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Wine Type
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Vintage
Name
Variety
Locale
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Date
Posted
Score
Helpful
Comments
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White
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2020 Antonio Bernardino Paulo da Silva Colares Chitas Reserva Velho
Malvasia de Colares more
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100% Malvasia de Colares from vineyards located less than a kilometer away from the Atlantic ocean. Destemmed and pressed, followed by a brief period of cold-soak with the skins before the fermentation. Fermented and aged for 12 months in stainless steel tanks, followed by at least 6 months in old casks made of mahogany, chestnut and oak. 12% alcohol.
Pale neon green color. The nose feels restrained and slightly reductive with fresh aromas of key lime, some smoky notes of struck flint, light floral nuances of apple blossom, a little bit of zesty lemon and a hint of stony minerality. The overall impression is surprisingly Riesling-like. The wine feels fresh, lively and pretty light on its feet with a light-to-medium body and dry, crisp flavors of sharp Granny Smith apple tones, some saline mineral notes, a little bit of key lime, light floral nuances, a hint of leesy creaminess and a mineral touch of wet rocks. The racy acidity lends impressive sense of freshness and structure to the wine. The finish is crisp, fresh and lively with a long aftertaste of stony minerality, some tangy saline notes that only increase in intensity, a little bit of apple peel bitterness, light sharp key lime tones, a hint of lemon zest and a touch of creaminess.
A very fresh, precise and promising white Colares that is all about freshness, acidity and minerality. Especially the saline mineral tones feel quite pronounced at times, only growing in intensity towards the end of the aftertaste. The wine is still super young and maybe the reduction is making the wine hold a little bit back. However, I have no doubts this wine will continue to evolve and improve over the years. Excellent stuff that is already accessible now - at least if given enough time - but will only get better with enough aging. I'd let the wine wait for at least another decade or so. At 43€ these ain't cheap wines anymore, but this still manages to deliver for the price.
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White
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2022 Antonio Bernardino Paulo da Silva Arinto Casal da Azenha Branco
Vinho Regional Lisboa
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100% Arinto from vineyards in and around the Colares region. Fermented with inoculated yeasts in stainless steel tanks. 13% alcohol, 3,1 g/l residual sugar, 5,3 g/l acidity and pH 3,31.
Youthful, pale greenish color. The nose feels youthful, fresh and somewhat green-toned with aromas of chopped herbs, some sharp Granny Smith apple tones, light floral nuances and a hint of ripe citrus fruits. The wine feels youthful and balanced on the palate with a medium-to-moderately body and vibrant flavors of sweet Fuji apple, some creamy tones, light green nuances of chopped herbs and green banana, light saline mineral nuances, a hint of ripe white peach and a faint touch of vanilla. The medium-to-moderately high acidity lends some sense of balance to the wine, although the overall feel is a bit on the soft side. The finish is ripe, juicy and pretty fresh with a moderately long aftertaste of sweet white peach and Fuji apple, some creamy tones, a little bit of herby greenness and a hint of plantain.
A pleasant and enjoyable little white. In comparison to the Colares Chitas, this feels pretty soft and simple, coming across just as a fruity little everyday white. Nothing bad, but nothing particularly noteworthy. A nice and balanced weekday white that combines ripe fruit with somewhat green-toned nuances surprisingly effortlessly. Ridiculous value at 5,40€, though.
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White
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2022 Vinhos Borges Encruzado Dão Quinta de São Simão da Aguieira
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100% Encruzado from the quinta that has the largest continuous vineyard in Dão. Average vineyard +30 yo. Fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks. 13% alcohol.
Pale, rather neutral whitish-yellow color. The nose feels ripe yet bright and crunchy with clean aromas of citrus fruits, some sweeter Fuji apple tones, a little bit of white peach, light floral notes of apple blossom and a hint of leesy character. The wine is lively, firm and juicy on the palate with a medium body and dry flavors of fresh white peach, some Fuji apple, a little bit of cantaloupe, light saline mineral tones and a hint of leesy creaminess. The high acidity lends good sense of freshness and structure to the wine. The finish is brisk, lively and enjoyably acid-driven with a dry, moderately long aftertaste of citrus fruits, some white peach tones, a little bit of saline minerality, light crunchy apple notes and a leesy hint of creaminess.
A nice, balanced and refreshing Encruzado. Nothing flashy or particularly special here, just good sense of balance, structure and freshness. This is a well-executed and harmonious effort that is still very youthful yet it doesn't feel one bit too primary - even if the wine is just 1½ years old. I'm not sure if this will age, but for a firm, nuanced and balanced weekday food white, this is a solid choice.
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White - Sparkling
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NV Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut
Champagne Blend more
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An assemblage based on the 2018 vintage with reserve wines from 2017 (40%) and 2016 (40%). Pinot Noir (70%) and Chardonnay (30%) from Montagne de Reims. Fermented spontaneously in oak. Aged in oak barrels until the summer following the harvest, bottled, aged sur lattes for four years. Disgorged in July 2023. 12,5% alcohol, dosage 1 g/l.
Quite pale greenish-yellow color. The nose feels ripe yet vaguely green-toned with aromas of yellow fruits, some fresh Granny Smith apple, light leesy tones, a little bit of green almond, a hint of zesty citrus fruit, a touch of sauvage funk and a whiff of sweet Golden Delicious apple. The wine feels dry, crisp and nuanced on the palate with a medium body and brisk flavors of steely minerality and tangy salinity, some ripe Granny Smith apple tones, a little bit of citrus fruit, light leesy tones, a hint of fresh greengage and a touch of cidery funk. The rather high acidity lends good sense of intensity to the flavors and the mousse feels modest yet firm and persistent. The finish is long, brisk and refreshing with a slightly wild aftertaste of saline minerality, some sharp Granny Smith apple tones, a little bit of leesy character, light zesty citrus fruit notes, a hint of slightly cidery funk and a red-toned touch of raspberry fruit.
