The 2016 For the Love Of Port Harvest Tour (PHT) marked the 10th Anniversary of my first trip to Portugal's Douro Valley. While I've visited so many properties, tried so many wines, and developed many friendships in the Douro and the Port wine trade over the years, I still marvel at how there is something new to discover every time I go.
I've captured the TNs from each visit/event as a "flight." I typically don't write TNs for table wines consumed at lunch or dinner, unless they are of note.
Burmester Tasting Room - Vila Nova de Gaia
Before meeting up with the other PHT2 participants, I stopped by the Burmester Tasting Room in Vila Nova da Gaia.
- 2003 Kopke Porto White Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/18/2016)
Golden straw in color. Honeysuckle and some tropical fruit on the nose. Peach and apricot on the palate. A nice touch of spice underneath on the well-balanced finish. (93 pts.) - 2011 J.W. Burmester Porto Late Bottled Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/18/2016)
Bottled 2016. Medium purple in color with lightening on the edges. Floral with a touch of vegetative notes on the nose. Intense mouthfeel and flavor of grape hard candies. Long finish. Needs some time to integrate but could be an interesting LBV. (89 pts.) - NV Cálem Porto 20 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/18/2016)
Bottled in 2016. Orange-brown in color. Good clarity. Cedar and orange peel on the nose. Very unctuous mouthfeel. Caramel and orange spice on the palate. Good acidity and a long finish. (91 pts.) - NV J.W. Burmester Porto 30 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/18/2016)
Bottled in 2016. Light amber in color. Crème Brule and orange marmalade and cedar on the nose. Lighter bodied. Orange spice tea on the palate. Waves of maple on the mid-palate. A touch of nuts on the finish. (88 pts.) - 1964 Barros Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/18/2016)
Bottled in 2016. Light amber brown in color. Herbs and spice on the nose. The entry appears like orange peel (bitterness) but resolves on the mid-palate into candied oranges (sweetness). Full-bodied and unctuous, with a clean floral profile and balanced acidity on the long finish. (93 pts.)
At the Cockburn Lodge, we tasted through a wide range of Cockburn's more recent wines, including the 2011 VP.
- NV Cockburn Porto Fine White Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/18/2016)
Very light straw in color. Light green apple and tropical notes. Tropical and light citrus on the palate. Medium-long finish with some slight spirit on the finish. This was a little sweeter in character that I was expecting, but a solid white. (88 pts.) - NV Cockburn Porto Special Reserve - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/18/2016)
Medium purple in color, with lightening on the very edges. Primary dark fruit on the nose with some underlying herbal notes. Massive tannins and body. Blueberry and mocha notes on the palate. (90 pts.) - 2009 Cockburn Porto Late Bottled Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/18/2016)
Dark, opaque purple in the center, with lightening on the very edges. Primary dark fruit on the nose with some underlying herbal notes. Massive tannins and body. Blueberry and mocha notes on the palate. (90 pts.) - 2003 Cockburn Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/18/2016)
Dark, opaque purple in color. Blueberry and some grape notes on the nose. Full-bodied with some anise and herbal notes. Long Finish. (90 pts.) - 2007 Cockburn Porto Vintage Quinta dos Canais - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/18/2016)
Impenetrable dark purple in color. Violets on the nose. Red fruits on the palate. Medium-full bodied. Good balance. Nice tannins on the finish. (92 pts.) - NV Cockburn Porto 10 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/18/2016)
Amber orange in color. Dark, clear appearance. Subtle cigar box and orange peel on the nose. Full-bodied, subtle orange and some light spirit. Slight nuttiness on the finish. Balanced, elegant wine. (91 pts.) - NV Cockburn Porto 20 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/18/2016)
Light amber-orange in color. Subtle dusty leather nose. Medium body. Some slight VA notes, but not a fault. Orange candies on the palate. (89 pts.) - 2011 Cockburn Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/18/2016)
Impenetrable purple. Dark fruit on the nose. Intense blueberry. Full-bodied on the palate but short finish. (91 pts.)
