1997 Delaforce Quinta da Corte Vintage Port

[Andy Velebil]

Decanted 8 hours. It has been almost exactly 12 years since I've last had this, so time to check in on it. The color is a very dark ruby still with some bricking now showing on the edges. On the nose and palate the fruit is very tight. Youthful red plums still dominate. The tannins are rather light and fading with moderate acidity underneath the fruit. This lacks a good amount of complexity, but I'm not sure if this is in a weird phase at the moment like many of this time frame are. Finish is rather straight forward, but has moderate length. Right now I'm around 88 points, but if this is in a phase and it comes out of it has potential for much more. I'll reserve final judgement for a few years to see where this goes (I've more bottles to check in on over time).
88(++) Points

As a side this isn't listed as "Quinta da Corte" on the label, even though all TN's state that. It's listed at Delaforce Corte. Not sure why.

[Claus P]

I think the obvious answer would be that they are using a small amount of grapes that isn't from the quinta.

[Andy Velebil]

I think the obvious answer would be that they are using a small amount of grapes that isn't from the quinta.

More than a small amount. As legally one can use a small percentage of grapes from more than one Quinta and still call it a SQVP.

[Mike J. W.]

Thanks for the tasting note Andy. Perhaps I'll give my bottles a few more years and then try one.