For The Love Of Port

Bottled in 2018 and consumed on 09 July 2019, without decanting, this white port offered a very pleasing amber hue with a green rim. The nose, whilst not terribly complex, was suggestive of caramelised sugar with hints of prune, honey and a scent redolent of peat or perhaps moss-covered bark. So far, so good. On the palate, it started well enough, with molasses notes and the aforementioned caramelised sugar. However, the wheels dropped off without warning at the mid palate, which was almost bereft of flavour of any sort save, perhaps, that of spring water. From there, the wine staggered home slowly, and pleasantly enough, offering by way of a finish a mix of pepper and spices which was almost biting. Your correspondent would have preferred a touch more acidity in the wine, as is his wont, though this 30 Year Old could not be accused of lacking balance.

The bottle was purchased at the quinta and consumed following a tasting earlier in the day of 1970, 1975 and 1981 white colheitas drawn directly from the barrels, along with a pair of superb red colheitas (reviewed elsewhere on FTLOP). The white colheitas, whilst each very pleasant in certain respects, evidenced to varying degrees the same mid-palate hollowness as the 30 Year Old reviewed here. In the event, your correspondent failed miserably in neglecting to ask which of these wines, if any, went into the blend.

88 Points

The work may be hard but I think we’re gonna have to send you back for a more detailed report. LOL

Thanks for the tasting note! Sorry it wasn't spectacular.