A tasty and attractive Champagne, but ultimately lacking the thrill I've seen in many other Egly-Ouriet wines. This was just, well, good. Very dry due to the modest dosage, yet not too austere, thanks to the high yet not racy acidity. The balance is there and there is even a tiny bit of sauvage funk and a suggestion of wild cidery character to add some depth. However, there's nothing that would make me feel like this wine really is something special. Maybe with a bit more age the wine will develop some oxidative, nutty complexity and other, more interesting aspects? I sure do hope so. At the moment the wine is maybe a bit too pricey for its quality at 155€ in a wine bar.
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Red
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2018 Caminhos Cruzados Dão Colheita Tinto
Red Blend more
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A blend of Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro, Tinta Roriz and Jaen. Fermented in French oak barrels. Touriga Nacional and Alfrocheiro aged in oak barrels, Tinta Roriz and Jaen in stainless steel. 13,5% alcohol.
Luminous, translucent cherry-red color. The nose feels sweetly-fruited and youthful with quite primary aromas of sweet and soft dark berries, some fresh bilberries, a little bit of ripe cherry, light floral notes of violets and a hint of savory spice. The wine feels quite ripe, soft and round on the palate with a medium-to-moderately full body and somewhat sweet-toned flavors of ripe black cherries, some blueberry tones, a little bit of strawberry, light primary notes of candied dark berries and a brambly hint of raspberry. Quite modest acidity and very ripe, mellow and gentle tannins. The finish is ripe, moderately long and barely at all grippy with a soft aftertaste of ripe black raspberries, some black cherries, light strawberry tones, a little bit of bilberries, a hint of stony minerality and a touch of savory spice.
A very youthful and quite pleasant little red that feels a bit too ripe, soft and primary for my palate. Although the fruit department feels quite nice here, it is still way too young, despite the wine being almost 6 years old. Furthermore, the overall feel is a bit too solar with the very ripe and sweet-toned overall character, pretty modest acidity and super gentle tannins. The wine went nicely with food, but this was a wine I'm not going to return to. Priced according to its quality at 19€ in a restaurant (and 10,90€ at the winery).
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White - Sparkling
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2016 Quinta do Rol Grande Reserva Blanc des Blancs
Vinho Regional Lisboa
Chardonnay more
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100% Chardonnay. After the fermentation the wine is bottled with liqueur de tirage, then bottle-fermented and aged sur lattes for over 7 years. 12% alcohol, non-dosé.
Medium-deep lemon-yellow color. The nose feels nuanced and quite attractive with aromas of leesy creaminess, some honey-oats bar tones, a little bit of almond flour, light crunchy notes of star fruit, a hint of fermenting peach, sweeter touch of greengage and a whiff of apple jam. The wine feels crisp, fresh and quite characterful on the palate with a medium body and layered flavors of nutty almond character, some ripe Golden Delicious apple tones, a little bit of steely minerality, light tropical fruit flavors of fresh pineapple and ripe greengage, a leesy hint of creaminess and a savory touch of umami. Bright, high acidity and ample, voluminous and silky mousse. The finish is long, dry and savory with a medium-long aftertaste of saline minerality, some incisive steely tones, a little bit of fresh peach, light nutty notes of almond, a hint of ripe apricot and a touch of leesy creaminess.
A nice, fresh and harmonious Portuguese bubbly. I was surprised how little autolytic character the wine showed after 7 years of aging on the lees, but I guess a tiny bit of dosage and some additional bottle aging might've helped with that. However, the wine showed good sense of balance, freshness and structure. Nothing too thrilling, but nothing to complain either. A tasty appetizer, if anything. Priced according to its quality at 36€ in a wine bar and great value at 19,90€ from the winery.
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White
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2021 Viuva José Gomes da Silva & Filhos Colares Genuino Branco
Malvasia de Colares more
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100% Malvasia de Colares from ungrafted vineyards in the sandy soils of Colares. 12,5% alcohol. Total production 1100 bottles half-liter bottles.
Quite intense and rather deep yellow-green color. The nose feels rich, ripe and somewhat tropical with aromas of sweet Golden Delicious apple, some nectarine tones, a little bit of honeydew melon, light floral nuances, a hint of cooked cream and a touch of vanilla. The wine feels broad, ripe and even slightly viscous yet relatively weightless on the palate with a quite full body and ripe yet a bit understated flavors of white peach, some saline mineral tones and notes of umami, a little bit of stony minerality, light tropical fruit notes, a hint of chalky bitterness and a touch of creamy character. The moderately high acidity lends good sense of balance to the wine, but it still lacking a bit in freshness. The finish feels ripe yet not sweet-toned but more savory with a rather long and slightly viscous aftertaste of white peach, some creamy tones, a little bit of saline minerality, light marine notes of crushed oyster shells, a sweetish hint of ripe greengage and a touch of savory umami.
This was an odd bird. I was expecting a white Colares to be a brisk, mineral and acid-driven white, but this turned out to be surprisingly broad, ripe and oily effort. Not really a crowdpleaser, though - just something very different from my previous experiences with white Colares. An interesting effort for sure, but not my favorite - the ripeness and breadth made the wine feel a bit tiring after a while. Priced somewhat according to its quality at 46€ for a half-liter bottle in a restaurant.
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Red - Fortified
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NV Taylor (Fladgate) Porto 50 Year Old Tawny Golden Age
Port Blend more
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A blend of oxidatively aged Port wines which have been aging mainly in smaller oak pipes. The final blend is composed of different vintages resulting in an average age of 50 years. 20% alcohol, 158 g/l residual sugar and 5,9 g/l acidity.
