Opened from 750ml bottle. Full size, driven cork. Some staining the length of the cork. 1/2 of bottle poured into 375ml bottle, and put into fridge. Remaining 375ml poured into decanter. There was a significant amount of sediment in big chunks in this bottle, and I poured the last 1" into a coffee filter.
+5 hours: This LBV is a light ruby color, fading toward orange at the rim. The aroma has very little spirit present, and presents some very nice notes of dark and red fruits. On the palate, this wine delivers on the aroma with blackberry, cherry and a little strawberry. There is just a hint of jam, but in the right balance. I caught a hint of licorice, that I haven't seen much in younger ports, so perhaps this is one of those nuances that comes with age? The finish is medium long, with a nice balance of heat, acid, fruit and tannins.
I very much enjoyed the first half of this bottle, and look forward to revisiting the second half. While not a "cheap" LBV at $35, this was a good sample of an older specimen, and paired quite well with some Monday Night Football, and a roaring, almond wood fire. :)
--Rich