Our first official visit on the Port Harvest Tour, this property of producer Agri-Roncão is located in the Vinho Verde region of Portugal. Agri-Roncão isn't a well-known name, but produce a number of white wine from this property, and are better known for their DR Port brand, which is produced on their second property, Quinta da Levandeira do Roncão in the demarcated Douro Valley.
- 2015 Quinta de Linhares Arinto Vinho Verde - Portugal, Minho, Vinho Verde (9/18/2016)
Icewater in color. Peach and tropical fruits on the nose. Grapefruit on the palate. Crisp acidity, and unctuous sweetness on the palate. Medium body and fresh finish (91 pts.) - 2015 Quinta de Linhares Loureiro Vinho Verde - Portugal, Minho, Vinho Verde (9/18/2016)
Very light yellow in color. Tropical fruits on the nose. Intense pineapple and tropical fruit on the palate. Unctuous mouthfeel, with bright acidity on the long finish. (90 pts.) - 2015 Quinta de Linhares Avesso Vinho Verde - Portugal, Minho, Vinho Verde (9/18/2016)
Pale, clear yellow in color. Clean, subtle nose. Full-bodied. Lemon notes and buttery texture on the palate. A touch of salinity as well. Crisp, well-balanced acidity and medium-long finish. (92 pts.) - 2015 Quinta de Linhares Azal Vinho Verde - Portugal, Minho, Vinho Verde (9/18/2016)
Very clear, light yellow in color. Citrus with hints of lime on the nose. Crisp acidity and lime on the palate. Very bright acidity. (90 pts.) - 2015 Quinta de Linhares Colheita Selecionada - Portugal, Minho, Vinho Verde (9/18/2016)
Pale yellow in color. Made from Trajadura, Loureiro and Avesso grapes. Citrus notes with some floral components on the nose. Unctuous, full mouthfeel with hints of honeysuckle and tropical fruit on the palate. (93 pts.) - 2015 Quinta de Linhares Vinho Verde Rosé - Portugal, Minho, Vinho Verde (9/18/2016)
Salmon pink in color. Light red fruit notes on the nose with some floral notes underneath. Balanced sugar and acidity with a full body. Hints of strawberry on the long finish. (90 pts.) - 2013 Quinta de Linhares Avesso Vinho Verde Reserva - Portugal, Minho, Vinho Verde (9/18/2016)
This wine has been aged 1.5 years in neutral oak barrels. It will be released in a few months. Pale yellow in color. Banana and cream on the nose. Full-bodied, with a creamy texture. Tropical fruits on the palate. (92 pts.) - 2015 Quinta de Linhares Vinhão Vinho Verde Tinto Red - Portugal, Minho, Vinho Verde (9/18/2016)
Dark purple in color. This is a "food wine." Burnt note and graham crackers on the nose. Surprising acidity that dries the palate with each sip, but it has few tannins so that feeling doesn't stay. A palate-cleaning wine to drink between courses. Only people from Vinho Verde region apparently drink this. - NV Agri-Roncão Porto DR - 10 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/18/2016)
Subtle pine resin and spice on the nose. Fully bodied. Some spirit on the palate with some burnt sugar notes. Very long finish.
The Ferreira Lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia is a wonderful place to learn about the history of the Port wine trade. We were joined by Ligia Marques, Brand Ambassador for Sogrape Vinhos (who own Ferreira, Sandeman and Offley brands - among others), and tasted through a range of Ferreira Ports.
