For The Love Of Port

CONFRARIA INDUCTION TRIP - Porto, Portugal (6/19/2022-6/26/2022)

This trip to Porto, Portugal was for my promotion in the Confraria do Vinho do Porto (Port Wine Brotherhood) to the newly created rank of Fidalgo Cavaleiro (Noble Knight).
June 21, 2022

• 2018 Kopke Late Bottled Vintage Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/21/2022)
  Bottled in 2022. Dark purple in color with garnet on the edges. Primary black fruits on the nose with a touch of spirit. Rich palette with notes of blueberry and black currant. Well-integrated tannins and smooth, but rich flavor profile. Nice long, well-integrated finish. This is a fresh, smooth and pleasant LBV. (92 pts.)
• 2020 Kopke Vintage Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/21/2022)
  Just bottled. Not in the market yet. Very dark purple in color, mostly opaque. Dark fruit with blueberry and some light herbal / mint notes. Rich, fresh dark fruits with sweetness on the intense mid-palate. This is a very approachable Vintage Port, even as a baby. There seems to be some nice structure on this elegant Vintage Port to provide nice complexity as it ages. (91 pts.)
• 2011 Kopke White Colheita Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/21/2022)
  Bottled in 2021. Clear, pale yellow in color. Bright tropical notes, stone (granite lagar), and a hint of old wood on the nose. A touch of fennel and white peach on the very intense mid-palate. A little touch of spirit on the pallet, giving way to a long finish of candied ginger and good acidity. (90 pts.)
• 1985 Kopke Colheita Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/21/2022)
  Bottled in 2022. Amber-orange in color. Old wood, some spices and a touch of VA on the nose. Rich, smooth flavor profile with a touch of heat and spirit, but very elegant and well-integrated. Still good complexity. Long finish. (90 pts.)
• Kopke 50 Year Old White Tawny Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/21/2022)
  Cask sample. This is a relatively new category of Port approved by the IVDP. Amber-golden color. Orange spice, old wood and honeysuckle nectar on the nose. Rich notes of honey, caramel and light orange spice on the rich and complex palate. Smooth, long finish. (93 pts.)
• João Nicolau de Almeida Light Dry White Port - Portugal, Douro (6/21/2022)
  Bottled in 2021. 500ml bottle. 16.5% alcohol. This wine had grape skin contact for two or three days during fermentation to give the wine its golden yellow color. There is a light nose of mixed tropical fruits. This dry style begins with rich intense notes of melon, grapefruit, and bright acidity. The mid-palate has good acidity and balance. Nice long, rich finish with a touch of residual sweetness popping up on the tail end. (92 pts.)
• 2019 João Nicolau de Almeida Monte Xisto Orbita Douro Red - Portugal, Douro (6/21/2022)
  13.5% alcohol. This wine was aged 50% in oak barrels and 50% in stainless steel, giving it fresh, earthy notes as well as raspberry and cherry on the nose. Great red fruit entry with tannins rolling up onto the mid-palette for a solo performance. Tannins retreat on the end of the mid-palate and make way for the long finish, which features nice complexity of chocolate, boysenberry, and black currant. (93 pts.)
• 1957 Sandeman Vintage Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/21/2022)
  Amber-orange in color. Some initial alcohol on the nose that eventually blew off with time in the glass. Underneath are nice notes of red fruit and old wood. There are notes of chocolate, spices, and strawberries on the palate. Very long finish with some residual heat and fairly resolved tannins. (93 pts.)

June 22, 2022

• Quevedo Oscar Jr.'s Blend 30 Year Old White Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/22/2022)
  Cask sample. 50cl bottle. This Port will be the Dec, 21 Port in Quevedo's Port Advent Calendar. Great tropical notes on the nose. Rich mouthfeel with honey and caramel. Nice balance and bright acidity.
• Quevedo Claudia's Blend 30 Year Old White Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/22/2022)
  Cask sample. 50cl bottle. This Port will be the Dec. 21 Port in Quevedo's Port Advent Calendar. Amber-yellow in color. Intense floral notes with tropical fruit on the nose. Smooth rich flavor profile with great expression and a long finish.
• Quevedo Oscar Sr.'s Blend 30 Year Old White Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/22/2022)
  Cask sample. 50cl bottle. This Port will be the Dec. 23 Port in Quevedo's Port Advent Calendar. Intense nose of tropical fruits and a touch of spirit. Nice intensity and complexity. Feels a bit drier in style. Nice long finish.
• Quevedo Tonel #14 Old White Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/22/2022)
  “Grandpa’s White.” Cask sample. 50cl bottle. This Port will be the Dec. 24 Port in Quevedo's Port Advent Calendar. Vanilla and tropical fruits on the nose. Very rich and intense mouth fill. Nice note of baking spices and honeysuckle.
• Quevedo Porto Tinta Francisca 10 Year Old Tawny Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/22/2022)
  Cask sample. 50cl bottle. This is an unusual, single varietal Tawny Port. Tinta Francisca (not to be confused with the better known Touriga Francesa/Touriga Franca) has lots of aromatic complexity, but generally lacks the tannic structure and acidity to become a powerhouse single varietal wine. However, it makes a perfect blending wine, and when produced as a Tawny Port as Oscar has done here, it makes a very interesting and pleasant wine.

June 24, 2022

• Barros Lágrima Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/24/2022)
  Bottled in 2022. Yellow golden color. Tropical notes, honey, and melon on the nose. Very sweet flavor profile with candied peach, pineapple, and honeydew melon. Good, balanced acidity with very long finish. (91 pts.)
• Barros White Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/24/2022)
  Bottled in 2022. Dark golden yellow in color. Fresh cut mango and a touch of lime on the nose. Well-balanced flavor profile, with tropical fruits, a touch of honey, and some butterscotch. A little heat pops up on the long finish. (92 pts.)
• Barros Extra Dry White Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/24/2022)
  Bottled in 2022. Pale white in color with a slight peach hue. Wonderful floral and tropical notes on the nose. Some slight alcohol is present on the fresh palette, but nicely balanced acidity. It has a long, dry finish. (90 pts.)
• Kopke 10 Year Old White Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/24/2022)
  Bottled in 2022. Clear, amber golden color. Honey, old wood and grilled tropical fruits on the nose. Rich, complex notes of honey, vanilla, and a touch of tangerine on the palate. Rich, intense mid-palette with wonderful mouthfeel and well-balanced tannins. Long finish with bright acidity. (93 pts.)

