NV Barros 20 Year Old Tawny Port

[Glenn E.]

Picked this up at a grocery store that was closing out its wine department, so it was only $40 (30% off). Pop-n-pour, which is my usual practice for 20-yr olds.

Barros 20 Year Old Tawny Port

Color: A good medium to medium dark tawny. Color highlights are more burnt orange than red.
Nose: Lots of butterscotch and caramel, possibly also some maple. Significant but non-obtrusive alcohol. Some cedar or sandalwood.
Palate: Medium full body, but thin palate. Acidity seems low, too. Soft and elegant. Needs more oomph, more depth. Vanilla and some light toasted oak.
Finish: Echos the nose more than the palate - butterscotch and a little bit of tangy apricot. Good length, but fades quickly. Reasonably smooth. Very tail end has some green apples in it.

Score: 88 points. Normally I'd have a tough time scoring a tawny like this, but I just finished a very nice '99 Roriz and would probably choose it over this Barros every time, so that gives me an easy upper limit. It's pleasant drinker, but really needs more body and bolder flavors to rate higher. Thus, very good but not excellent.

[Andy Velebil]

When was this bottled?

[Glenn E.]

A good question... sadly, it doesn't say. My guess is that the bottle isn't too old - I bought it at a Top Foods which is a pretty big chain, and their normal modus operandi is to put bottles that have been on the shelves too long on clearance. I would guess no older than 2006, and more likely 2008 or 2009.