For The Love Of Port

CERTIFIED PORT EDUCATOR (CPE) COURSE - Porto, Portugal (4/18/2022-4/24/2022)

I was selected to attend the April 2022 Certified Port Education course run by the IVDP in Porto, Portugal. I earned my CPE Certification after successfully completing this three day course.
April 18, 2022

• Sandeman Cask 33 Very Old Tawny Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/18/2022)
  Amber tawny in color. Likely in the realm of 60 years old. Sandeman had not planned to bottle this wine on its own, but rather to use it to blend into its older Tawny Ports. However, with the explosion of other "old, ultra-premium Ports" that were starting to hit the market, they decided to showcase this old wine and bottle it. This was the last of George Sandeman’s 375ml sample bottles for Cask 33. The finished product was bottled in hand-blown bottles left over from the anniversary bottling in 1999. Complex notes of vanilla, caramel, and old wood on the nose. Very elegant approach with nuts, a touch of vanilla, and excellent acidity. The finish is smooth, with tannins still present on the tail end of the finish. This wine is smooth, elegant, and fresh. 94 points. 4/18/2022 (94 pts.)
• Val Moreira 10 Year Old Tawny Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/18/2022)
  This Port is produced and bottled by Alchemy Wines, who also produce wines under the Blackett label. The wine is dark ruby-amber in color. There is a touch of primary fruit and some spirit on the nose. There are pleasant red fruits on the approach, with a fairly well-integrated flavor profile and a freshness on the palate. Nice long finish. (91 pts.)
• Val Moreira 20 Year Old Tawny Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/18/2022)
  This Port is produced and bottled by Alchemy Wines, who also produce wines under the Blackett label. Amber in color. Really interesting notes of light cinnamon and marzipan on the nose. Christmas spices, with some light curry and nuts on the palate. The tannins lightly dance across the mid-palate, giving way to light spicy notes notes the long finish. (92 pts.)
• Val Moreira Extra Dry White Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/18/2022)
  This Port is produced and bottled by Alchemy Wines, who also produce wines under the Blackett label. Pale yellow in color. There is noticeable minerality on the nose. On the palate, I noticed a slight astringent note alongside some white peach and tropical notes. Light, ethereal finish, but just a touch of bitterness on the end of the finish. (88 pts.)

April 19, 2022

• Kopke 20-Year-Old White Porto - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/19/2022)
  Bottled in 2021. Yellow-gold in color. Nice tropical fruits and some light floral notes on the nose. Fresh, intense mouthfeel with good acidity. Honey, tropical fruits, and well-balanced, long finish. (91 pts.)
• 2003 Kopke White Colheita Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/19/2022)
  Light yellow-honey in color. Nose of cedar and orange blossom. Smooth and elegant profile. Complex flavors with good freshness and acidity. Nice long finish. (93 pts.)
• Kopke 30 Year Old Tawny Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/19/2022)
  Bottled in 2022. Elegant nose of light spice and some soft touches of wood. A little alcohol/heat on the entry, giving way to warmth and Christmas spices. Nice rich, warm finish. (93 pts.)
• 1987 Kopke Colheita Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/19/2022)
  Bottled in 2022. Orange-amber in color. Nice notes of wood and orange spice on the nose. Smooth, elegant flavor profile but with some richness and a nice warmth. (92 pts.)
• 1966 Kopke Colheita Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/19/2022)
  Bottled in 2022. Beautiful orange in color with a little green around the edges. It has a very powerful nose of old wood and burnt sugar. Rich, intense flavor profile with great complexity, rich caramel, and spice notes. (94 pts.)
• 1952 Kopke Colheita Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/19/2022)
  Orange-brown in color. A touch of vinegrenio with and old wood component. Super rich with a complex flavor profile. Honey, caramel, and a touch of sweet orange spice. Excellent balance between the sweetness and the acidity. Extremely well-integrated. (95 pts.)
• Quinta do Noval 10 Year Old Tawny Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/19/2022)
  Dark amber in color with some orange on the edges. Still some red fruit notes on the nose with some pronounced spices. Rich, fresh red fruit with some oak and a nice rich flavor profile. (90 pts.)
• 2007 Quinta do Noval Colheita Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/19/2022)
  Bottled in 2022. Great complexity on the nose with old wood and a touch of oxidation that lends itself to the complexity of this wine. Rich flavor profile with some red fruit, nice oak, and a touch of cinnamon. Long finish. (91 pts.)
• 2020 Niepoort Nat'Cool Voyeur Red - Portugal, Douro (4/19/2022)
  This is a new "category" of wine championed by Dirk Niepoort, To be Nat'Cool, a wine must align to a set of "rules" (though to be fair, rule #1 is "There are no rules"). However, Nat'Cool wines "should" be produced using natural or low-intervention methods, be low in alcohol, be terroir-driven and be affordable. Affordable drinkability is the name of the game here. The Voyeur is aged 8 months in amphora, which adds notes of clay and earthiness. Not overly complex or sophisticated, but an interesting wine to try. I think this might be my first wine aged in a clay amphora.
• 2020 Niepoort Nat'Cool Drink Me Red - Portugal (4/19/2022)
  This is a new "category" of wine championed by Dirk Niepoort. To be Nat'Cool, a wine must align to a set of "rules" (though to be fair, rule #1 is "There are no rules"). However, Nat'Cool wines "should" be produced using natural or low-intervention methods, be low in alcohol, be terroir-driven and be affordable. Affordable drinkability is the name of the game here. The "Drink Me" is produced from Grenache Old Vines from Navarro. It is pale red in color, and the nose shows cherry, herbal, and fresh cut flowers notes. There is nice acidity and freshness on the palate, with some nice spicy notes on the long finish.
• 2005 Krohn Colheita Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/19/2022)
  Bottled in 2021. Amber color with a touch of orange on the edge. Freshness with a touch of red fruit and some nice complex wood and earthy notes. Some cranberry and tart red fruit on the palate. It has a very complex mid palate and wonderful long finish with a great balance. (93 pts.)
• 1983 Fonseca Vintage Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/19/2022)
  Amber-orange in color. Some sediment in the glass. Light cinnamon and Christmas spice on the nose. Very rich mouthfeel with red fruit, and with nice balance, tannins, and structure. Very long finish. (94 pts.)
• 2005 Krohn Vintage Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/19/2022)
  Dark opaque purple in color. Crushed blackberry and blueberry with some light herbal notes. Smooth elegant floral profile with dark fruit and a touch of chocolate. Some well-integrated but present tannins. Long finish. Very nice VP.(93 pts.)

