Vindredi (2016 Ports + California Cabernet)

Tonight's theme was 2016 Ports, however due to availability issues, we supplemented that with some California Cabs. These were not tasted blind.

• 2010 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Silky, rich and dense. Smooth as velvet. Lots of ripe red and black fruit, both sweet and slightly tart (black cherry and a little cranberry). Finishes with lots of length and super fine, integrated tannins.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Continuum Proprietary Red

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Beautiful wine! Smoky, earthy nose with toast and tobacco. Soft and elegant, this comese across as a little more savory on the palate, though there's plenty of lush black and dark red fruit, too. Fine, silky-soft tannins on a lovely finish.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Peter Michael Les Pavots

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

  Soft, supple, and elegant; the structure that's usually present on these early on has softened a bit. Plum and cassis fruit. Finishes with good length, and a good amount of acid. Still could use some more time.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2016 Croft Porto Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Sweet and slightly medicinal. Ripe red and black fruit, densely packed on the palate.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2016 Cockburn Porto Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Candied fig and raisin. Sweet and pure, with a nice balance.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2016 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Lots of structure at the moment, with both tannin and acid coming across prominently. Nice fruit overall, and seems like this will age well.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2016 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Lovely, sweet and ripe nose, with a body to match. Grape, fig, flowers and raisin. Nicely balanced with good fresh acidity.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2016 Dow Porto Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  My notes are limited, but this was quite nice on both the nose and palate. Nicely balanced with a lengthy, balanced and structured finish.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1970 Graham Porto Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Surprisingly fresh, with lots of sweet fruit still. Very elegant, with smooth integrated tannin, and a lovely lengthy finish.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1977 Graham Porto Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Showing a little bit of heat. Not as fresh as the 1970 tasted alongside, but still some nice candied cherry fruit.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1983 Graham Porto Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Showing more structure, acid, and a bit of fruit. I don't have detailed notes, but this was the favorite of a few folks at the tasting. Seems like it just still needs more time.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2011 Graham Porto Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Hard to compare this to the 1970/1977/1983 we tasted alongside! Younger, sweeter, denser, and certainly more structured. It's got nice fruit and texture, and probably needs another 20 years of rest.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue