For The Love Of Port

It was a half bottle and it was in good conditions.

Very thin and transparent edge. Color not as dark and like red fruits as in the young Ports. It's like with shades of dark tile. Good aroma, notes of chocolate and compote. Soft and agreeable mouth. With slight alcoholic notes. Long posttaste, leaving a sweet persistence that fills the mouth.
Good VP. It's a nice way to start 2009 port tasting .

Carlos,
Thanks for the TN on this one, for sure not a producer talked about much. But the owner sure does have an interesting history.

How do you feel this will last in the long term? I've a few of their Ports, and at best, have always thought they were decent early to young/mid term Ports. Not something I'd spend much money on, but if had for a good deal then maybe.

Andy,
This bottle was only 20€. And it was worth it. I'm not sure, it wasn't showing any fault, but I believe that it will not go to any further, but it will be kept some more years.

I have had this in half bottle as well and thought that they were good. Well made port. Probably a one off. I have never heard of any other vintages from this guy that have been reviewed, or tasted by anyone. The half bottles of 1989 are all I have ever seen.

Michael

Found my notes from Jan. 2001. From half bottle. Very heavy sediment when decanted. Clear, medium deep, garnet-purple color with a maturing lighter reddish rim. Clean, medium pronounced, developing aromas of dusty plums, raisins, leather and sweet chocolate. Sweet, balanced acidity, and smooth, low tannin, full body. Somewhat pronounced, developing (maturing) character similar to the nose. Good quality wine(for such a bad, undeclared vintage). Good complexity on the nose, and decent concentration on the palate, yet the tannin has already seemingly melted away, leading me to believe that this wine is rapidly approaching full maturity. Could improve for maybe 3 more years and drink well for 10 to 15 after that.

Michael

Thanks Michael for your tasting notes.
Recently I've seen other vintage, was 2001 and also was in half bottles. They must like unusual years to be released.

The 1989 wasn't a one-off for sure. They also declared 1995 and 2001. All are also released in regular 750ml bottles (being more of a regular wine bottle than port bottle). Champalimaud (Quinta do Cotto) has a bit of a different view to declaring Vintage Port. It always comes second to their signature wine: Quinta do Cotto Grande Escolha. This wine is one of the great table wines from the Douro, and certainly worth trying if you can. I recently tasted the 1985, and it was still going strong. Only if there are enough good grapes left after making the Grande Escolha (or in years when it is not made), the company will think of producing the Vintage Port.

And IIRC he is or was the only Portuguese producer that uses screw caps on some of his wines. Now that stirred some controversy. But from what I've read, Miguel Champalimaud is no stranger to stiring up controversy.