Event: FTLOP TASTING WEEKEND - AUGUST 2017
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2020 9:01 am
FTLOP TASTING WEEKEND - AUGUST 2017 - Sammamish, Washington (8/29/2017-8/31/2017)
August 29, 2017
August 29, 2017
- 2015 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (8/29/2017)
Dark fruit on the nose with some subtle floral notes underneath. Tart blueberry with bright acidity. Black plum and dark fruit on the very long finish. (93 pts.) - 2015 Alves de Sousa Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (8/29/2017)
Crushed blueberry on the nose. Bing cherry, honey and a touch of clove on the approach. Full-bodied, with pronounced tannins on the very long finish. (92 pts.) - 2015 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage Vargellas - Portugal, Douro, Porto (8/29/2017)
Cassis and a touch of violet on the nose. Cranberry and boysenberry on the approach with aggressive tannins on the mid-palate. Full-bodied with a long finish. (94 pts.) - 2015 Fonseca Porto Guimaraens Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (8/29/2017)
Slightly subdued nose with a touch of spirit. Raspberry and red fruit on the approach with pronounced, but well-balanced tannins on the mid-palate. Very long finish. (92 pts.) - 2015 Niepoort Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (8/29/2017)
Subdues nose of red fruit. Cola and red fruit on the palate. Medium-long finish with barely noticeable tannins. (90 pts.) - 2015 Dalva Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (8/29/2017)
Mocha notes on the nose with underlying dark fruit and spirit. Red fruit with well-structured tannins on the mid-palate and a very long finish. (93 pts.) - NV S. Leonardo Porto 60 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (8/29/2017)
Cola and toasted coconut on the nose. Unctuous with vanilla, pralines and burnt sugar on the palate. Great acidity and very long finish. (94 pts.)
- 2015 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (8/31/2017)
Re-tasting this bottle two days after opening. Dark fruit, blueberry and boysenberry and a touch of cocoa on the nose. Medium-full bodied with dusty tannins and a long finish. (93 pts.) - 2015 Alves de Sousa Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (8/31/2017)
Re-tasting this bottle two days after opening. Dark fruit on the nose with a slightly funky note underneath. Blueberry with big tannins that roll through the mid-palate and expand after the swallow. Very long finish with pronounced tannins. (93 pts.) - 2015 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage Vargellas - Portugal, Douro, Porto (8/31/2017)
Re-tasting this bottle two days after opening. Cassis and blue fruits on the nose. The fruit has receded a little in face of the tannins, but they seem to be playing together more mildly that when I tasted this bottle two night ago. Great structure on the long finish. (94 pts.) - 2015 Fonseca Porto Guimaraens Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (8/31/2017)
Re-tasting this bottle two days after opening. Dark fruit with some subtle chocolate notes on the nose. Purity of grape on the approach with pronounced tannins and red fruit on the palate. Very long finish. (93 pts.) - 2015 Niepoort Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (8/31/2017)
Re-tasting this bottle two days after opening. Touch of spirit on the austere, tight nose. A hint of Grape Nehi with pronounced tannins on the mid-palate. Pleasant drinking with a medium-long finish. (91 pts.) - 2015 Dalva Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (8/31/2017)
Re-tasting this bottle two days after opening. Red fruit on the nose. Good, balanced structure with mocha notes on a very full-bodied mid-palate. Massive fruit on the very long finish. (93 pts.) - 2015 Vieira de Sousa Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (8/31/2017)
Nose reminiscent of a Washington State Syrah. Some mocha, green pepper and a touch of creosote on the nose. Chalky tannins overwhelm the cranberry and red fruit on the mid-palate. Very long finish with a touch of spice. I suspect that this suffered from re-fermentation in the bottle, which can occur when a wine is bottled before it is stable and the yeast cells re-ferment the remaining sugar in the bottle. (90 pts.) - NV Rare Wine Company (Henriques & Henriques) Madeira Imperial Malmsey Old Reserve - Portugal, Madeira (8/31/2017)
Produced by Henriques & Henriques and bottled in 2008. Cedar, mahogany, and caramel on the nose. Vanilla and caramel on the palate with great acidity and balance. Long, well-balanced finish. (95 pts.) - NV Rare Wine Co. (Vinhos Barbeito) Madeira Porto Moniz Malvasia Special Reserve - Portugal, Madeira (8/31/2017)
Bottled in 2011. Meyer lemon with some notes of pancetta. Surprisingly balanced, which I didn’t expect given the piercing acidity and playful nose. Subtle lemon notes on the long finish. (93 pts.)