- NV Ferreira Porto Branco / White - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/19/2016)
Some alcohol/petrol on the nose. Honey in color with clearing on the edges. Noticeably sweet and some heat from the 19.5% alcohol. Apricot and peach notes on the palate. Long finish with balanced acidity and sugars. (88 pts.) - NV Ferreira Porto Dona Antonia Reserva Branco - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/19/2016)
While the minimum age required for this category of Ports is six-year, this one has over seven years of aging. Amber orange in color. It looks more like a tawny than a white Port. Clearing on the edges. Dusty notes of nuts and some orange on the nose. Light orange spice and some slight almond notes on the unctuous, full-bodied palate. Long finish. (92 pts.) - NV Ferreira Porto Dona Antónia Reserva - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/19/2016)
Ruby in color. Good clarity and mostly opaque. Some red fruit notes underneath some earthy characteristics. A surprising amount of red fruit remaining on the palate for the tawny Port. A little heat, with an unctuous midpalate and warm, long finish. (89 pts.) - NV Ferreira Porto Dona Antonia 10 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/19/2016)
Light amber in color. Some red fruit on the nose, with some spice/spirit. Full-bodied, with some residual red fruit on the finish. (88 pts.) - NV Ferreira Porto Duque de Bragança 20 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/19/2016)
Amber in color with orange on the edges. Orange spice notes with some classic nuts and elegance. Well-balanced acidity on the long finish. (93 pts.)
We then moved to the lodge of Sogrape's other major Port brand, Sandeman. Here, we were joined by our old friend George Sandeman for a tour of the museum (which houses some of the vintage Sandeman advertising posters from the, including the iconic "The Don" by George Massiot). We tasting through the 10-40 Year Old Tawnies, toured and barell-sampled in the cellar, and then each got to try our hand at blending Ports from three different vintage to match the wine created by Sogrape’s Chief WinemakerLuis Sottomayor (who oversaw our efforts and judged us on our success (or lack thereof).
We then headed to lunch with George at one of our regular haunts on the riverfront: Adega e Presuntaria Transmontana II.
- NV Sandeman Porto 10 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/19/2016)
Bottles in 2016. Clear amber in color. Light orange spice, with hints of toffee and a touch of spirit on the palate. Full-bodied with a long, slightly spirity finish. (90 pts.) - NV Sandeman Porto 20 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/19/2016)
This is a cask sample of a component that gets blended into the final version of the 20-year-old tawny. Dark brick in color. Complex nose, with some dusty red fruit. Raspberry and some slightly woody nose on the palate. A little bit of spirit on the finish. (91 pts.) - NV Sandeman Porto 20 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/19/2016)
Bottled in 2016. Clear, very light amber in color. Pralines and orange spice on the nose. Caramel and hints of orange on the palate. Well balanced with a long finish. (93 pts.) - NV Sandeman Porto 30 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/19/2016)
Bottled in 2016. The Sandeman 30 Year Old Tawny blend was updated in 1990. Very light amber in color. Dusty leather notes on the nose. Honey and a touch of orange marmalade underneath on the palate. (92 pts.) - NV Sandeman Porto Very Old Tawny Cask 33 Limited Edition - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/19/2016)
This was taken from one of forty casks and bottled as "Lot 33." This was a particularly good cask of the forty casks. This lot was used in the Sandeman 40 Year Old Tawny Port blend. Clear amber in color. Butterscotch and light caramel on the nose. Classic almond, orange spice, and nuts on the palate. Great acidity on the very long, clean finish. (93 pts.) - NV Sandeman Porto 40 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/19/2016)
Amber brown in color. Caramel, pralines and light orange peel on the palate. Great acidity and balance. Long finish with notes of orange spice. (94 pts.)
The Poças Lodge, we had the chance to tasting both Colheita tawny ports and several of their vintage Ports. We also got to sample from barrel their Quinado Port, which is a Port wine to which quinine has been added - a style originally introduced during wartime to help soldiers in the tropics ward off malaria. We were hosted by Pedro Poças Pintão, who is the Commerical Director at Poças.