Rather dark maple syrup or Cognac appearance. The rich, layered nose feels ridiculously complex with intense aromas of caramel and dusty wood, some arrack tones, a little bit of vanilla custard, light concentrated raw chocolate tones, a hint of freshly ground coffee, a touch of maple syrup and a whiff of fragrant Indian spices. The wine feels concentrated, moderately viscous and very complex on the palate with a full body and intense flavors of dried figs and dark raisins, some nutty notes of oxidation, light nuances of arrack and sweet floral spice, a little bit of fruity coffee, a hint of maple syrup and a toasty touch of custard pastry. The overall feel is substantial, yet not heavy - thanks to the surprisingly high acidity that lends great sense of structure to the wine. The finish is sweet, rich and juicy with a complex, extremely long aftertaste of arrack and caramel, some oxidative nutty tones, a little bit of mocha coffee, light dried-fruit notes of raisins and dried dates, a hint of sweet exotic spices and a touch of dusty wood.
Even if I'm more of a Vintage Port guy, this was still hands down the best Port we tasted on our trip to Portugal. And not just to my taste - this was a consensus shared by all four of us! The level of depth, complexity, intensity, concentration and - surprisingly enough - freshness is on a completely different level here. An absolutely singular Tawny with tons of everything and nothing in excess. At almost 160 g/l residual sugar, this wine is noticeably sweeter and more concentrated than your typical Port wines, yet it didn't seem as sweet in comparison. Impeccable balance. Not really an affordable wine at 298,50€ (or even at 270,99€ - the price at which it retails where I live) but this is still really something. Very highly recommended.
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Red - Fortified
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2009 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage
Port Blend more
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Made with the best fruit sourced from the Quinta de Vargellas, Quinta de Terra Feita and Quinta do Junco estates. First vinified by foot-treading, then followed by additional extraction by robotic plungers. Fortified with 77% aguardente, aged in large oak vats for 1½ to 2 years, then bottled unfined and unfiltered. 20% alcohol, 99 g/l residual sugar and 4,7 g/l acidity.
Very dark, slightly translucent and subtly evolved black cherry color with a faint pomegranate hue. At first the nose feels somewhat vague and understated with a somewhat rubbery note, then slowly opens up to reveal characterful, dark-toned aromas of blackberries and other dark berries, some black cherries, a little bit of elderberry juice, light bilberry tones, a hint of dried figs, a floral touch of violets and a whiff of cacao nibs. The wine feels juicy, sweet and quite ripe on the palate with a full body and intense flavors of juicy blackberries and overripe bilberries, some sweet plummy tones, a little bit of elderberry juice, light floral notes of violets, a hint of licorice and a touch of wizened black cherries. The overall feel is medium-to-moderately high in acidity, but the structure relies more on the quite grippy medium-plus tannins. The finish is ripe, juicy and moderately grippy with a long, sweet aftertaste of blackberry jam and overripe bilberries, some floral notes of violets, a little bit of licorice, light elderberry juice tones, dried-fruit hints of wizened black cherries and dried figs and a touch of cacao nibs.
A firm, intense and still very youthful Vintage Port. The overall feel is quite noticeably ripe and perhaps a bit sweeter, more fruit-driven than I expected from a Taylor's VP. However, the overall feel is still pretty balanced and there is enough tannic backbone to keep things from coming across as too soft. Tasting this next to the 2003 Taylor's VP, this wine was more to my liking - the wine not only packed more structure, but the overall feel was still relatively vibrant and youthful compared to the much more softer and somewhat more pruney 2003. I feel this is still going to be on an upward trajectory for quite some time. While I doubt this is going to be a particularly memorable Taylor's VP in the long run, I can still see this wine aging and improving gracefully for years - most likely even decades - more. Feels a bit pricey for its quality at 135€, though.
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Red - Fortified
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2003 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage
Port Blend more
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Made with the best fruit sourced from the Quinta de Vargellas, Quinta de Terra Feita and Quinta do Junco estates. First vinified by foot-treading, then followed by additional extraction by robotic plungers. Fortified with 77% aguardente, aged in large oak vats for 1½ to 2 years, then bottled unfined and unfiltered. 20,5% alcohol, 93 g/l residual sugar and 4,7 g/l acidity.
Deep, slightly evolved blood-red color with a light brick-red rim. The nose feels dark-toned and a bit restrained with aromas of blackberry jam, some aguardente notes, a little bit of ripe black cherry, light raisiny nuances, a hint of dried dates, a touch of earthy spices and a fragrant whiff of dried flowers. The wine feels sweet, rich and somewhat voluptuous on the palate with a full body and very juicy flavors of blackberry jam, some bilberry tones, light dried-fruit notes of raisins and dried figs, a little bit of overripe black cherry, hints of tobacco and earthy spices and a touch of aguardente. The overall feel is getting quite resolved and a bit soft with the medium acidity and ample yet very ripe and quite gentle tannins that slowly pile up on the gums. The finish is rich, long and somewhat grippy with a bold, sweet aftertaste of bilberries, some raisiny tones, a little bit of wizened figs, light blackberry jam notes, a hint of earthy spice and a touch of overripe black cherry.
A quite big, lush and unctuous Vintage Port that might've been mighty impressive in its youth, but has started to turn a bit flabby with age. The wine shows impressive richness of fruit and intensity of flavors, but the hot vintage really does show: the structure feels a bit inadequate in relation to the rich, sunny fruit that has started to develop into the direction of dried fruits. Although there is still room for additional evolution, I feel there won't be much development in a qualitative sense - the wine will only develop tertiary complexity as it ages, but it won't necessarily get any better from here. Drink or keep. Feels somewhat pricey for the quality at 158€.
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Red - Fortified
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2005 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage Vargellas
Port Blend more
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A Single-Quinta Vintage Port made with fruit sourced from the vineyards of Quinta de Terra Feita, located in the hot Douro Superior. First vinified by foot-treading, then followed by additional extraction by robotic plungers. Fortified with 77% aguardente, aged in large oak vats for 1½ to 2 years, then bottled unfined and unfiltered. 20,5% alcohol, 93,5 g/l residual sugar, 4,7 g/l acidity and pH 3,57.
