Community Tasting Note

sweetstuff wrote:

Thursday, December 17, 2015 - 2005 Croft Vintage Porto Quinta da Roeda, 20 pabv, Quinta and Vineyard Bottlers Vinhos SA, Vila Nova de Gaia, Kobrand, New York, Arbutus inedo (Strawberry Tree) labeling. Cork finished, ciean sided when removed with Durand double spiral-clamp. Undecanted; quick-falling tears.

Colors beginning to soften and fade, call it out to 10 mm. Thick-textured and teary. Nose comes on with sweet orange and sweet cherry, an interesting blend. Underneath there is anise and a hint of savory tomato and pepper broth and a still-energetic background. with some high tones still lurking there. Palate expresses all this very well. The previous greenness has now melted into mint julep with no hard edges at all. Still lots of fruit to concoct and more to look forward to. There's lots of sweet vanilla in the finish mixed with thyme and tobacco, and the previous sight hardness has now become the merest hint of heat, with a tannic presence coming out at last in the wash. All in all, I've hit this a little too early, treating it at$32 like a LBV, which is sort of a no-no in my books, but there are still 3 left, probably giving best results if not drunk up before 10 more years. After aill, that's their 20th birthday, so need to save one for 2025, if I'm still here and able to enjoy. 94/100.

After about 14 days in a decanter, the appearance is the same. There is a tarry cherry juice and mint nose, very lovely, with tobacco smoke and with a note of vanillin oak underlying. It has come together with a more harmonious texture and savory finish, and a mouthful of ripe tannins needing some resolution yet. This wine has a definite upside, and it's being drunk way too early. Needs a minimum of 10 more years to peak, and plenty of time from then on. 95/100

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