2003 Quinta do Crasto Vintage Port

[Otto Nieminen]

Quinta do Craso Vintage Port 2003

A rather sugary and confected nose - more so than I remember in my previous tastes. Where previous tastes had lots of black fruit and berry tones, this was more blue toned and floral - rather like Fonsecas tend to be in my experience. The palate was burly and a bit too extracted. I usually prefer Ports on the drier end of the scale (à la Dow), but I don't mind the opulently sweet styles of such producers as Graham's. But, unfortunately, this bottle was not only opulently sweet but was confected! This didn't taste of fruit sweetness, but just of plain sugar.

Very different from my previous experiences of the bottle (which were sweet but not confected). I hope that the bottle was just not showing well, rather than that the wine has evolved in this direction since I last tasted it about half a year ago. This bottle was enjoyable in small amounts but was not at all as pleasant as the others I've tried.

-Otto-