Deep, slightly opaque and rather dark red cherry color with a slightly evolved maroon hue. The somewhat brooding nose feels dark-toned, deep and fruity with aromas of dark plums, some licorice tones, a little bit of blackberry marmalade and cranberry jelly, light pruney tones, a hint of tobacco, a spirituous touch of aguardente and a lifted floral whiff of violets. The wine feels vibrant, sweet and relatively youthful on the palate with a full body and intense flavors of dark plums, ripe bilberries and wizened figs, some balsamic tones, a little bit of tobacco, light raisiny and pruney tones, a hint of boysenberry marmalade and a touch of licorice. The moderately high acidity and firm medium tannins keep the overall feel harmonious and not too heavy. The finish is rich, vibrant and somewhat grippy with a long, dark-toned aftertaste of ripe boysenberries and bilberries, some floral notes of violets, a little bit of licorice and peppery spice, light raisiny nuances, a hint of tobacco and a touch of balsamic richness.
An impressive, harmonious and vibrant Single Quinta Vintage Port that feels relatively youthful at almost 20 years of age, still going on an upward trajectory. The difference between this SQVP and the softer, more evolved 2005 Taylor's Terra Feita SQVP was surprisingly big. While enjoyable, Terra Feita felt like a mellow Vintage Port close to its plateau of maturity, whereas this Vargellas was more vibrant and structure-driven, showing good potential for additional aging. A lovely wine that is priced more or less according to its quality at 30€ for a half bottle.
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Red - Fortified
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2005 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage Quinta de Terra Feita
Port Blend more
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A Single-Quinta Vintage Port made with fruit sourced from the vineyards of Quinta de Terra Feita, located on the western banks of river Pinhão, a tributary of Douro river. First vinified by foot-treading, then followed by additional extraction by robotic plungers. Fortified with 77% aguardente, aged in large oak vats for 1½ to 2 years, then bottled unfined and unfiltered. 20% alcohol.
Somewhat translucent and moderately evolved cherry-red color with a somewhat maroon hue - looks slightly lighter and more evolved than the 2005 Vargellas. The nose feels somewhat evolved with sweet, dark-toned aromas of wizened cherries, some raisiny and pruney tones, a little bit of savory meaty character, light spirituous notes of aguardente, a hint of dried flowers and a touch of cooked strawberry. The wine feels sweet, soft and somewhat resolved on the palate with a full body and moderately evolved flavors of strawberries, some dark-toned notes of prunes and raisins, a little bit of ripe black cherry, light perfumed notes of dried flowers, a boozy hint of aguardente and a touch of blueberry jam. The somewhat modest medium acidity only accentuates the overall roundness of the wine, although the somewhat grippy medium-plus tannins bring some welcome firmness to the palate. The finish is rich, somewhat grippy and moderately warm with a sweet, quite long aftertaste of raisins, some wizened black cherries, a little bit of strawberry jam, light pruney tones, a hint of sun-baked earth and a savory touch of meaty umami.
A rich, somewhat soft and moderately evolved Single Quinta Vintage Port. Pleasant, but nothing particularly impressive - I was actually quite surprised how evolved the wine seemed. While still far from falling apart, this wine was still noticeably much more developed and closer to its plateau of maturity compared to the 2005 Vargellas that we tasted at the same time. I doubt the wine is going to improve much with additional aging, so there is no harm done by popping a bottle open now. Feels somewhat expensive for the quality at 30€ for a half bottle.
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White
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2020 Quinta Vale D. Maria Douro Branco Vinha de Martim
White Blend more
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Made with a field blend sourced from a very old (80 yo), interplanted vineyard. All fruit is destemmed and then left to settle in temperature-controlled 2,500-liter stainless steel tanks. Racked into new 500-liter French oak casks, in which the wine is fermented and aged for 9 months. 13% alcohol, less than 2 g/l residual sugar, 5,8 g/l acidity and pH 3,34.
Lemon-yellow color with a youthful greenish hue. The nose feels somewhat sweet-toned and a bit toasty with aromas of ripe yellow fruits, some toasty oak tones, light creamy nuances, a little bit of exotic fruits, a hint of honeyed richness, a touch of mango and a whiff of nutty wood. The wine feels dry, broad and slightly viscous on the palate with full body and intense flavors of nutty wood, some creamy tones, a little bit of fresh Golden Delicious apple, light mineral notes of chalk dust, a hint of honeydew melon and a touch of savory spice. Despite the flavor intensity, the fruit department feels somewhat underwhelming compared to the mineral and woody nuances. Fortunately the wine is quite fresh, firm and precise - with a heavier overall feel the wine might come across as pretty dull and ponderous. The finish is long, dry and a bit restrained with flavors of saline minerality, some creamy and woody notes of oak spice, a little bit of savory umami, light mineral notes of chalk dust, a hint of tart Granny Smith apple and a nutty touch of slivered almonds.
A pleasant, fine-tuned and pretty refreshing single-vineyard Douro white that feels surprisingly understated in the fruit department. The wine isn't particularly oaky, but the woody notes dominate the wine quite noticeably due to the rather underwhelming fruit flavors, making the wine feel a bit unbalanced. The overall feel is that of a pleasant and enjoyably intense yet still not perfectly harmonious white wine. I guess it's possible the wine is just too young for its own good and it only calls for some additional aging before the woodier tones integrate better with the fresh yet somewhat light fruit. This was a nice effort with food, but it always came across as somewhat clumsy and lackluster on its own. Feels somewhat pricey for its quality at 88€ in a restaurant.
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White
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2022 Quinta de Paços Alvarinho Vinho Verde Casa do Capitão-mor Monção e Melgaço
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An Alvarinho from Monção. The fruit is destemmed and about 20% of the fruit is left to macerate in the must for 6 hours before the fermentation. Aged for 9 months in stainless steel, bottled early in the summer. 13% alcohol.