- 2001 Poças Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/19/2016)
Bottled in 2016. Clear amber in color. Some spirit and cinnamon on the reluctant nose. Unctuous orange marmalade and some spirits on the palate. Bright acidity, with slight heat on the finish. (89 pts.) - 1992 Poças Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/19/2016)
Bottled in 20116. Light amber in color. Heat on the nose. Mahogany and some caramel notes on the nose. Concentrated maple and some spirit on the palate. Unctuous mouthfeel, with a very long finish. (90 pts.) - 1967 Poças Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/19/2016)
Bottled in 2016. Orange amber in color. Dusty leather and some spirit on the nose, with a touch of vanilla underneath. Balanced tannins and acidity. The touch of heat on the nose wasn't present on the palate. (91 pts.) - 1997 Poças Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/19/2016)
Mostly clear ruby in color. Some red fruit and some anise and slight vegetative notes on the nose. A little heat on the approach with grippy tannins on the mid-palate. Medium-long finish. (90 pts.) - 2007 Poças Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/19/2016)
Impenetrable dark purple in color. Some red fruits on the nose. Dusty tannins are immediately apparent on the approach. Tannins roll through the mid-palate into the finish, where some fruit reemerges right at the tail end of the finish. (92 pts.) - 2011 Poças Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/19/2016)
Dark, opaque purple in color. Violets and floral notes on the nose. Elegant approach with great tannins that start slow and really express themselves on the mid-palate. Extremely long finish. (94 pts.) - NV Poças Colheita Quinado - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/19/2016)
Over 30 Year Old. Vanilla nougat on the nose. Extremely intense mouthfeel with a vanilla bean. Bright acidity on the palate, and long, unctuous finish. (94 pts.)
It is always magical to return to this Quinta, with its history, beauty and outstanding wines. Fondly recall my first visit to Vesuvio in 2006, and tasting the 1994 Vesuvio Vintage Port. It ignited my curiosity and later passion for Port wines, and remains one of my all-time sentimental favorites. We were joined by our old friend Dominic Symington, Director at Symington Family Estates for a lovely afternoon tasting.
- 1991 Quinta do Vesuvio Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/20/2016)
From a very wet winter and hot summer. Semi-opaque. Slight cloudy. Amber in color. Eucalyptus on the nose with some floral notes. Austere fruit, with red notes and some spirit on the palate. (90 pts.) - 1994 Quinta do Vesuvio Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/20/2016)
Dark purple amber in color. Opaque middle with some lightening at the edges. Some tar and violets on the nose. Incredibly concentrated with an intense mouthfeel of black currants. Very long, unctuous finish with noticeable tannins and intensity. Will be in this shape for probably another 10 years, and will go much, much longer. (95 pts.) - 1996 Quinta do Vesuvio Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/20/2016)
Mostly opaque. Dark ruby-purple in color. Violets with some earthy spice on the nose. Expansive mouthfeel with blackberry and black cassis on the palate. Balanced tannins on the midpalate and very long finish. (94 pts.) - 2001 Quinta do Vesuvio Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/20/2016)
One of the wettest years they had in many years. The wine is in a shutdown phase right now. You have to work to get some aromatics. Elegant, but lacks the richness that I would expect from this VP. Clearly it is in its "dumb phase." (90 pts.) - 2003 Quinta do Vesuvio Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/20/2016)
Very hot year. Dark purple in color with clearing on the edges. Some light aromas of red fruit on the nose. Well-balanced fruit and tannins on the long, balanced finish. (92 pts.) - 2006 Quinta do Vesuvio Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/20/2016)
Impenetrable dark violet in color. Pine and black fruit notes on the nose. Extremely well-balanced, long finish. An outstanding wine with current drinkability and a long future ahead of it. (95 pts.) - 2009 Quinta do Vesuvio Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/20/2016)
Dark purple in color. Some red fruit notes (raspberry and strawberry) on the palate. Extremely balanced and drinkable now, with pleasant spirit, tannins and fruit. (91 pts.) - 2011 Quinta do Vesuvio Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/20/2016)
Impenetrable purple in color. Tight nose, with some mint peeking through the red fruit. Dried fruits, pronounced tannins on the palate. Very long finish with firm tannins. (92 pts.)
We ate dinner at The Vintage House Hotel, which is conveniently located right on the Douro River and right across from the Pinhão train station. The hotel is a lovely, classic gem in the heart of the Douro Valley. We tasted a number of wines with our dinner, but I've only included notes for the Ports that we tasted.
