Sammamish Port Club - Vintage and Old White Ports (Sammamish, Washington): Ruby-purplish-brown in color. Slightly cloudy. Violets, chocolate, and a touch of dried fruit (especially prune) on the nose. Very rich, powerful entry with fantastic balance on the palate. Great fresh, crushed dark fruit backed by chocolate and some subtle herbal notes. There is a rich intensity here that makes this wine so very drinkable, but not at the expense of quality or structure.
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In Vermont with Rosanne and Randy in Vermont, Steve and Sally. Very nice showing. Only minimally spirity, and the next day the fruit was plusher and no longer spirity.
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Nickolls and Perks 30th Anniversary tasting of Symington's Vintage Ports (Zoom): A fairly mature appearance, and bright, light and crystal clear. Very notably red fruit on the nose: sweet cherry, a touch of strawberry syrup, and a little lift. Very elegant palate. Bright charming fruit. Definitely ready to drink now, but there are still some structural tannins yet to integrate fully. Drinking well, but plenty of time ahead.
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Sammamish Port Club - December 2019 (Sammamish, Washington): Decanted 5 hours. Medium ruby in color. Great dark fruit of black cherry and plum, as well as some floral notes on the nose. Young, dark fruit on the palate with some baking spice, and cinnamon. Extremely balanced mid-palate and some great dark fruit notes with a touch of that cinnamon spice on the very long finish.
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A solid effort for the vintage. Still with rich dark plum, chocolate, and decent acidity, but not quite enough to raise the succulence level. But good with dates, chocolate and Stilton (how could it not be?).
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Sammamish Port Club - October 2018 (Sammamish, Washington): Medium-dark purple in color. Subtle dark berry and some mint on the nose. Ripe red berries and currants on the palate. Good balance with bright fruit and balanced tannins. Long Finish.
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This is not a compelling port for me. It displays cooked fruit flavors and muddy spices, like a mulled wine in a way. Concentration is good, but energy is lacking. Good ports create waves in the mouth; this one stagnates.
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2016 Port Harvest Tour; 9/18/2016-9/25/2016 (Portugal): From a very wet winter and hot summer. Semi-opaque. Slight cloudy. Amber in color. Eucalyptus on the nose with some floral notes. Austere fruit, with red notes and some spirit on the palate.
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A singleton. Translucent medium red but no bricking. After two hours in decanter aromas (I have a slight cold) of cooked red fruits, smoke and touch of vanilla. Flavour of summer pudding, desert fruits (dates, figs) and a charred wood background all in sweet elegant concentration and harmony. A fine port at or near its peak for drinking over the next 5 years or so. 93+
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Enjoyed, it, decanted 8 hours before drinking. Still showed dark purple color on the edge with good violets and dark fruits to the nose. great balance. A very good port, but why does one have to wait so long. could wait another 10 years easily.
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Really good, exceeded expecatations. Well balanced and drinkable for port. Perfectly expressive and ready to drink, and will last but probably not improve for years more.
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Decanted about 4 hours before serving. Still has a dark, purple coloring and big blockbuster of a nose. Lots of fruit, spice, chocolate with a bit of leather on the finish. While wonderful, probably needs more time to completely mellow!
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Long decant. Dark like prunes. Sweet blackcurrants dominate on the nose, with very pleasant aromas of candyfloss and bubblegum; just a hint of caramelisation, with a fair amount of heat. Figs, jam, plum pudding and some glacé cherries on the palate; this is sweeter to taste than the nose would suggest - a shame it is not better balanced. However, pleasant to drink and a high quality wine. Long finish impresses.
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From a molasses black bottle, decanted approx 3 hours before serving. A nice medium-dark colored port withno bricking on the rim. Smooth with youthful red fruit aromas but none of the mature port flavors. Still young!!
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Bill's Monthly Lunch - April 2010 (Vancouver, BC): Tasted blind – dark red/purple in colour. Concentrated notes of reduced black fruits, black currants and black liquorice. Some heat coming through on the palate. Needs time. Excellent. 90+
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Wonderful concentrated dark fruit - plum and blackberry. Smooth approach with some fennel and spice on the mid-palate. Some tobacco on the nose. Slightly clipped at the end of the medium finish.
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Notes from the second day: Brandy and plum nose. Very hard tar notes with cassis, plum, and blackberry fruit. Long finish with carmel and sweet tannin flavors. More approachable than the first day of drinking.
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11/18/2023 - 2ndvinwine Likes this wine:
Fabulous Bottle!
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9/16/2023 - theportguy wrote: 95 Points
Sammamish Port Club - Vintage and Old White Ports (Sammamish, Washington): Ruby-purplish-brown in color. Slightly cloudy. Violets, chocolate, and a touch of dried fruit (especially prune) on the nose. Very rich, powerful entry with fantastic balance on the palate. Great fresh, crushed dark fruit backed by chocolate and some subtle herbal notes. There is a rich intensity here that makes this wine so very drinkable, but not at the expense of quality or structure.
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7/25/2023 - cweiss Likes this wine:
In Vermont with Rosanne and Randy in Vermont, Steve and Sally. Very nice showing. Only minimally spirity, and the next day the fruit was plusher and no longer spirity.