Youthful herby green appearance. The nose feels very youthful and primary with aromas of ripe pear and pear drops, some juicy Fuji apple tones, a little bit of cantaloupe, light tropical fruit tones and a primary hint of exotic fruit candies. The wine feels youthful, dry and very slightly oily on the palate with a moderately full body and quite primary flavors of steely minerality, some candied primary fruit notes of pear drops, a little bit of cantaloupe, light mineral notes of wet rocks, a hint of apple peel bitterness and a touch of fresh herby character. The acidity feels moderately high - enough to make the wine firm and balanced, even if it isn't that crisp or precise. The finish is ripe, youthful and juicy with moderately long flavors of ripe pear and pear drops, some apple peel bitterness, a little bit of cantaloupe, light sweet notes of juicy yellow stone fruits and a hint of chalk dust.
A nice, balanced and quite fresh Alvarinho that feels maybe a bit too round, exotic and primary for its own good. I think this has good potential to become something interesting, but at the moment the wine is just way too primary; I'm not really a fan of the pear drop primary flavors - and this wine is, at the moment, all about them. Most likely the wine will lose those after another year or two; hopefully this will be much better and more balanced by then. Priced according to its quality at 22€ in a restaurant.
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White - Sparkling
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2016 Hehn & Meirelles Távora-Varosa Família Hehn Método Clássico Bruto Reserva
White Blend more
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A blend of Cerceal, Malvasia Fina and Touriga Nacional. Aged sur lattes for approximately six years, disgorged in November 2022. 12% alcohol.
Pale yellow color. Quite rich and expressive nose with aromas of juicy yellow fruits, some floral tones, a little bit of fresh apricot and light nuances of aromatic herbs. The wine feels dry, mineral and somewhat lean on the palate with a medium body and quite modest fruit. There are flavors of incisive steely minerality, some leesy tones, a little bit of zesty citrus fruit and a hint of apple bitterness. The mousse feels harmonious, smooth and creamy and the acidity comes across as brisk and zippy. The wine does pick up some richness with air, but still remains rather understated until the end. The finish is dry, crisp and lively with a clean, bright aftertaste of steely minerality, some tart citrus fruit tones, a little bit of sharp Granny Smith apple, light crunchy notes of white currants and a hint of leesy yeast.
A nice, refreshing and palate-cleansing bubbly. The wine does show great sense of freshness and the nose feels quite attractive, but on the palate is a bit of a let-down: the wine is lacking in depth and flavor. This feels like a young, nervous Blanc de Blancs Champagne that is all about acidity and minerality, not really about fruit. I wonder if the wine picks up some depth and complexity with additional aging? Maybe a bit pricey for the quality at 28€ in a restaurant.
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Red - Fortified
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NV Graham Porto 40 Year Old Tawny
Port Blend more
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A blend of oxidatively aged Port wines which have been aging mainly in smaller oak pipes. The final blend is composed of different vintages resulting in an average age of 40 years. 20% alcohol, 114 g/l residual sugar and 5,0 g/l acidity.
Relatively pale and fully translucent nutty brown color. The nose feels very concentrated, rich and rather hot with bold, intense aromas of caramel and toffee, some fragrant notes of arrack, a little bit of dried flowers, light dried-fruit notes of Sultana raisins and dried dates, a hint of exotic spices, a boozy touch of aguardente and a whiff of roasted hazelnuts. Tons of things going on here. The wine feels concentrated, hot and oxidative on the palate with a full body, somewhat viscous texture and very intense, sweet and tertiary flavors of caramel and nutty rancio, some arrack tones, a little bit of dried flowers, light stony mineral notes, a hint of exotic spices and a touch of fudge. The high alcohol comes through quite a bit, as a sort of counterpoint to the heavy, oily viscosity. The acidity comes across as somewhat high and concentrated, lending a lovely streak of freshness to the wine. The finish is juicy, sweet and concentrated with a very persistent aftertaste of oxidative nutty tones and caramel, some dried-fruit notes of red prunes and Sultana raisins, a little bit of dried flowers, light lifted nuances of citrus zest, a hint of burnt sugar bitterness and a touch of dried dates.
An absolutely beautiful Tawny Port that is all about concentration, depth and complexity. Although I'm more of a Vintage Port guy, this was still among one of the best Port Wines we tasted on our trip to Portugal. It was fun to taste this next to the Graham's 20 and 30 yo Tawnies - with each jump in style, the color and appearance seemed to get lighter, yet the wines became heavier, more concentrated and more intensely flavored. With this much concentration and sweetness, this is not a graceful wine in any way - just a huge smack of Tawny greatness across your face. An absolute banger. Not a particularly affordable wine at 165€, but arguably delivers for the money.
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Red - Fortified
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NV Graham Porto 30 Year Old Tawny
Port Blend more
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A blend of oxidatively aged Port wines which have been aging mainly in smaller oak pipes. The final blend is composed of different vintages resulting in an average age of 30 years. 20% alcohol, 120 g/l residual sugar and 5,6 g/l acidity.
Translucent, moderately deep syrupy-brown color - is less deep as the 20 yo Tawny and lacking its faint red-toned hue. The nose feels concentrated and quite intensely aromatic with complex and wonderfully intense aromas of syrupy molasses, some dried dates, light wizened dark berry notes, a little bit of roasted hazelnuts, a hint of butterscotch, a touch of caramel and a whiff of bitter orange rind. The wine feels sweet, round and moderately viscous on the palate with a full body and rich, intense flavors of syrupy molasses, some dried dates, light caramel tones, a little bit of butterscotch, a hint of oxidative nuttiness and a touch of dried black cherries. There are no perceptible tannins, but the medium acidity manages to keep the wine pretty nicely in balance. The finish is long, sweet and succulent with an intense aftertaste of cooked strawberries, some dried dates, light nutty notes of oxidation, a little bit of wizened black cherries, hints of toffee and buttersctoch and a touch of syrupy molasses.
A wonderfully rich, complex and intensely flavored 30 Tawny that is always a pleasure. The pronounced richness and sweetness typical of the Graham's style often feels a bit excessive in their 10 and 20 yo Tawnies, but to me, it matches the flavor intensity and complexity pretty well at this level - making this wine stand quite noticeably above the Graham's 20 yo Tawny. Not the most complex or otherwise exceptional Tawny out there, but a fine and impressive wine all the same. Perhaps betting a bit expensive for the quality at 115€, but not excessively so.