- NV Vasques de Carvalho Porto Special Reserve White - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/20/2016)
Golden amber in color. Fresh orange slices on a subdued (chilled) nose. Very unctuous with orange marmalade and some woody notes. 20 years old. Very unctuous mouthfeel and bright acidity on the very long finish. (93 pts.) - 2013 Vasques de Carvalho Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/20/2016)
Dark purple in color. Violets and black fruits on the nose. Intense red fruit on the palate. Intense tannins that recede nicely on the mid-palate and finish. (92 pts.) - NV Vasques de Carvalho Porto 40 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/20/2016)
Golden brown in color. Deep, dusty mahogany and cedar on the nose with some underlying vanilla. Unctuous, dusty notes with some orange peel and some caramel on the finish. (93 pts.)
While we visited their Vinho Verde property at the beginning of the trip, we were excited to visit Agri-Roncão's Quinta da Levandeira do Roncão in the Douro Valley, where they produce Ports under the DR Port brand.
Many of the old Tawny ports were tasted from barrel, but the highlight of the visit was tasting their 1885 Tawny Port while foot-treading grapes in their lagar.
- NV Agri-Roncão Porto DR - 10 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/20/2016)
Dark amber-orange in color. 5%-10% of the wine aged in 5-year-old pipas barrels for six months. Orange spice and some cedar on the nose. Incredibly unctuous approach. Caramel and brown sugar on the palate with a touch of vanilla. Very balanced, with a touch of spice at the end of the very long finish. (94 pts.) - NV Agri-Roncão Porto DR - 20 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/20/2016)
Cask sample. Orange-brown with semi-opaque center. Elegant nose with caramel and some light mahogany notes. Very unctuous mouthfeel with subtle orange spice, maple and orange peel with a very long, unctuous finish. (93 pts.) - NV Agri-Roncão Porto DR - 30 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/20/2016)
Cask sample. Golden brown amber in color. Pecan and some light mocha notes on the nose. Intense mouthfeel with lively acidity and notes of hazelnuts and spice. (94 pts.) - NV Agri-Roncão Porto DR - 40 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/20/2016)
Cask sample. Golden brown amber in color. Pecan and some light mocha notes on the nose. Intense mouthfeel with lively acidity and notes of hazelnuts and spice. (95 pts.) - NV Agri-Roncão Porto DR - 80 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/20/2016)
Cask sample. Amber-brown center with green edges. Espresso and vanilla notes on the nose. Incredibly smooth, unctuous mouthfeel. Vanilla, espresso bean, and honey on the palate. Smooth very long finish. (97 pts.) - 2002 Agri-Roncão DR Port Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/20/2016)
Amber ruby in color with almost full opacity. Floral notes and red fruit on the palate. Full-bodied and unctuous with balanced tannins on the finish. (93 pts.) - 2011 Agri-Roncão Porto DR Late Bottled Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/20/2016)
Dark purple in color. Fully opaque. Primary black fruits and some herbal notes on the nose. Intense violet and blueberry on the palate, with pronounced tannins and a touch of spirit. Very long finish with good acidity. (91 pts.) - 1885 Agri-Roncão Douro Muilo Velho - Portugal, Douro (9/20/2016)
Brown in color with yellow on the edges. Rich wood notes with some VA on the nose. An incredible concentration of honey, molasses and a touch of butterscotch on the syrup-like palate. Wave after wave of flavor with caramel, orange spice, and burnt sugar. Extremely long, unctuous finish that just goes on and on. (99 pts.)
While the rest of the tour headed to Vale do Dona Maria, I split off from the group to go visit my dear friend Alistair & Gillyan Robertson at Taylor's Quinta de Vargellas. We took the boat out for a cruise on the Douro River, joined by visiting winemaker Bill Hardy of Hardys Wine in Australia. The evening consisted of dinner, catching up with Alistair and Gillian, and a raucous round of treading grapes in the lagars.
