For The Love Of Port

Hello. Still trying to write a half-way decent tasting note, as this is only #3 for me.

As I posted in my second TN, I got what I assume was a bad bottle of 2004 Dow's LBV. Went back and they said I could exchange or get something new. (Thanks for the suggestions on to do that. ) Thinking the other Dow LBVs came from the same batch as my previous purchase, I decided to get something new. Not sure what the new Dow's would have tasted like, but I can't say I regret the decision.

Bottled in 2009, appears to be unfiltered, since it had a driven cork. I was surprised by this (not having read the other TNs on the Offley LBV until tonight), since I did not see anywhere on the label that it was unfiltered. Had it with friends on Saturday night for dessert--served around 60F, no decant. Perhaps because of that, the nose was really...dry. I would have thought I was smelling table wine, a Pinot Noir, or possibly even something drier. Did not have what I think of as a "port" nose, but still pleasant. Could pick up blackcurrants, but that was about it. Dark purple/red. Not the darkest LBV I've seen, but close. Pleasant, soft mouthfeel, not much "burn", and a lot of fruit on the finish, but not sweet. I wouldn't call this super complex, based on my one tasting, but definitely enjoyable. Since it was unfiltered, I get the sense it might benefit from a couple more years in the bottle, as it had a bit of a "new" quality to it, but that's just my uninformed guess. I would give it an 86 (still trying to get a consistent numbering scheme). Here's my rankings of ports I've tried thus far and remember enough to rate.

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

Had a great 20 year tawny later that evening . Fortunately, I have enough memory and half the bottle left to do a tasting note for that one in a few days or so.

You're doing fine on writing tasting notes, keep up the good work. Was this bottle consumed that evening or was some left for the next day? Just curious if this changed at all if you got to try it again a day or two later.

Thanks, gents. I have to confess I left the bottle with our friends, but I took the 20 year Presidential tawny home with us, which I will have to a tasting note for soon (I'm trying over several different days--I think after a few days it may be starting to get off notes). I'll have to ask my friend if he and his wife finished off the Offley.

I keep getting tempted to buy the $13 Quarles Harris 2005 LBV each time I'm at Trader Joe's. I read the reviews on the 2004 vintage previously posted on , and it makes me think it's worth a shot at that price. Had their 10 year tawny and wasn't crazy about it, however.

Jeremy E wrote:I keep getting tempted to buy the $13 Quarles Harris 2005 LBV each time I'm at Trader Joe's.

Trader Joe's has the '05 QH LBV for $13??? I know where I'm going this afternoon!

At that price, Jeremy, it's easily worth the "risk" for one bottle. 2005 was a pretty darn good year and probably could have been generally declared, but wasn't declared in part because it followed so closely after 2000 and 2003. QH is a 2nd tier label, but they have a very solid reputation and I wouldn't be at all worried about trying one of their Ports.

Now I just have to hope that my local Trader Joe's has the same inventory that yours does!

Agree with Glenn. At that price, buy a half a case!

Thanks for the info on the 2005. I'll have to pick it up the QH next time I'm by. Been slowed down with a stomach bug the last week, so I haven't had any chances to taste anything in a couple weeks, but I can always keep a bottle around for a month or two if I can't get around to it right away.

Obviously, don't know what the TJ's on the west coast are carrying at the moment, but I've seen it at multiple stores in the DC area the last few months.