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Red - Fortified
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NV Graham Porto 20 Year Old Tawny
Port Blend more
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A blend of oxidatively aged Port wines which have been aging mainly in smaller oak pipes. The final blend is composed of different vintages resulting in an average age of 20 years. 20% alcohol, 118 g/l residual sugar and 4,7 g/l acidity.
Luminous, translucent and quite reddish coppery color. The nose feels rich and syrupy-sweet with layered, somewhat red-toned aromas of dried dates and cherry marmalade, some oxidative nutty tones, a little bit of dark raisiny fruit, light spirituous notes of aguardente, a hint of ripe strawberry, a touch of burnt sugar and a whiff of caramel. The wine feels sweet, rich and juicy with complex flavors of dried figs and ripe strawberries, some raisiny tones, a little bit of dried date, light caramel nuances, a hint of nutty oxidation and a touch of red prunes. The wine is moderately high in acidity with a slightest touch of tannic tug on the gums. The high alcohol lends some warmth to the palate. The finish is juicy, sweet and slightly warm with a long aftertaste of dried dates and stewed strawberries, some raisiny tones, a little bit of nutty oxidation, light caramel nuances, a hint of orange marmalade and a touch of maple syrup.
A rich, juicy and tasty Tawny Port with good sense of depth and complexity but also quite a bit of sweetness. The overall feel is quite mellow and very approachable; the rather pronounced sweetness makes this feel a bit of a crowdpleaser for a 20 yo Tawny. While undeniably an enjoyable effort with good, balancing acidity, I still prefer my 20 yo Tawnies a bit drier and less sweet - the high residual sugar seems to slightly muddle the details, only accentuating the already sweet dried-fruit flavors even further. A good and thoroughly pleasurable wine, but not my favorite 20 yo Tawny. Priced more or less according to its quality at 44€.
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White - Fortified
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NV Graham Porto Blend No 5. Meio-Seco
White Blend more
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A new, modern take on white Port: unlike traditional white Ports, which are made more or less like red Ports (macerated with the skins in lagares and aged in oak vats), this blend of Moscatel Galego and Malvasia Fina is made with free-run juice that is fortified with a neutral spirit, aged in stainless steel tanks and bottled in winter, only three months after the harvest. The wine is designed to be a fresh and fruity alternative for the port in Port & tonic cocktails. 19% alcohol, 60-65 g/l residual sugar.
Youthful, pale and almost completely colorless whitish-green appearance. The nose feels very youthful and primary with striking Sauvignon Blanc-like aromas of green currants and currant leaves, some passion fruit, light perfumed and musky floral tones, a little bit of lemon marmalade, a herby hint of grassy greenness and a touch of white peach. The wine feels youthful and quite round yet still surprisingly fresh on the palate with a full body and sweet flavors of floral Muscat character, some apple jam, light primary notes of grapey fruit, a little bit of ripe white peach, a hint of Sultana raisin and a touch of mango. The medium-to-moderately high acidity keeps the wine in balance. The finish is rich, round and medium-long with a sweet aftertaste of white peach, some lemon marmalade, light primary notes of sweet grapey fruit, a little bit of floral Muscat character, exotic fruit hints of mango and passion fruit and a touch of currant leaves.
A fun, easy and quite tasty white Port unlike any other white Port I've tasted. At first the wine felt like a sweet, beefed-up Sauvignon Blanc, but once those musky Muscat notes kicked in and fleshed those vaguely vegetal notes, this turned out to be a pretty nice effort. Not a particularly serious wine - but I guess it's obvious from the bottle's appearance alone. Although the wine's main function is to be blended with tonic water, I think this could be a terrific sipper with an ice or two, enjoyed poolside. While not a spectacular wine in any way, this is a great re-interpretation of white Port in itself!
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Red - Fortified
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2016 Graham Porto Vintage
Port Blend more
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The wine is a blend of traditional Port varieties (mainly Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Amarela) harvested from the four renowned Symington Quintas: Quinta dos Malvedos (41%), Quinta da Tua (25%) and Quinta da Vila Velha (16%) in Cima Corgo; and Quinta do Vale de Malhadas (18%) in Douro Superior. Bottled unfiltered in May 2018. 20% alcohol, 115 g/l residual sugar, and 4,49 g/l acidity.
Deep, intensely colored and rather opaque blackish-red color with a blueish hue. The nose is just explosively fruity bursting with aromas of blueberries, some purplish primary fruit tones, a little bit of ripe cherry, light fragrant floral and eucalyptus tones, a hint of blackcurrant jam, a touch of savory spices and a spirituous touch of aguardente. The wine feels rich, intensely flavored and noticeably sweet on the palate with a full body and still remarkably youthful flavors of boysenberries and blueberry jam, some floral tones, a little bit of peppery spice, light black cherry tones, primary hints of raspberry jellies and candied strawberry and a boozy touch of aguardente. The overall feel is medium-to-moderately high in acidity with ample yet quite ripe and mellow tannins that contribute more to the texture than to the structure of the wine. The finish is rich, long and intense with a quite gentle tannic grip and a sweet aftertaste of boysenberries and black cherry marmalade, some blueberry jam tones, a little bit of soft dark plum, light boozy notes of aguardente, lifted hints of violets and eucalyptus and a touch of savory spices.