The following morning the rest of the PHT crew arrived for the scheduled visit to Vargellas. We were joined by Alistair, Gillyane, and Chris Forbes, Marketing Manager at Taylor's.
Our tasting at Vargellas was followed by lunch on the veranda, with one of the most beautiful views in the Douro.
- 1966 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/22/2016)
Light ruby pink in color. Wines are from Quinta de Vargellas and Quinta de Terra Feita. Red fruit with some underlying chocolate notes. Unctuous cherry on the palate. Elegant with just a hint of spirit that gives it a wonderful character. Very long and full finish with hints of cinnamon. (96 pts.) - 1977 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/22/2016)
Transparent ruby in color. Rich nose of strawberry, red fruit, and chocolate, with a hint of spice underneath. Impressive, unctuous approach with rich raspberry and some woody notes. Very long finish with balance and power. (95 pts.) - 1978 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage Quinta de Vargellas - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/22/2016)
Medium ruby in color with some light sediment. Light red fruit hiding under some spirit on the nose. Intense unctuous strawberry and some light herbal notes on the palate, along with some elegant hints of raspberry. Very rich mid-palate and long finish. (94 pts.) - 1991 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage Quinta de Vargellas - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/22/2016)
Dark ruby in color with slight lightening on the edges. Chocolate and subtle red fruit on the nose, with a touch of spirit. Intense, full mouthfeel. Firm tannins on the mid-palate. Pomegranate and some underlying clove on the palate. Long finish with red fruit notes. (92 pts.) - 1992 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/22/2016)
Purple-red in color. Floral notes, violets and a touch of black currant. Blueberry and some dark plum on the palate. Long balanced finish with some nice tannins. (93 pts.) - NV Taylor (Fladgate) Porto 20 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/22/2016)
Orange amber in color. Nose of caramel and burnt sugar. Vanilla and cedar on the palate with bright acidity and long, unctuous finish. (92 pts.) - 1996 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage Quinta de Vargellas - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/22/2016)
Dark ruby in color. Violets and dart fruit on the nose. Raspberry and some chocolate notes on the nose as well. Slight herbal notes hiding under some cassis and blueberry on the palate. Long finish. (94 pts.)
We visited our good friend Oscar Quevedo at his family's property near São João da Pesqueira, where we roamed through the cellar sampling colheita Ports, single varietal Ports, and white Ports from casks.
We had a wonderful lunch Oscar, and his sister/Quevedo Winemaker Claudia.
- NV Vinhos Oscar Quevedo Porto Crusted - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/22/2016)
Bottled in 2012. Dark ruby in color. Crusted Port has to be a blend of at least 2 vintages. This one is 2007, 2008, 2009 & 10% 2010. This wine can age in the bottle. Dark fruit on the unctuous palate. Tannins are pronounced on the long finish. (90 pts.) - 2015 Vinhos Oscar Quevedo Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/22/2016)
Cask Sample. Almost completely opaque, with vibrant purple on the edges. Primary red fruit notes on the nose with violets and floral components. Tannins are still massive for the very young wine. Raspberry and some red currant on the palate. Very long finish. - 2011 Vinhos Oscar Quevedo Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/22/2016)
Impenetrable dark purple in color with slight lightening right at the very edge. Black fruits with some spearmint underneath. Intense approach with raspberry, black cherry, and crushed violets. Long finish with pronounced tannins. (92 pts.) - 2014 Vinhos Oscar Quevedo Douro Q Grande Reserva - Portugal, Douro (9/22/2016)
Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tina Roriz. This has not been bottled yet. Impenetrable dark purple in color. Violets and red fruit on the intense nose. Intense concentration of blueberry and black tea. Intense, chalky tanning on the long mid-palate and finish. (94 pts.) - 1996 Vinhos Oscar Quevedo Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/22/2016)
Amber with tints of purple in color. Prune, chocolate and wood notes on the nose. Very unctuous approach with molasses and chocolate espresso beans. (93 pts.) - 1972 Vinhos Oscar Quevedo Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/22/2016)
Orange with yellow hues and greening at the edges. Dusty orange peel and leather on the nose with a touch of spirit. Balanced, unctuous approach with caramel, maple and bright acidity. Long, unctuous finish. (94 pts.) - NV Vinhos Oscar Quevedo Porto 30 year old White Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/22/2016)
Vanilla and honey on the nose. Smooth, balanced notes of butterscotch and hints of honey on the palate. Very balanced acidity and tannins on the finish. (93 pts.)
