1997 Osborne Vintage Port

Mike Kerr · Post by **Mike Kerr** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:02 pm

These are one of the cheaper VP's that Total Wine has in northern Virginia, so at $29, I picked up a bottle to try. It's been sitting for two days on the counter, and I popped it open about 30 minutes ago and decanted through a wire mesh filter. Hopefully it improves over night...

Colour of strawberry jam, relatively light for a VP but hazy. This seems to be common with Osbornes (very similar in colour to what I observed in my Osborne '85 TN). Nose has lots of alcohol on it, masking much else, but fruit is coming through. A little chippy in acidity, the alcohol seems to be dumbing things down on the palate. I can catch some tart berries, though not the usual ones I get with a port. I taste grapefruit, kiwis and odd tropical fruits that to me are a little tart..blackberries and such, but again, the alcohol is masking some of this. This is very tart compared to other VP's I've tried. If I were to sum up, I'd say acidic and hot. The finish is nice and long though, but aside from being warming, it doesn't offer much else. 8/20

Mike.

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 1:35 am

Mike,

The tasting note that you wrote - was that written after the wine had stood overnight or straight after decanting?

Thanks,

Alex

Mike Kerr · Post by **Mike Kerr** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 9:13 am

Hey Alex, it was right after decanting.

Here's my note from this morning after 12 hours...

More opaque, a deep ruby red, more like a VP. Most, of the alcohol has blown away from the nose revealing black fruits mingled with licorice. I believe there's a faint hint of cardboard and perhaps some tea as well. Acidity is still a little strong, though the sweetness and flavour are coming through to try and balance it out. It was a little thin last night but seems to have gained some body overnight, as well as some more zest on the palate. Same fruits as last night are showing through, just more pronounced, however it seems spicier. Finish is not as long, not exactly complex, but still long and spicy. A definite improvement! Not sure I'd buy some more or not. 14/20

Mike.

Mike Kerr · Post by **Mike Kerr** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 9:31 pm

After 24 hours:

Dark cherry colour now. Attractive. Figs on the nose with red berries and licorice. Tea scents and some chocolate trying to peek through the leftover alcohol. Seems to have become a little more balanced. Acidity has given way to a more intense start to the finish. Mouthfeel is fairly juicy until the finish. Red berries and chocolate predominate the palate with virtually no hint of earthy fruits which I usually attribute to wines that have been breathing this long, but the berries are still on the tart side. Not entirely unpleasant, but different and unexpected. Finish begins bold and spicy, then disappears for several seconds, returning to linger for a minute or two, fading out as a pleasant warmth. Enough tannin here to suggest this wine has another ten years or so, but I'm hardly an expert. 14.5/20

While I scored this higher, it's only really because the acidity wasn't as bad. In 12 hours this wine will be on the downturn, so I think it actually works against my desire to buy much more of this. I may buy one more just for comparison, but there are other QPRs.

Mike.

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 7:06 am

Mike,

Interesting notes. I thought the comparison and contrast between the different ages of the wine was useful to see.

Thanks for posting all three sets of notes.

Alex

Evangelos M. · Post by **Evangelos M.** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:50 am

I 2nd the opinion on this VP. I got it for $20 so I thought of it as an excellent bargain for a '97 VP. Overall it's good, lots of fruit and good depth, I think it could use some more cellaring. It was a tad bit hot even after 48 hours.

I think I'll go and buy a few more at $20 a pop.