Even 20 Year Olds didn't see that tawny to me, back then, but they were the point where "tawny" was the predominant flavor and any remaining ruby notes were pretty secondary and red. Plus they were inexpensive, with the Sandeman usually just $40 out here in Seattle. That was a great deal!

Now, though... a 10YO almost feels as tawny as a 20YO did all those years ago. Not quite, but they're getting close. Prices are quite good, too, with most of them being in the $35 to $40 range.

I still don't buy any, but I'm happy to drink one now. I'd get one in order to join a virtual tasting, too!

[John M.]

Oh---I would 100% be in. Could we make, or blend in, a zoom call?? Don't want more than 6 on a call IMHO (Better conversation and cohesion)---but we could do blocks of 6 (that would alleviate scheduling issues as there could be various times).

I may have one or two 10s---but so easy to find.

[Mike J. W.]

Oh---I would 100% be in. Could we make, or blend in, a zoom call?? Don't want more than 6 on a call IMHO (Better conversation and cohesion)---but we could do blocks of 6 (that would alleviate scheduling issues as there could be various times).

I may have one or two 10s---but so easy to find.

John,

We had 11 or 12 people on the Virtual Tasting that Neil on the other forum ran last Thursday and the call ran smoothly.

[Frederick Blais]

I can participate.

I'm not sure I'd agree on the overall quality getting better over the last 20 years. Definitively the selection got broader as small quintas got involve more. IMO Taylor's has been the most consistent and reliable if you like what they do while Noval is the definitive winner in terms of quality improvement.

[Andy Velebil]

I can participate.

[Eric Menchen]

Just checked and I only ordered 20+ of the Enólogo, but I might be able to find a 10 here somewhere.

[Al B.]

Apologies everyone, I got distracted and a month passed by.

There's enough interest to make this worth doing - thank you everyone.

Given the time difference between me and most people who posted, if anyone wants to organise a Zoom call, please do. It makes sense for someone US based to be the organiser of a call and I will participate if I can.

In the meantime, I declare the virtual tasting to be OPEN!

Between now and the end of July, open a bottle of 10YO Tawny (or more than one) and post a tasting note on this thread.

[Mike J. W.]

I have a Martha's 10 year-old Tawny that I'm anxious to try. Hopefully later this week.

[Glenn E.]

S. Leonardo 10 Year Old Tawny Port, bottled 2019

An earlier bottling was what put Quinta do Mourao over the top to win the Mourao vs DR head-to-head that we did in 2018 or 2019. DR won at 30 and 40, Mourao won at 20, but the deciding factor was that Mourao won overwhelmingly at 10.

But that was a while ago, and this is a new blend. Does it still hold up?

Color: medium tawny, slightly muted, with very little red. Maybe some copper? Also some light burnt umber. The rim is clear but does have some faint greening. This looks like at least a 20 Year Old, if not a lighter colored 30 Year Old.

Nose: light caramel, some vanilla, and shortbread cookies. There's something fruity about it - dried fruits - but I can't identify them. Some sweet lemon. Also some very faint, sweet, lime-y turpentine. Despite noting both lemon and lime, it is not vinagrinho.

Palate: as Chris Tucker would say... PHAT! Full body, luscious texture. Generically tawny in a good way - this is tawny Port, not some confused hybrid like a 10YO of yore, even just 10 years ago. It is very pleasant, but there's not a lot of character to it. Good sugar but only decent acidity which leaves it a bit flabby. There's also a bitter note which seems out of character, so this bottle may have a minor fault of some kind. It's akin to bottle stink, but a taste rather than a smell.

Score: assuming it isn't faulted, I'd give this 88 points. But I suspect that there's something wrong here and that it should be closer to 91. I'll finish this glass, and if you offered to refill I'd probably accept, but I doubt I'd go looking for the bottle myself.

[Mike J. W.]

Martha's 10 y.o. Tawny

Color: Burnt Orange with the slightest tinge of Red, Rim: None, Meniscus: Barely There Thin, Weight (Viscosity): Medium, Nose: Butterscotch, Light hint of Charcoal, Oak, Oranges, Slightly Spirity, Sous bois, Taste: Hints of Caramel, Leather, Lime, Ever so faint taste of Maraschino Cherries on the back-end, Oranges, Pepper, Tangy, Light touch of Vanilla on the finish, Acidity: Medium, Mid-palate, Late, Tannins: Light and well integrated, Late, Sweetness Level: Little, Early, Mid-palate, Finish: Long, Smooth but with an Acidic Bite on the bank-end, Other Notes: Driven cork, Bottled 2023, IVDP seal on the lower back of the bottle, Decanted for 5 hours, Long, thin tears on the side of the glass, Smoother on the second day. Better than most Top Producers' 10 year-olds and it could give some Producers 20 year-olds a run for their money.

This was a nice surprise for a relatively unknown Producer. I've heard of Martha's but had never tried any of their Ports. I ran into this bottle at a store in the Ironbound section of Newark. The Ironbound is heavily Portuguese so there are some nice locations for buying Port. You can find some real deals there like this Martha's 10 y.o. It was just under $24 which is good for a 10 y.o. these days...at least in my neck of the woods.

Surprisingly, this had a Burnt Orange color with just the slightest tinge of red. I would have expected this to be much more red than orange. The nose was pleasant with a mix of Butterscotch, Oranges, a touch of Charcoal and a few other smells. It seemed like every time I took a sniff the aromas would mix and change. The same went for the taste. At different points I was tasting Oranges, Pepper, Lime, Leather and Caramel among others. I even caught a taste of Maraschino Cherries on the back-end of the finish.

This 10 year-old wasn't overly sweet although the sweetness did improves over the several days that I drank this. The same could be said for the score., as the first day it probably would have earned a score of 88 points, but by the last day it was a solid 91 points. This had a nice, long finish that was smooth although it did have a nice, acidic bite to it as well. All in all, a very nice 10 year-old. If you see any at a good price, buy one and see what you think.

[Al B.]

I have Quinta do Vale Meão 10 Year Old in my glass tonight while watching the Eurovision Song Contest. (Yes, I have voted for Portugal — our very cruel Portuguese teacher made us listen to the song, transcribe it and then translate it so I feel I had to.)

Bottled in 2024, this is a very poised blend, full bodied with good depth. Round and rich, the main flavours are of caramel and golden syrup. There is a little dried fruit, mainly maraschino cherry and candied citrus peel. Good finish, a little toffee and red apple. Very much on the sweeter side of the category, with just about enough acidity to keep the balance. Rather nice, but there are other 10YOs I prefer. 87/100.