This Quinta, located in the eastern part of the Douro Valley, is only four miles from the Spanish border and offers a unique look the warmest and driest part of the demarcated Douro Valley.
- 2015 Casa Ferreirinha Douro Papa Figos - Portugal, Douro (9/23/2016)
Icewater in color. Subtle lemon and tropical notes on the nose. Fresh palate with a tone of pineapple and medium-bright acidity. Nice balance - a refreshing wine. (89 pts.) - 2015 Casa Ferreirinha Douro Papa Figos - Portugal, Douro (9/23/2016)
Primary red fruit on the nose (red cassis). Ripe red fruit of cranberry on the approach. Nice tannins on the mid-palate with the well-structured finish. (90 pts.) - 2014 Casa Ferreirinha Douro Callabriga - Portugal, Douro (9/23/2016)
Classical red fruits on the nose with herbal notes underneath. Smoky notes with bing cherry and dusty tannins. Nice long finish with good balance. This would be a great BBQ wine! (92 pts.) - 2014 Casa Ferreirinha Douro Quinta da Leda - Portugal, Douro (9/23/2016)
Dark purple in the center with vibrant purple on the edges. Herbal and floral notes on the nose. Great balance with some firm tannins. Nice rounded form and pomegranate on the mid-palate. (93 pts.) - 1999 Ferreira Porto Vintage Quinta da Leda - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/23/2016)
Dark purple inc color. Cassis and a touch of spirit underneath. The bottle shows some corked characteristics.
After spending the day viewing the rock carvings in the Côa Valley dating back to 22,000 BC, we headed to one of our perennial favorite restaurants in the Douro Valley, DOC.
- NV Kopke Porto 30 Year Old White Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/23/2016)
Orange amber in color with great clarity. Orange peel, pralines, and vanilla on the nose. Very unctuous approach with orange spice that gives way to unctuous burn sugar and caramel on the mid-palate. Long finish with bright acidity. - 1985 Cálem Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/23/2016)
Purple amber in color. Black fruit, floral notes and touch of spirit on the nose. Fresh fruit, some pronounced tannins on the mid-palate. This one still has some years to age to come around. (91 pts.) - 1966 Kopke Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/23/2016)
Amber orange in color. Cigar box and orange spice on the nose. Unctuous orange peel and intense vanilla, caramel and mocha notes on the palate. Orange spice on the very long finish. (94 pts.) - 1952 J.W. Burmester Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/23/2016)
Orange with yellowish-green on the edge. Dusty notes with some cigar box and butterscotch on the nose. Deep unctuous, concentrated dry fruit and burnt sugar notes. Chocolate on the mid-palate and great acidity and balance on the finish. (96 pts.)
Quinta de Brunheda has always been one of my favorite places to visit due to the quality and age of their tawny wine stocks. We had the chance to taste their old tawnies, some of their table wines and Ports from a new brand - Blackett.
