1995 Warre's LBV Port -- Bottle Matured Unfiltered

[*sweetstuff]

TN: Warre's 1995 Late Bottled Vintage Bottle Matured, Unfiltered--Bottled 1999;$30/750 ml; 20 pabv. Kroger; Troy, OH. Lot L 51669. Symington Family Estates, bottler; Imported by Vineyard Brands, Inc; American Canyon, CA.

Compare this with Andy V's note of a couple days ago: [ http://www.fortheloveofport.com/ftlopfo ... php?t=1854 ]

Very inky and dense black-purple. Not much yet visible in the way of crust.

Warn brick or earth-toned; perhaps slightly volatile or alcoholic. Typical Warre's cherry, cherry stone, and violet nose, with what I'd call a hard, shiny surface to it. A slight hint of shoe polish confirms the possibility of a tad of volatility here. Some cardamom and perhaps nutmeg berry are also noted.

There's a good bit of leather here with the red fruit, accompanied by a very light dose of fine tannin, and a persistent finish. The profile here doesn't change much over three days except for a bit of integration.

Is it just my imagination, or are these hard surfaces accompanied by a somehat earthy or hard-spice emphasis quite typical of this vintage? This is a bit exotic for a Warre's LBV, but none the worse for that; I'd call it one of the best in the recent series up to this point. 91/100.

[Roy Hersh]

John,

Thanks for your impressions of the Warre's Port and I am wondering why all of a sudden the 1995s are coming up for sale. Very interesting that both of you bought these recently.

[Andy Velebil]

John,

good notes. Glad you were able to fill in the holes in my sparse account.

[Andy Velebil]

John,

...I am wondering why all of a sudden the 1995s are coming up for sale. Very interesting that both of you bought these recently.

These are a relatively easy find around my area. I pick up a few here and there when I can get them for a decent price. Luckily retailers put them on sale from time to time, as they don't seem to be big seller.

[Kris Henderson]

This is one of my favorite LBV's. My local grocery store sells these for about $26 + tax. I should probably pick up several more bottles before they run out. Another very good LBV I've recently tasted is the 1998 Ramos Pinto. At about $6 less than the Warre's it's an excellent QPR.

[Jay Powers]

At my local BevMo, these sell for ~$26US. Every time I go there to pick up some Young's Chocolate Stout I end up leaving with a bottle. Whatever marketing plan Warre's has with these is working for me. But I to wonder "why now"?

Jay