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11/25/2021 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 93 Points
Nickolls and Perks 30th Anniversary tasting of Symington's Vintage Ports (Zoom): A fairly mature appearance, and bright, light and crystal clear.
Very notably red fruit on the nose: sweet cherry, a touch of strawberry syrup, and a little lift.
Very elegant palate. Bright charming fruit. Definitely ready to drink now, but there are still some structural tannins yet to integrate fully.
Drinking well, but plenty of time ahead.
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11/20/2021 - theportguy wrote: flawed
Reds and Ports (Sammamish, Washington): TCA
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12/6/2019 - theportguy wrote: 94 Points
Sammamish Port Club - December 2019 (Sammamish, Washington): Decanted 5 hours. Medium ruby in color. Great dark fruit of black cherry and plum, as well as some floral notes on the nose. Young, dark fruit on the palate with some baking spice, and cinnamon. Extremely balanced mid-palate and some great dark fruit notes with a touch of that cinnamon spice on the very long finish.
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11/6/2019 - portman63 Likes this wine: 90 Points
A solid effort for the vintage. Still with rich dark plum, chocolate, and decent acidity, but not quite enough to raise the succulence level. But good with dates, chocolate and Stilton (how could it not be?).
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10/13/2018 - theportguy wrote: 90 Points
Sammamish Port Club - October 2018 (Sammamish, Washington): Medium-dark purple in color. Subtle dark berry and some mint on the nose. Ripe red berries and currants on the palate. Good balance with bright fruit and balanced tannins. Long Finish.
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9/20/2018 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 87 Points
This is not a compelling port for me. It displays cooked fruit flavors and muddy spices, like a mulled wine in a way. Concentration is good, but energy is lacking. Good ports create waves in the mouth; this one stagnates.
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9/20/2016 - theportguy wrote: 90 Points
2016 Port Harvest Tour; 9/18/2016-9/25/2016 (Portugal): From a very wet winter and hot summer. Semi-opaque. Slight cloudy. Amber in color. Eucalyptus on the nose with some floral notes. Austere fruit, with red notes and some spirit on the palate.
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3/9/2015 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 93 Points
A singleton. Translucent medium red but no bricking. After two hours in decanter aromas (I have a slight cold) of cooked red fruits, smoke and touch of vanilla.
Flavour of summer pudding, desert fruits (dates, figs) and a charred wood background all in sweet elegant concentration and harmony.
A fine port at or near its peak for drinking over the next 5 years or so. 93+
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1/25/2015 - Big Joe Likes this wine: 94 Points
Yes!
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11/28/2014 - jaumealaska Likes this wine: 91 Points
Enjoyed, it, decanted 8 hours before drinking. Still showed dark purple color on the edge with good violets and dark fruits to the nose. great balance. A very good port, but why does one have to wait so long. could wait another 10 years easily.
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2/20/2014 - Employee500 wrote: 93 Points
Really good, exceeded expecatations. Well balanced and drinkable for port. Perfectly expressive and ready to drink, and will last but probably not improve for years more.
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3/31/2013 - vinolovers wrote: 95 Points
Decanted about 4 hours before serving. Still has a dark, purple coloring and big blockbuster of a nose. Lots of fruit, spice, chocolate with a bit of leather on the finish. While wonderful, probably needs more time to completely mellow!
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1/10/2012 - bmagic wrote: 89 Points
Long decant. Dark like prunes. Sweet blackcurrants dominate on the nose, with very pleasant aromas of candyfloss and bubblegum; just a hint of caramelisation, with a fair amount of heat. Figs, jam, plum pudding and some glacé cherries on the palate; this is sweeter to taste than the nose would suggest - a shame it is not better balanced. However, pleasant to drink and a high quality wine. Long finish impresses.
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11/13/2010 - vinolovers wrote: 93 Points
From a molasses black bottle, decanted approx 3 hours before serving. A nice medium-dark colored port withno bricking on the rim. Smooth with youthful red fruit aromas but none of the mature port flavors. Still young!!
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10/23/2010 - rwpalmer wrote: 89 Points
Lovely bitter cherry notes. Never a great wine or great vintage, but a mid-weight VP giving pleasure now.
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4/3/2010 - David J Cooper wrote:
Dark red. Fairly tight, sweet red fruit nose. Nice medium sweet spicey, raisiny flavours. Nice sweet finish. Needs more time, I think.
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4/2/2010 - godx wrote: 90 Points
Bill's Monthly Lunch - April 2010 (Vancouver, BC): Tasted blind – dark red/purple in colour. Concentrated notes of reduced black fruits, black currants and black liquorice. Some heat coming through on the palate. Needs time. Excellent. 90+
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2/21/2008 - theportguy wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful concentrated dark fruit - plum and blackberry. Smooth approach with some fennel and spice on the mid-palate. Some tobacco on the nose. Slightly clipped at the end of the medium finish.
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1/19/2008 - David J Cooper wrote:
deep red. Very nice port nose with black fruits and brown sugar. Long sweet finish. Beautiful.
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12/27/2005 - VAGenius wrote:
Notes from the second day: Brandy and plum nose. Very hard tar notes with cassis, plum, and blackberry fruit. Long finish with carmel and sweet tannin flavors. More approachable than the first day of drinking.
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5/2/1999 - dbg wrote:
very good
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