April 20, 2022

• Boeira 20 Year Old Tawny Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/20/2022)
  Amber-ruby in color. Wood and red fruit on the nose. Fresh, sweet flavor profile with good acidity and a touch of some primary red fruit. Long finish.(90 pts.)

April 21, 2022

• Quinta de la Rosa Extra Dry White Port - Portugal, Douro (4/21/2022)
  Ice water in color. Aged in stainless steel. Light tropical notes on the nose. Registered as an Extra Dry White Port. Simple, easy to drink, with dry profile and balanced acidity. (89 pts.)
• Quinta de la Rosa 10 Year Old Tawny Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/21/2022)
  Bottled in 2021. Amber-orange in color. Herbal notes with some red fruit still present. Elegant flavor profile with nice complexity and well-balanced finish. (93 pts.)
• Quinta de la Rosa Vintage Character Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/21/2022)
  This was produced under the previous "Vintage Character" category before the IVDP changed this category name to Reserve Ruby. This wine probably has an average age of six to seven years. Medium dark purple with amber on the edges. Nice light earthy notes and fresh red fruit. Youthful flavor profile with wonderful, elegant complexity. Beautiful wine for a reserve. (93 pts.)
• 2017 Quinta de la Rosa Unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/21/2022)
  Dark purple color with amber rim. Some light spirit and chocolate notes on the nose. Warm, round soft tannins on the palate. Very well structured on the finish. (90 pts.)
• 2009 Quinta de la Rosa Colheita Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/21/2022)
  Bottled in 2018. Dark amber-purple in color. Some red fruit and chocolate notes on the nose. Sofia says this Colheita Port has "one foot in Tawny and one foot in Ruby." Nice structure and very long finish. (90 pts.)
• 2021 Quinta Vale D. Maria "Martim" Douro White - Portugal, Douro (4/21/2022)
  Cask Sample. This is their top white wine. It has fresh minerality and a nice, full bodied flavor profile. The finish is crisp and enjoyable.
• 2021 Quinta Vale D. Maria "Norte" Touriga Nacional Douro Red - Portugal, Douro (4/21/2022)
  CCask Sample. From Douro Superior vines that were regrafted six years ago. Violets and earl grey tea on the nose (which is typical for the Touriga Nacional grape varietal). Very nice structure and balance on this wine, which is sometimes difficult to do with a single varietal where you don't have the luxury of blending in other wines to optimize the balance.
• 2021 Quinta Vale D. Maria Sousão Douro Red - Portugal, Douro (4/21/2022)
  Cask Sample. Great nose with tobacco and earthiness. Rich spices and red fruit on the palate. The structure on this Sousão is really enjoyable. Very long finish.
• 2021 Quinta Vale D. Maria Ameio+C Field Blend Douro Red - Portugal, Douro (4/21/2022)
  Cask Sample. More than 45 different grape varieties in the vineyard that this wine was made from. Rich, well-structured wine with dark red fruits, some light earthy notes, and amazing balance.
• 1969 Quinta Vale D. Maria Colheita Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/21/2022)
  Orange-yellow in color with slight green on the edge. Orange spices, dark wood, and roasted hazelnuts on the nose. Intense mouthfeel with umami and bright acidity. Long finish with a touch of bitterness.(91 pts.)

April 23, 2022

• 1971 Dalva Golden White Colheita Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/23/2022)
  Yellow-brown in color with slight green edging. Nose of caramel, honey, and a little Christmas spice. Rich mouthfeel with salted caramel and woody notes giving way to some noticeable tannins and mouth-coating texture on the mid-palate. Very long finish with great balanced acidity. This used to present with a lot more heat/alcohol but it seems like those are resolving nicely in the wine. (94 pts.)
• 1977 Factory House Jubilee Vintage Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/23/2022)
  Opened by George Sandeman. Light amber in color. Bubblegum and red fruit on the nose. Beautiful rich palate with red fruit, light spice, and very nice balanced acidity. Very long, rich finish. (94 pts.)
• 1987 Niepoort Garrafeira Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/23/2022)
  Amber in color. Beautiful warm red fruit and spice on the nose. Rich elegant mouthfeel with strawberry, spice, and nice acidity. Beautiful long finish with spice and excellent balance. (95 pts.)