Event: FTLOP 17TH ANNIVERSARY

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Stewart T.
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Event: FTLOP 17TH ANNIVERSARY

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FTLOP 17TH ANNIVERSARY - Seattle, Washington (11/18/2022-11/20/2022)

The FTLOP 17th Anniversary Tasting was help over the course of two days at Surrell restaurant in Seattle's Madison Valley neighborhood.
  • 2018 Sandeman Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/18/2022)
    Completely opaque in color. Aromas of dark berries, boysenberry, violets, and dried nuts. Very pleasant, elegant approach with noticeable sweetness through the mid-palate. There are also some primary grapey notes. The tannins start off soft and refined but start to ramp up on the mid-palette. The palate along with some grapey notes. This is a slurpee and a pretty atypical Vintage Port for Sandman wine. Ridiculously approachable. (96 pts.)
  • NV Agri-Roncão DR - 20 Year Old White Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/18/2022)
    Bottled in 2021. Golden yellow in color. Aromas of honey and caramel. The palate has amazing caramel, vanilla, and honeysuckle nectar notes. Great acidity and a very long finish. (94 pts.)
  • NV Porto Morgado Porto 10 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/18/2022)
    There are light aromas of chocolate and red fruit. The palate has a simple flavor profile of red fruit, cinnamon, and a touch of alcohol. The tannins are medium, and overall, it shows as a sweeter style wine with a medium finish. (88 pts.)
  • NV Kirkland Signature Porto 10 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/18/2022)
    Ruby-amber in color. There are red fruits, cranberry, red currant, and a touch of spirit on the nose. The entry has a slightly cloying sweetness, but that gives way on the mid-palate to some peasant, rich notes of spices and red fruits. Long finish with well-balanced tannins. (87 pts.)
  • 1980 Dow Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/18/2022)
    Dark, almost completely opaque. The nose has wonderful, complex notes of blackberry, black plum, and chocolate. On the palate, there is a fantastic structure, with black licorice, anise, and cocoa powder. The tannins are well-structured as well on the long, beautiful finish. (95 pts.)
  • 1994 Quinta do Vesuvio Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/18/2022)
    Almost opaque in color. Expressive nose of chocolate, violets, blueberry, and cassis. Full-bodied and well-balanced, the palate has milk chocolate and luscious blueberry notes. The amazing structure carries the complexity and richness through the very long finish. (96 pts.)
  • 1980 Gould Campbell Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/18/2022)
    Dark amber brown in color. There are espresso and tiramisu notes on the nose, as well as some light spirit. Great balance and acidity that dives across the palate. Some medium-dark fruit notes of black cherry and black plum on the palate. Medium body that goes from medium sweetness to a bit of dryness on the extremely long finish. (93 pts.)
  • 1991 Warre Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/18/2022)
    Amber-purple in color. Nose of blueberry, bramble fruits, mint, mushroom, herbs. Rich mouthfeel with a touch of acidity. Great cassis and dark fruit notes on the palate, with firm tannins. Very long finish with cassis, Bramble fruits, and chocolate. (93 pts.)
  • 1970 Vinhos Borges Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/19/2022)
    Brown-amber in color. Christmas spice on the nose. Rich, velvety mouthfeel with cinnamon and a touch of spirit. Good balance, with just a hint of tiredness. There are some interesting notes on the mid-palate of candied dates. Medium body, medium sweetness. There is still decent acidity. Spice notes return on the finish (93 pts.)
  • 1970 Dalva Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/19/2022)
    Medium brown-amber in color. Citrus aromas of candied lemon and lemon yogurt. Not much acidity on the entry. The palate is marred by a touch of sourness here that takes away from the overall quality of this wine. This presents like a drier style of Port. (89 pts.)
  • 1970 Ferreira Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/19/2022)
    Dark ruby-amber in color. Aromas of light spirit and red fruits with cranberry and red currants. Rich, full-bodied palate with cinnamon red hots, pleasant spices, and warmth. Very good balance with a warm, long finish. Good depth and complexity. (92 pts.)
  • 1970 Sandeman Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/19/2022)
    This bottle was corked. NR (flawed)
  • 1970 Warre Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/19/2022)
    Medium amber-tawny in color. Interesting aromas of English peas or fresh snow peas. Something is wrong with this bottle. NR (flawed)
  • 1970 Smith Woodhouse Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/19/2022)
    Rich garnet in color. Light aromas of red fruit and spirit and cinnamon. Strawberry and some cola with nice richness on the palate. Some nice warmth. Good balance and acidity with a really long finish. (94 pts.)
  • 1970 Graham Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/19/2022)
    Medium garnet with tinges of purple. Dark fruits, cola, chocolate, and a touch of spirit on the nose. Amazing richness on the palate with an exceptional balance between the acidity and sweetness. There was one spike of cloying sweetness at the end of the mid-palate, but otherwise, this was a round, balanced, and beautiful wine. (96 pts.)