- NV Blackett Porto Extra Dry White Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/24/2016)
Bottled in 2016. Golden in color. Peach and some tropical fruit on the nose. Apricot and some white peach on the palate. Balanced acidity on the long finish. (88 pts.) - 2013 Blackett Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/24/2016)
Vibrant purple in color. Primary red fruit on the nose. Well-balanced fruit with amazing tannins on the mid-palate. Amazingly approachable with a nice long finish. (90 pts.) - 2015 Blackett Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/24/2016)
Cask sample. Crazy dark purple in color with some lightening at the edges. Violets and intense purple fruit on the nose. Dense blueberry on the palate, with structured tannins that should make this a good ager. Acidity and tannins are pronounced on the mid-palate and long finish. (93 pts.) - NV Blackett Porto Tawny Reserve - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/24/2016)
Amber with some orange notes. Initial spirit on the nose. Vanilla notes with some cedar on the nose. Elegant mouthfeel with a creamy vanilla presence. Complex mid-palate and awesome balance on the finish. (93 pts.) - NV Blackett Porto 10 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/24/2016)
Bottled in 2016. Copper in color. Bright nose with some orange spice and some dusty notes on the nose. Elegant orange and caramel on the long finish. (88 pts.) - NV Blackett Porto 20 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/24/2016)
Golden copper in color. Amazing textures of honey and maple syrup. The palate has some orange spice and caramel. Long, luxurious finish with great balance. (90 pts.) - NV Blackett Porto 30 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/24/2016)
Burnt sugar and honey on the nose. Unctuous approach with layers of orange peel, molasses, and mocha. Long finish with unctuous acidity and balance. (94 pts.) - 1964 Brunheda Douro Colheita - Portugal, Douro (9/24/2016)
Cask sample. Orange with a very slight amber center. Noticeable clearing on the edges. Some spirit on the nose. Incredibly intense and unctuous mouthfeel with caramel, burnt sugar, and orange peel on the palate. Long finish with lively acidity. (94 pts.) - NV Brunheda Douro Very Old Tawny Port 80 Years Old - Portugal, Douro (9/24/2016)
Dark amber in color with some greening around the edges. Dusty mahogany notes on the nose. Medium-bodied. Butterscotch on the palate, but dry butterscotch, not sweet like butterscotch candy. (95 pts.) - NV Brunheda Porto 40 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/24/2016)
Cask sample. Amber center that bleeds to orange then yellow then green on the edge. Light notes of mahogany, vanilla and cigar box. (92 pts.) - NV Brunheda Porto 100 Year Old Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/24/2016)
Amber in color with orange notes. Concentrated tangerine and golden raisin on the nose. Coconut and some orange spice on the palate. Very long, unctuous finish with bright acidity and some final notes of mocha and caramel. (96 pts.) - NV Brunheda Douro Very Old White Port - Portugal, Douro (9/24/2016)
Cask sample. 30-35 years old, this white Port is golden amber in color with tropical notes on the nose. Unctuous honey and caramel on the palate. Great balance and a long finish on this smooth white Port.
This Michelin-star restaurant was created by the noted Portuguese Chef Rui Paula and is housed in a dramatic building right on shores of the Atlantic designed by famed Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza.
This last event of the 2016 For The Love Of Port Harvest Tour gave all of the participants a chance to recount the experiences, wines, and food of the week, and to enjoy one last meal together before our journey came to an end.
- 2009 Niepoort Porto Crusted - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/25/2016)
Bottled in 2011. Rich, dark purple in color. Red fruit on the nose. Pomegranate and blueberry on the mid-palate, with firm tannins. Medium-long finish with good balance. (91 pts.) - 2013 Niepoort Porto Vintage Bioma Vinha Velha - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/25/2016)
Impenetrable dark purple in color with vibrant purple on the edges. The nose is a little subdued due to the wine being a little chilled down. Surprisingly balanced tannins and approachable fruits on the palate. Drinkable now will likely improve with age. (92 pts.) - 2000 Quinta do Noval Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/25/2016)
Bottled in 2016. Ruby with orange edges. Orange spice, some crème Brulee and some slight cigar box on the nose. Smooth approach with caramel and some hints of nuts. Well-balanced finish. (91 pts.) - 1996 Barros Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/25/2016)
Bottles in 2016. Lively ruby amber in color. Orange spice and some wood notes on the nose. Orange spice and caramel on the palate. Great finish with balanced tannins and acidity. (89 pts.) - 2001 Barros Porto Colheita - Portugal, Douro, Porto (9/25/2016)
Bottled in 2016. Light amber-orange in colors. Spirit and cigar box on the nose. Some orange spice notes on the long finish. (88 pts.)