A very lush, rich and fruit-driven Vintage Port that is still super young and at times even primary in character. The wine is - as one can expect from a Graham's VP - quite sweet and luscious in fruit, often veering towards jammy, yet kept together with the acidity and tannins. However, I was surprised how soft and accessible the wine was: the borderline jammy fruit flavors really jump at you, the acidity feels a bit modest for a wine this sweet and the tannins are very mellow and gentle for such a young wine. I was honestly expecting the wine to be a lot more muscular and grippy. Most likely the wine will continue to evolve and improve for several decades, but I must admit that the overall style is a bit too rich and soft for my preference. Considering how 2016 was supposed to be a vintage of freshness and elegance, but I really don't see it here; this feels more like a Port from a quite hot vintage. I can understand Graham's is aiming for a sweeter flavor profile, but I think that with this modest acidity the wine might've felt more balanced with slightly less residual sugar. Feels quite pricey for the quality at 90€.
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Red - Fortified
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2000 Graham Porto Vintage
Port Blend more
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The wine is a blend of traditional Port varieties (mainly Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Amarela) harvested from the five Symington quintas in the Douro Valley: Quinta dos Malvedos, Quinta do Tua, Quinta das Lages, Quinta da Vila Velha and Quinta do Vale de Malhadas. Bottled unfiltered in 2002. 20% alcohol, 110 g/l residual sugar and 4,58 g/l acidity.
Dark yet still moderately translucent black cherry color. The nose feels sweet, brooding and slightly perfumed with dark-toned aromas of ripe black cherries and blackberry jam, some fragrant minty and floral tones, a little bit of dark chocolate, light dried-fruit notes of dried figs and raisins, a hint of exotic spices, a touch of coffee and a whiff of blueberry liqueur. The wine feels rich, balanced and - true to the Graham's style - quite sweet on the palate with a full body and intense flavors of overripe bilberries and boysenberry jam, some cool, fragrant minty tones, a little bit of bittersweet dark chocolate, light stewed strawberry tones, dried-fruit hints of raisins and dried figs and a touch of dark-roast coffee. Not only is the wine moderately high in acidity, but also pretty stern and chewy with its ample and still moderately grippy tannins that make the wine feel pretty robust and muscular. The finish is sweet, quite warm and moderately grippy with a long, powerful aftertaste of cherry marmalade, some blueberry liqueur and boysenberry jam tones, a little bit of minty greenness, light notes of ripe strawberries, a hint of dried figs and a touch of coffee. The wine ends on a warming, grippy note.
I had tasted this wine some 11 years ago and back then I thought the wine wasn't as tightly-knit as many Graham's VPs are and maybe not among the most long-lived vintages. Well, now - having tasted this wine next to Graham's 1994 and 2016 VPs, I must admit that age has done some things to this wine! It seems that the wine must've come softer, sweeter and fruitier in its youth and now, after age has polished away some of the fruit and sweetness, the wine comes across as surprisingly muscular and structure-driven for a Graham's. Yes, the wine retains that richness and marmaladey sweetness of the house style, but the overall feel is still surprisingly firm and serious for such a rich wine. Ten years ago I wrote how one should wait until the wine is 20-25 yo before popping it open. Now, at 23½ years of age, the wine still seems surprisingly youthful and obviously on an upward trajectory - the other people in the tasting even said that this vintage wasn't particularly enjoyable compared to the more accessible 1994 and 2016! However, I was sold - and I admit that I was wrong with my initial, decade-old tasting note - this is turning out to be a very fantastic and long-lived vintage of Graham's Vintage Port after all! Superb stuff that really benefits from additional cellaring - expect the score to go up as the wine ages. This winery re-release may be a bit on the pricey side at 140€, but at least you get a wine with impeccable provenance straight from the Graham's lodge!
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Red - Fortified
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1994 Graham Porto Vintage
Port Blend more
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The wine is a blend of traditional Port varieties (mainly Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Amarela) harvested from the two renowned Symington Quintas: Quinta dos Malvedos in Cima Corgo; and Quinta das Lages in Rio Torto valley. Bottled unfiltered in 1996. 20% alcohol, 105 g/l residual sugar, 4,8 g/l acidity and pH 3,56.
Very slightly hazy and somewhat translucent plummy-red color with an evolved maroon hue. The nose feels sweet, complex and slightly raisiny with attractive aromas of dried figs and dark raisins, some lifted minty or eucalyptus tones, a little bit of spirituous aguardente character, light nuances of blueberries and blackberry liqueur, a hint of wizened black cherry and a touch of roasted nuts. The wine feels sweet, mellow and nuanced on the palate with a full body and rich flavors of dark raisiny fruits, some cherry marmalade, light notes of dried figs, a little bit of blueberry jam, developed hints of roasted exotic spices and nuts and a touch of stewed strawberry. The structure relies more on the moderately high acidity than on the gentle, silky and quite resolved tannins. The finish is rich, long and slightly grippy with a sweet, intensely-flavored aftertaste of cherry marmalade and stewed strawberry, some raisiny tones, a little bit of minty green lift, light nutty nuances, a hint of evolved nuttiness and a touch of eucalyptus oil. The high alcohol makes the wine end on a moderately warm note.
A lovely, harmonious and very suave Vintage Port that is in a beautiful phase right now. Maybe a tad less impressive than the superb 1997 vintage I tasted a few years ago (and the somewhat more sinewy 1994 Dow's VP tasted only the day before this 1994 VP!) but we're talking about very fine details now. I prefer my VP's either with good sense of structure, or with enough tertiary complexity so that they are slowly turning into Colheitas. To me, this 1994 VP had started to lose its structure, turning into this suave, gentle old gentleman - yet retaining enough fruit to be easily identifiable as a Vintage Port. I feel this wine still has lots to give once it reaches its final tertiary phase, but that is going to take at least another decade of aging. You need to be patient with this vintage. This re-release might not be a particularly affordable wine at 170€ from the winery, but at least you get a wine with perfect provenance at that price.
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Red - Fortified
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NV Dow Porto 30 Year Old Tawny
Port Blend more
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A blend of oxidatively aged Port wines, some of which have been aging in smaller pipes resulting in more evaporation, concentration and evolution; others in large balseiros ie. oak vats, in which the wine evolve very slowly and retain their freshness. The final blend is composed of different vintages resulting in an average age of 30 years. 20% alcohol.