June 25, 2022

• Ferreira White Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/25/2022)
  Amber-gold in color. Light tropical fruit with some floral notes on the nose. Nice intensity and sweetness, but it has good balance with the acidity. The very long finish was unexpected and a pleasant surprise. Overall, a rich, balanced wine that punches well above its 9 Euro price. (89 pts.)
• Ferreira Lágrima Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/25/2022)
  Aged three years in barrel. Light golden-yellow in color. White peach, caramelized banana, and light herbs on the nose. The palate shows tons of rich honey and citrus, along with some noticeable spices. Good balance overall. (91 pts.)
• Ferreira Dona Antonia Reserva White Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/25/2022)
  Aged 6 to 8 years in barrel. Amber-gold in color with a slight copper hue. Light Mandarin orange and some light oak notes on the nose. Honey, caramelized banana and burnt sugar on the palate. Complex, with the additional time in wood adding depth. Balanced acidity and sweetness on the long finish. (90 pts.)
• Ferreira Dona Antonia 10 Years Old White Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/25/2022)
  Gold and copper in color. Rich intense tropical notes of lychee, and fresh cut mango. Touch of caramel. Wonderful rich, complex flavor of honey, dried apricots. And a touch of bitterness on the long finish but not unpleasant. 92 points. 6/25/2022 (92 pts.)
• 2016 Ferreira Late Bottled Vintage Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/25/2022)
  Bottled in 2020. Dark purple in color with slight garnet on the edges. Almost completely opaque. Herbal notes with some subtle dark fruit, plum and black cassis. Medium body. Notable, drying tannins on the mid-palate. Tannins roll through the very long finish. Grape hard candy notes on the finish. (90 pts.)
• 2016 Ferreira Vintage Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/25/2022)
  Dark amber-purple in color. Almost completely opaque. Rich and intense approach with some primary fruit. Tight nose initially with some primary black plum and cassis. Well-integrated tannins with some primary fruits on the very long finish. (93 pts.)
• Ferreira Dona Antonia 30 Year Old Tawny Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/25/2022)
  Bottled in 2021. Clear, rich amber-orange in color. Nose of caramel, ginger, spice and old wood. Red peppercorns and cinnamon with rich warm spices and a touch of butterscotch on the pallet. Very long finish with mix of warm spices. (92 pts.)
• 2011 Dalva White Colheita Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/25/2022)
  Dark orange-yellow in color. Tropical notes on the nose. Smooth flavor profile with citrus fruits, caramelized tropical fruits, and a good balance of acidity on the long finish. (90 pts.)
• Dalva 30 Year Old White Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/25/2022)
  Bottled in 2015. Tons of tropical fruit on the nose including guava, white peach and passion fruit. Rich, intense mouthfeel with some oaky notes and rich tropical fruit. Very nice long finish with just a touch of oxidation on the tail end of the finish. (92 pts.)
• Quinta da Prelada 20 Year Old Tawny Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/25/2022)
  Bottled in 2022. Dark amber-red in color. Light cinnamon and caramel notes on the nose. Rich, red fruit flavor profile with cinnamon, spices, and raspberry. (91 pts.)
• 1977 Barão de Vilar Colheita Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/25/2022)
  Bottled in 2017. Orange spices and wood notes on the nose. Rich, intense notes of burnt sugar on the palate, with noticeable oxidation and a very long sweet finish. (92 pts.)
• Quinta da Fonte Nova 10 Year Old Tawny Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/25/2022)
  Bottled in 2021. 500 ml bottle. Amber-pink in color. Fresh red fruit on the nose with strawberry and light raspberry. Slightly sweet flavor profile with rich spice and some red currant. Sweetness and good acidity on the long finish. (89 pts.)
• Quinta da Fonte Nova 20 Year Old Tawny Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/25/2022)
  Bottled in 2021. Dark amber in color. Some cola, mocha powder and mahogany on the nose. Expressive cola, chocolate and burnt notes typical of the Douro Superior region. Long, well-balanced finish with notes of sarsaparilla. (90 pts.)
• Quinta da Fonte Nova 40 Year Old Tawny Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/25/2022)
  Bottled in 2021. Amber-orange in color. Old, oiled teak on the nose with some light chocolate and a hint of spirit. Rich, well-balanced flavor profile with very nice tannins on the mid-palate and a touch of spice on the very long finish.
• Sandeman 50 Year Old Tawny Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (6/25/2022)
  Cask sample. Orange-amber in color. Old wood, orange spice and a touch of VA. Smooth, rich, and complex notes of burnt sugar, caramel and rich spices on the palate. Very long finish. (93 pts.)

I have a bottle of 1957 Sandeman VP that I opened at 12:30 p.m. I decanted for sediment and got most of the cork removed in one piece, but not all. Enough to see and read the branding, which ultimately, is all I cared about. It is now 3.5 hours later, the VP was poured back in the rinsed bottle immediately and put in the refrigerator with a T-stopper.

I just poured a glass, not to drink, but to get a clear indication of the color. I have some photos that I took immediately of the decanter against a sunny sky background, and then just now in a Port glass. I will include on FB/IG and in the newsletter once I taste it. But having read Stewart's note, it seemed different than the couple I've opened in the past. Not sure why my TNs don't appear in the TNDB as I am sure at least one before this was in a prior newsletter, and I owned three purchased at the same time. This was muled to PT with the 12 bottles I was able to bring here last June when I moved to Porto and it has been kept in my refrigerator until today, after all the years back in my home cellar.

As you will see, the color is a medium-medium dark scarlet red with lots of bricking on the wide rim. But there is no amber at all and just a slight touch of orange where it carries from the core of the wine and meets the meniscus. I am not going to even take a sip, as I am sharing this with 3 others tonight and don't want there to be any less to drink later.

Initial scents include: cranberry and strawberry, hints of wintergreen, pine resin and straw.

I look forward to hearing how your bottle shows. I tasted this at the Post-Regatta Dinner last year (June 2022). If I am not mistaken, I think Tom Archer(?) brought the bottle.