1995 Quinta De La Rosa Vintage Port

[jon bricken]

4:30 Cork shows no sign of saturation and a fine layer of sediment accumlicates on the cheese cloth. The color is opaque purple and very thin legs appear as it is swirled in the glass. The nose shows muted plumbs, alcohol and smokey raisins. First sip has a weighty feel in the mouth with supple tannins and an extreme sweetness which is overpowering. The tannins are overwhelmed by the sweetness which coat the mouth The finish is a little short. I want a little more zip.

5:30 Same nice opaque color and most of the alcohol has blown off and the smell of plumbs has intensified. Less of an attack of sweetness and more fruit flavors. Seems like it is becoming more balanced as it airates. Finish needs more.

8:30 The color has become darker, almost inpenatrable. Nose full of plumbs and hints of chocolate and raisins. The legs are more pronounced and the smell of alcohol is gone. Still very sweet and hints of cherry-strawberries linger in the mouth. The wine could use more grip but it is nicly balanced but simple. It shows all the atributes of a very young port that I am not sure will ever mature into a very good port but is a nice drink if one does not think too much.

I wanted to thank Andy Velebil for his info about the producers and vintages which spured me to buy all of the available bottles. They were purchased at Post Wine and Liquors in Long Island NY. The 1995 were $19.25 ea and the 1996 (which I have not tried yet) were $16.99. At these prices a very good QPR and better than most LBV's which I have tried except the 2000 Presidental.

[Andy Velebil]

Jon,

You are welcome, glad to see that you got a great deal and are enjoying them.

BTW, If you don't have it already, I highly recommend the book by Richard Mayson, "Port and the Douro." It has a wealth of information about lots of producers, years, almost all things port, and is just a good guide that every port lover should get.