  • 1970 Dow Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/19/2022)
    Medium ruby in color with some bricking. Aromas of strawberry and cinnamon. Medium-sweet palate with red fruit, currants, and strawberry. Very lovely acidity. Knifes-edge balance and an excellent long finish. (95 pts.)
  • 1970 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/19/2022)
    Medium ruby in color. Red fruit and some spirit on the nose. Cranberry and red fruit on the palate with some nice acidity and good balance. Rich mouthfeel and very nice notes of chocolate and red fruit on the finish. (93 pts.)
  • 1970 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/19/2022)
    Dark ruby in color. Some light woody notes and primary fruit on the nose. Fantastic structure. Layers of flavors and complexity on the palate – strawberry, cherry, chocolate, and savory herbs. Young, fresh, and amazingly balanced for something so old. This is one of the best bottles of this wine I've had in a while. (97 pts.)
  • 1970 Fonseca Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/19/2022)
    Medium purple in color. Aromas of SweetTart candy and chocolate. Holy ****. The entry is velvety smooth and luscious with black cherry, black plum, and some cassis dominating the rich waves of flavors. The structure and balance of this wine are off the charts, and the finish goes on for minutes. (98 pts.)
  • 1964 Niepoort Porto Garrafeira - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/20/2022)
    Bottled in 1971. Decanted 1978. Cloudy orange-brown in color. Smoky nose with creosote, roasted chestnuts, some cinnamon, and woody notes on the nose. There's a richness in the mouthfeel but the sweetness and balance are way off. The bottle just feels tired and may just be an off bottle of this wine. NR (flawed)
  • 1966 Porto Rocha Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/20/2022)
    Bottled in 2007. Dark mahogany brown in color with some orange and yellow around the edges. Maple bar and pralines on the nose. Massive chocolate and vanilla, saline, torrefaction sugars, bright acidity, and lime zest on the palate. Long finish with bright acidity. Maple and pralines. (93 pts.)
  • 1966 Krohn Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/20/2022)
    Bottled in 2007. Dark brown with tan and orange at the edges. Light mahogany, cocoa powder, and some vinagrinho on the nose. Smooth flavor profile with mouth-coating richness. Warm notes of toffee, orange peel, and some very light notes of oxidation. Nice long finish. (94 pts.)
  • 1966 Kopke Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/20/2022)
    Bottled in 2022. Nice ruby-brown in color. Chocolate, light spice, and a touch of resin on the fresh nose. Light strawberry and bright acidity on the palate. Noticeable tannins on the long finish. (94 pts.)
  • NV Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Golden Age 50 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/20/2022)
    Bottled in 2022. Amber-tawny in color with yellow on the edges. Very nice nose of dried fruits, mint, and caramel. Very rich flavor profile with amazing balance and notes of caramel, orange spices, and noticeable sweetness. Very long, balanced finish. (94 pts.)
  • NV Vallegre Porto 50 Year Old Tawny Vista Alegre - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/20/2022)
    Bottled in 2022. Dark amber brown in color. Mocha powder, mahogany, molasses, and dry dates on the nose. Intense richness on the palate with dusty tannins, raisins, and burnt sugar notes. The structured tannins and fantastic acidity really ramp up the overall quality of this wine. (95 pts.)
  • 1969 Vallegre Porto Colheita Vista Alegre - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/20/2022)
    Bottled in 2022. Very dark brown amber in color. There are dusty molasses, mocha powder, and light spirit notes on the nose. The beautifully complex palate has rich waves of brown sugar, citrus, and dried fruits. The viscosity on the palate is thick and unctuous. Very long, complex, and extremely well-balanced finish. (97 pts.)
  • 1952 Barros Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/20/2022)
    Bottled in 2008. Cloudy, brown-yellow in color. The nose is a little reticent, but there are some gingerbread and lime notes there. There is a smooth flavor profile, but the flavors have largely slipped to more tertiary notes of fig and prune juice. I think this wine has likely been in the bottle for too long. (92 pts.)
  • 1937 Warre Porto Reserve Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/20/2022)
    Bottled in 1997. Despite the label, this is a Colheita Port aged in cask. Amber-brown in color. Christmas spice, red fruit, molasses, and mocha powder on the nose. A mélange of cola, rich spices, Annis, and fennel on the palate, all backed by great acidity and balance. This is a smooth, lovely wine with a long finish. (95 pts.)
  • 1937 Porto Rocha Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/20/2022)
    Bottled in 2007. Light brown in color with yellow on the edges. Aromas of chocolate, vanilla, and some dried fruits. Warm chocolate and spices on the palate. Very nice acidity and balance with a long finish. (93 pts.)
  • 1937 Kopke Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (11/20/2022)
    Bottled in 2017. Slightly muted tawny in color. It has a lightly oxidized nose of wood, subtle orange spice, and caramel. The palate is smooth and everything about this wine seems well-integrated. Rich mouthfeel, velvety smooth texture, and beautifully long finish. (95 pts.)
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