NV DR 20 Year Old Tawny Port (Quinta da Levandeira de Roncão)
Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2020 2:18 pm
The DR 20 Year Old Tawny Port has been my mid-week, go-to drink during the cooler months for the last couple of years. Whilst the wine reviewed here, bottled in 2018, did not meet the prevailing standard, this product invariably offers most agreeable imbibing at a price less than most any other twenty-year-old tawny.
In the glass, the port was light amber in colour; that, and its translucency reminded me of the 1960 Burmester and Ferreira vintage ports which I have consumed over the last several months. And like these vintages, the nose on the DR tawny was understated though no less pleasant for this fact: orange peel, lilac blossoms, brown sugar and a hint of leather together tickled the olfactory nerve. The palate was likewise gentle, albeit to the point of distraction as one fought to identify particular sensations, at least for the purpose of preparing this tasting note. I could discern only simple syrup at the start, though further effort suggested notes of linden tea and the mildest of spice. The latter became more prominent, though not unpleasantly so, at the mid-palate, where it came together with a touch of orange peel. The long finish compensated for the thinness of the palate, running as it did to the stomach lining – without a hint of burn – and then back to the tongue, where it flowered quite magnificently. This bottle's moderate acidity complemented well its modest sweetness level.
Typically, this wine touches upon the 91-point level and, on a good night, a point higher still. As it was on this occasion:
-89 points
In the glass, the port was light amber in colour; that, and its translucency reminded me of the 1960 Burmester and Ferreira vintage ports which I have consumed over the last several months. And like these vintages, the nose on the DR tawny was understated though no less pleasant for this fact: orange peel, lilac blossoms, brown sugar and a hint of leather together tickled the olfactory nerve. The palate was likewise gentle, albeit to the point of distraction as one fought to identify particular sensations, at least for the purpose of preparing this tasting note. I could discern only simple syrup at the start, though further effort suggested notes of linden tea and the mildest of spice. The latter became more prominent, though not unpleasantly so, at the mid-palate, where it came together with a touch of orange peel. The long finish compensated for the thinness of the palate, running as it did to the stomach lining – without a hint of burn – and then back to the tongue, where it flowered quite magnificently. This bottle's moderate acidity complemented well its modest sweetness level.
Typically, this wine touches upon the 91-point level and, on a good night, a point higher still. As it was on this occasion:
-89 points
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