2005 Quarles Harris LBV

[Jeremy E]

Hello. Still struggling with my TNs, but appreciate the feedback so far. So, I'll take a stab at another until I either improve or get kicked off.

As I mentioned on another TN, my local Trader Joe's is carrying 2005 Quarles Harris LBV for $12.99. I had their 10 year tawny, which I wasn't crazy about, but I figured it was worth the risk at this price. For the record, here are the Ports I've had that I remember enough to rank in order from favorite to least.

1963 Romariz Colheita
1996 Burmester Colheita
2003 Taylor LBV
Romariz Reserva Latina
Quinta de Ventozelo 10 Year Tawny
2005 Offley LBV
Fonseca Bin 27
Graham Six Grapes
Quarles Harris 10 Year Tawny
Dow's 2004 LBV (likely a bad bottle)
Sandeman Founder's Reserve

2005 QH LBV, T-stop, bottled in 2010. Pop n pour, at about 55F or so. Had it with multi-berry pie and vanilla ice cream. The nose wasn't bad, just really nothing. My wife said "Smells like the Beaujolais we just had." Grapey-ness and some mild alcohol. Very dark, like a Welch's grape juice color. Mouth feel was full...picked up some cherry pie, but mainly just grapeyness, with a slight burn at the end.

Tried it 3 days later, originally by itself. Grapey flavor dominates. Very little heat, no burn at the end. Sweetness was there, but really nothing coming out. Tried it with figs--wrong pairing--some kind of fruit clash that I'm not sophisticated enough to understand. Thought it might be good with some kind of pastry. Only thing I had in the house that was close was a Kellogg's Pop Tart (hey, it's all I had. ) Complemented it, but didn't make for a more interesting Port.

I would say it was fine, but really nothing special. With certain desserts, I can see this being a nice complement, but that's about it. I definitely liked the Taylor and Offley LBVs more, along with some of the Reserves like Bin 27 and Six Grapes. All of those were a tad more...but probably worth it. I would say 80 points and put probably right around the QH 10 year tawny on my list above.

[Roy Hersh]

Thanks Jeremy. It is not every day that we get to see ANY tasting notes on a Quarles Harris Port, no less a LBV. Your practice is working. Watch out for those Pop Tarts.

[Jeremy E]

Thanks, Roy. And welcome back. I enjoyed reading your trip blog. I hope I can join the group some year (though my schoolteacher wife can't get time off during the school year, and I suspect she'd not be thrilled about me enjoying so much Port solo).

Still tons of the Quarles Harris LBV and 10 year tawny at several Trader Joe's in the DC area. But I recently tried the Warre's Warrior and really found it to be a great quality:price ratio.

Still haven't made it to Arrowine yet, but will soon.

[Roy Hersh]

Don't forget Wide World of Wine! They used to have some great quantities of Port back in the day.