Intense purple and black fruits and berries, juniper, live herbs, berry and herbal liqueurs, pipe tobacco, dark chocolate ganache, black earth, and ores.
The wine tastes like it smells. Tremendous concentration and range, seemingly without heavy extraction. Serious acid, gripping tannins, unobtrusive alcohol. The finish knows no quit.
Likely a decade from a middle drinking window. Leaning modern yet not lacking for Old World soul. It will be interesting to follow. Drink by 2037-2038. 93-94.
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Another LWS, This time Ports, Madeira and Montillas (Western Reserve Wines): Lots of upside here. In the past, I would not think of opening a VP so early, but it does seem like they make them more accessible now. Maybe not so much for this one though. At $100, it seems foolish to open this now. It is very tight and needs a lot of air. Inky purple in color. The nose has dark cherries and dark chocolate although very tight. It is intense on the palate, like a bottomless pit. Very smooth on the much heat. Some dark cherry fruit. Nice finish. Lots of people oohed and ahhed at this but for me, it was powerful but today, no better than the LBV. I would guess it to have 4 or 5 points of upside if you have the time. Seriously, if i was serving this on a Saturday, I would open on Monday to breathe and decant it on Saturday morning for 8 hours. Fun to get a test of it now though.
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More dark berry dominated next to the LBV 2009. Lots of aromatic lift. Doesn't get into raisin on the palate. Has just a touch of herb. Significantly less tannin than the 2009 LBV. Light tannin, I'd say.
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2015 Port Harvest Tour; 9/26/2015-10/3/2015 (Portugal): 1,000 cases produced. Some black fruit and herbal notes on the nose. Red fruit on the palate, with some hints of blueberry and black fruit underneath. Intense mouthfeel, smooth finish, and great balance. This is going to be a great wine!
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2/26/2024 - Motz wrote: 94 Points
Intense purple and black fruits and berries, juniper, live herbs, berry and herbal liqueurs, pipe tobacco, dark chocolate ganache, black earth, and ores.
The wine tastes like it smells. Tremendous concentration and range, seemingly without heavy extraction. Serious acid, gripping tannins, unobtrusive alcohol. The finish knows no quit.
Likely a decade from a middle drinking window. Leaning modern yet not lacking for Old World soul. It will be interesting to follow. Drink by 2037-2038. 93-94.
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7/29/2019 - Mascarello59 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Thick, dense. Loads of fruit. High on everything, potent.
Standalone sample so I had nothing to compare it against.
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2/17/2018 - Ralph_ wrote:
Quinta do Noval vertical tasting Leverkusen (Kasino Hotel Leverkusen): To young to rate for me
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2/8/2017 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 91 Points
Another LWS, This time Ports, Madeira and Montillas (Western Reserve Wines): Lots of upside here. In the past, I would not think of opening a VP so early, but it does seem like they make them more accessible now. Maybe not so much for this one though. At $100, it seems foolish to open this now. It is very tight and needs a lot of air. Inky purple in color. The nose has dark cherries and dark chocolate although very tight. It is intense on the palate, like a bottomless pit. Very smooth on the much heat. Some dark cherry fruit. Nice finish. Lots of people oohed and ahhed at this but for me, it was powerful but today, no better than the LBV. I would guess it to have 4 or 5 points of upside if you have the time. Seriously, if i was serving this on a Saturday, I would open on Monday to breathe and decant it on Saturday morning for 8 hours. Fun to get a test of it now though.
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1/29/2016 - nzinkgraf wrote:
More dark berry dominated next to the LBV 2009. Lots of aromatic lift. Doesn't get into raisin on the palate. Has just a touch of herb. Significantly less tannin than the 2009 LBV. Light tannin, I'd say.
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12/29/2015 - theportguy wrote: 91 Points
FTLOP Staff Tasting – 2008-2014 Ports (Sammamish, Washington): Almost completely opaque. Subdued nose, though some red fruit peeking through. Pronounced tannins, blueberry and a touch of heat. Great, structured wine.
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10/2/2015 - theportguy wrote: 93 Points
2015 Port Harvest Tour; 9/26/2015-10/3/2015 (Portugal): 1,000 cases produced. Some black fruit and herbal notes on the nose. Red fruit on the palate, with some hints of blueberry and black fruit underneath. Intense mouthfeel, smooth finish, and great balance. This is going to be a great wine!
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