Deep, moderately translucent and pretty dark amber color with a luminous coppery core. The sweet nose feels quite captivating with complex aromas of maple syrup and arrack, some wizened figs, a little bit of oxidative nuttiness, light fragrant notes of dried flowers and dusty wood, a hint of cherry marmalade, a touch of burnt sugar and a faint whiff of vanilla custard. The wine feels sweet, oily and viscous on the palate with a full body and intense flavors of maple syrup and caramel, some sweet notes of dried figs and apricots, a little bit of exotic spices, light peppery tones, a fragrant hint of dried flowers and a touch of arrack. Although wine is pretty rich and concentrated and the mouthfeel is somewhat sticky, the wine retains enough acidity to keep the overall feel surprisingly fresh and precise. The intensely flavored finish is complex, concentrated and slightly sticky with a persistent, sweet-yet-savory aftertaste of maple syrup and caramel, some oxidative notes of caramel and straw, a little bit of peppery spice, light fragrant nuances of arrack and vanilla, dried-fruit hints of dried figs and apricots and a touch of honey.
A beautiful, harmonious and wonderfully complex Tawny Port with lots of everything. Although the wine is quite rich, sweet and concentrated, it still retains remarkable sense of freshness and poise. Also, typical of Dow, the wine feels slightly drier and more peppery than your typical 30-yo Tawny. Absolutely gorgeous stuff. Not the cheapest wine out there at 115€ but boy is this great stuff.
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Red - Fortified
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1995 Quinta do Vesuvio Porto Vintage
Port Blend more
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Made with fruit sourced from the Vesúvio estate vineyards in Douro Superior, near the Spanish border. The fruit is trodden by foot in granite lagares, then the fermentation is arrested at 20% ABV by fortification and the wine is moved to age in large oak casks. 20% alcohol, 102 g/l residual sugar and 4,8 g/l acidity.
Deep, moderately opaque blackish-red color with an evolved maroon hue. The nose feels wonderfully fragrant, floral and lifted with nuanced aromas of minty greenness and Sichuan pepper, some juicy bilberries, a little bit of wizened dark plum, light figgy tones, a spirituous hint of aguardente, a touch of raisiny fruit and a whiff of cigar box. The wine feels sweet, mellow and silky on the palate with a full body and complex, evolved flavors of raisins and dried dates, some minty green tones, a little bit of pruney dark fruit, light savory notes of autumnal leaves, a hint of dried black cherry and a touch of juicy blueberries. The moderately high acidity lends good sense of balance to the wine, but the structure relies more on the firmness from the silky medium-plus tannins that slowly pile up on the gums. The finish is rich, long and quite sweet with an intense yet mellow aftertaste of raisiny dark fruit, some prunes and dried dates, a little bit of extracted bitterness, light autumnal notes of damp leaves, a hint of ripe black cherry and a touch of cooked strawberry.
A beautiful, harmonious and quite fascinating Vintage Port that stood in stark contrast to the slightly drier and noticeably more angular 1994 Dow's Vintage Port. While the Dow's VP seemed to emphasize the more savory and peppery tones, the emphasis on this Vesuvio was on somewhat sweeter dried-fruit flavors and a more mellow, silky overall feel. However, what really caught my attention was the wonderfully fragrant, slightly green-toned and herby elements that gave the wine's aromas a wholly new dimension. Our preference for the wines was pretty divided - although I found this 1995 Vesuvio a very wonderful Vintage Port, I still preferred the slightly leaner and drier style of Dow's more. However, some said the silkier, sweeter and more fruit-driven style of this Vesuvio was much more to their liking. This re-release is maybe not particularly affordable at 130€, but at least you get a wine with perfect provenance at that price!
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Red - Fortified
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1994 Dow Porto Vintage
Port Blend more
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This is a re-release of this legendary vintage from the Symington stock that has been aging in the Vila Nova de Gaia lodge. Made with fruit sourced from the two Dow estates, Quinta do Bomfim in Cima Corgo and Quinta de Senhora da Ribeira in Douro Superior, both which are planted to high percentage of Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional. There is also a not insignificant amount of Tinta Barroca, along with some Tinta Roriz and a smaller amount of local interplanted varieties. Bottled unfined and unfiltered in 1996, after 18 months of aging in traditional 535-liter oak pipes. 20% alcohol, 92 g/l residual sugar, 4,8 g/l acidity and pH 3,61.
Evolved, slightly hazy reddish-maroon color. The nose feels sweet, fine-tuned and very attractive with evolved aromas of raisins and prunes, some pipe tobacco, light autumnal notes of leafy undergrowth, a little bit of minty lift, sweet hints of ripe black cherries ad boysenberries, a touch of dried bilberries and a whiff of smoke. The wine feels broad, silky and rather sweet on the palate with a full body and rich yet savory flavors of blueberries and wizened black cherries, some pruney tones, a little bit of gravelly minerality, light peppery notes along with savory, earthy spices, hints of tobacco and dried flowers and a touch of dried figs. Despite its age, the wine still retains great sense of structure, due to its relatively high acidity and ample tannins that feel ripe and silky, yet retain quite a bit of grip and firmness. The finish is long, complex and moderately grippy with a sweet-yet-savory aftertaste of wizened blueberries and black cherries, some evolved meaty tones, a little bit of peppery spice, light boysenberry tones, a hint of tobacco and a touch of dried fig.
A fantastic, complex and still wonderfully vibrant Vintage Port that is starting to show some age, yet is not quite at its plateau of maturity. Tasting this side-by-side with the sweeter, more mellow 1995 Quinta do Vesuvio VP, the drier, peppery and somewhat more angular house style of Dow's became very obvious. This is a harmonious, beautifully matured and rather structure-driven Vintage Port that is in a wonderful spot right now, but I can see this wine aging, evolving and improving for at least a few decades more. An outstanding wine already now, but expect the score to inch even further up as the wine ages. This re-release is not a particularly affordable wine at 170€, but at least you get a wine with perfect provenance at that price!
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