2000 Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas Vinha Velha Vintage Port
Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 5:41 pm
I've been waiting for an excuse to open and try this wine for ages, so this was a combination of my contribution to the monthly virtual tasting and also a Christmas / New Year treat for my wife and myself.
On Decanting
Deep purple colour. Full of fine red sediment (but at least was bottled in glass that could be seen through with a strong light) that was decanted away quite easily. Very little on the nose, in the mouth full of sweet blackcurrant juice with immense acidity and eye-watering tannins. Surprisingly short length.
After 1 hour
The wine had not changed at all from the time of decanting - OK, I confess that I couldn't wait any more to taste it.
After 6 hours
A faint nose of sweet blackcurrants can now be made out, but very weak. Neutral entry into the mouth, then a wall of acidity and puckering tannins - all enclosing a hint of a fruity monster. Swirling in the mouth releases the chocolate coated black cherry juice. The aftertaste is much more pronounced now and lasts much longer, dominated by fruit before fading away to a chocolate finish. Still not a great drink, although I am now intrigued by (i) what this will taste like in 2-3 days and (ii) what this will taste like in 20 years when I open my next one. On the Tom scale this would rate in the bottom quartile of my tasting experiences in the last 12 months, but not right at the bottom so I will award it a 2. However, with the combination of fruit, sugar, acidity and tannins this wine has I believe that it could well be a superb wine in 10-40 years so I will give it a very bizarre rating of 2-6 and 86/100 for immediate drinking pleasure.
After a day and a half
The wine is continuing to improve steadily. The nose is more pronounced to show blueberries and mint. More balanced in the mouth, but still an acidic and tannic monster. Still loads of fruit and beginning to show many layers of complexity. Longer length, but still not as long as should be expected. Best showing so far from this bottle. 88/100 or 4/7 on Tom's scale.
After 2½ days
Getting better and better. Most developed nose so far, blackcurrants and blueberries on the nose. Fruity impact in the mouth, acid now more in balance with the fruit but still incredible tannins in the mouth. Plenty of fruit and complexity gives me the confidence that the wine will soften with age long before the fruit dries out. Aftertaste is longer than previous day, but still not as long as would be expected. A good wine, showing well but still way too young to be at its peak. 90/100 or 6/8.
After 3½ days
Softest nose yet. Alcohol now fully integrated leaving only the blueberry nose. Soft and fruity into the mouth. The overt acidity has gone, leaving waves of fruit and a strong, tannic grip from the soft and ripe tannins in the wine. Probably at its peak. Extremely enjoyable and promises much for the future - although drinking extremely well today. 91/100 or 7/9.
The conclusion that I came to with this wine is that if anyone intends to open one of these little monsters today to see what it is like, try to open it at least a couple of days before you intend to drink it. If you only open it 6 hours ahead of its intended consumption, you will really miss out on a very pleasant experience. This is clearly a great wine, but comes with the price tag of a great wine. I'm really pleased to have tried one, but if I was presented with the choice of having another bottle of VVV 2000 for my cellar or 12 bottles of Vesuvio 1994 then I would not hesitate to choose the dozen Vesuvio 1994.
Happy New Year to all,
Alex
This tasting note is one of several related tasting notes. Click [here] to see the original note in context.
On Decanting
Deep purple colour. Full of fine red sediment (but at least was bottled in glass that could be seen through with a strong light) that was decanted away quite easily. Very little on the nose, in the mouth full of sweet blackcurrant juice with immense acidity and eye-watering tannins. Surprisingly short length.
After 1 hour
The wine had not changed at all from the time of decanting - OK, I confess that I couldn't wait any more to taste it.
After 6 hours
A faint nose of sweet blackcurrants can now be made out, but very weak. Neutral entry into the mouth, then a wall of acidity and puckering tannins - all enclosing a hint of a fruity monster. Swirling in the mouth releases the chocolate coated black cherry juice. The aftertaste is much more pronounced now and lasts much longer, dominated by fruit before fading away to a chocolate finish. Still not a great drink, although I am now intrigued by (i) what this will taste like in 2-3 days and (ii) what this will taste like in 20 years when I open my next one. On the Tom scale this would rate in the bottom quartile of my tasting experiences in the last 12 months, but not right at the bottom so I will award it a 2. However, with the combination of fruit, sugar, acidity and tannins this wine has I believe that it could well be a superb wine in 10-40 years so I will give it a very bizarre rating of 2-6 and 86/100 for immediate drinking pleasure.
After a day and a half
The wine is continuing to improve steadily. The nose is more pronounced to show blueberries and mint. More balanced in the mouth, but still an acidic and tannic monster. Still loads of fruit and beginning to show many layers of complexity. Longer length, but still not as long as should be expected. Best showing so far from this bottle. 88/100 or 4/7 on Tom's scale.
After 2½ days
Getting better and better. Most developed nose so far, blackcurrants and blueberries on the nose. Fruity impact in the mouth, acid now more in balance with the fruit but still incredible tannins in the mouth. Plenty of fruit and complexity gives me the confidence that the wine will soften with age long before the fruit dries out. Aftertaste is longer than previous day, but still not as long as would be expected. A good wine, showing well but still way too young to be at its peak. 90/100 or 6/8.
After 3½ days
Softest nose yet. Alcohol now fully integrated leaving only the blueberry nose. Soft and fruity into the mouth. The overt acidity has gone, leaving waves of fruit and a strong, tannic grip from the soft and ripe tannins in the wine. Probably at its peak. Extremely enjoyable and promises much for the future - although drinking extremely well today. 91/100 or 7/9.
The conclusion that I came to with this wine is that if anyone intends to open one of these little monsters today to see what it is like, try to open it at least a couple of days before you intend to drink it. If you only open it 6 hours ahead of its intended consumption, you will really miss out on a very pleasant experience. This is clearly a great wine, but comes with the price tag of a great wine. I'm really pleased to have tried one, but if I was presented with the choice of having another bottle of VVV 2000 for my cellar or 12 bottles of Vesuvio 1994 then I would not hesitate to choose the dozen Vesuvio 1994.
Happy New Year to all,
Alex
This tasting note is one of several related tasting notes. Click [here] to see the original note in context.