2001 Warre's LBV Port

[Glenn E.]

I found this at my local grocery store and thought I'd give it a try despite the relatively high price ($27 for a 750 ml bottle).

2001 Warre LBV
bottled in 2005, unfiltered

Color: Very deep, very rich red with some purple overtones. Very dense, and opaque in the center.
Nose: Fruity, rich, and almost thick. It smells like it's going to be chewy in the mouth. Lots of purple brambles and a hint of dried meat (beef jerky?). Almost no alcohol, but it can be found if you try hard enough.
Palate: Medium dry overall, but the entry is medium sweet. Full and almost heavy. Very good tannins and good acidity. This could use another 10 years of aging - the structure is that good. The bramble berries taste a little more red than they smell, but are still very present. There's also a slight bitter note that changes to green and stem-like in the finish.
Finish: Grippy and bitter to start, but that mellows. Dry mouth feel as is typical of a Warre or Dow. A few purple brambles, but they're nearly overpowered by the green stem-like note that lingers. I think this Port is just too young, or requires more than just a couple of hours of decanting.

Score: 89 points. It opened up a bit after a couple of hours in the glass and should continue to improve through 24 hours, but the improvement hasn't been enough to warrant changing the score. It's on par with my standard reference point, the 1999 Quinta de Roriz Vintage Port, which is pretty good for an LBV.

[Glenn E.]

It did indeed continue to improve overnight and is now a great way to pass the time in the dark sitting by the fireplace without power.

I'd recommend an extra long decant for this... 12-14 hours for sure. 24 hasn't hurt it a bit.

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