For The Love Of Port

Lots of red fruit, strawberries. Color is dark red. Not a "declared" vintage port, but still a very nice port to see and smell.
Taste is burning, lots of tannins. Clearly not matured at all, needs at least another 10-15 years before it really starts to opening up.

89 points

Wow, this is a SQVP that could easily fit in with many of the fine Ports from the previous year. I wonder if at your tasting this was just opened and poured with little to no air time. That would explain the pronounced aguardente which is not atypical in the first few hours the '95 Vargellas is open. It is a fairly massive VP when it has had 8-10 hours in decanter. The Vinha Velha version, also made in 1995 (for the 1st time) was beautiful as a baby and both Vargellas' have a long life ahead of them.

I wonder if at your tasting this was just opened and poured with little to no air time.

Exactly what happened, he opened the bottle and started pouring immediately. In his opinion no VP should have to be decanted.

Good to read positive notes on this vintage! I have several bottles but never tried one.

1995 is a good vintage for value wines. '95 Dow is good one too.

Had a bottle of this last night with 4 hours decant. Too mouth puckering for me. I felt sad to see this botlle open so young. Intensity for sure that was dominated by dark fruit and aguardente. Had all the components for a long life. Did not get much of the pepper or spice, it was too primary and raw tasting for me to enjoy, but for evaluation -this is such a youthful vintage that I can't see drinking it for at least another 10 years.