Ramos Pinto Tasting

A tasting of 6 Ramos Pinto ports at Warehouse Exarheia, moderated by export regional manager Rodrigo Lencastre

• NV Ramos Pinto Porto Ruby 86 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  The nose is dominated by alcohol (19.50%), the fruit is vibrant and purely red cherries and berries. There is a thin oaky layer offering walnut, roasted almond and clove.
  In the palate, the wine feels hot from alcohol, bright red fruit with the red berry being more dominant, not cloying due to acidity, balanced but lacking any real complexity. The wine is pretty straightforward, short to med finish of fruit in alcohol.
  Very good quality, I like the clarity of the fruit which continued in the vintage ports as well later on, but this one is quite basic so drink now

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• 2011 Ramos Pinto Porto Vintage 92 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  The nose is very clear and clean, vibrant red fruit, berry and cherry, it smells so fresh its almost liek grape juice, round and so oh so fruity/sweet, a bit surreal!
  In the palate, the wine tastes as it smells, full of fresh grape notes, vibrant red fruit, the alcohol kicks in but of the fruit in alcohol kind and not just brandy nuances. Nicely balanced overall, nice acidity, with time it gains in texture and concentration, the tannins are there but well rounded, medium finish.
  Outstanding quality, this one will hold. Although its hard to avoid one now, its a shame to open a vintage port so young.

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• NV Ramos Pinto Porto Tawny 88 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  The tawny is aged in 500lt oak barrels.
  The fruit is more on the dried fig and prune side, light jammy with a mixture of fig, vanilla and black cherry, dates, the oak and spices are hiding in the back. With time you get a bit of orange peel and tropical fruit as well which is a nice twist alongside a few grape jam nuances. A bit syrupy overall with an odd note of black olive paste !
  In the palate, the wine follows the same pattern as the nose, alcohol burn a bit higher and more intense, fig and prune, leather, the acidity seems higher too, it doesn't feel balanced compared to the ruby, short to medium finish.
  Very good quality due to the nose, drink now or hold.

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• NV Ramos Pinto Porto Reserva 89 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  This is the Adriano Reserva tawny bottling, aged for 6-7 years is barrels.
  Interesting nose with dried fig, prunes, blackcurrant, dates, a bit leathery wtih clove and nutmeg coming from the back. With time chocolate notes emerge but so does the alcohol (19.50%).
  In the palate you get a bigger alcohol burn too but a wider flavor range. Figs, prunes, blackcurrant and blackberry, orange peel, dried fig and banana, cinnamon and nutmeg. There is a rather nice chocolate & coffee infused roundness at the end that tries to keep the alcohol in check. The wine ends with a med finish.
  Very good quality, drink now or hold. The question for this one is whether you drink it slightly colder to avoid the alcohol but also lose some of the complexity or not. Whatever you do, this is a very nice tawny port.

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• 2000 Ramos Pinto Porto Vintage 91 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  The nose is clean, fruit driven but a bit numb, all sorts of red fruits, oak adds spices are way in the back. Maybe the wine has just left its "numb phase" and only now starts to open up, notes of orange peel, banana and flowery fragrance.
  The palate is big in fruit and alcohol, round, juicy, round and balanced finely, vibrant fruit, freshly made jam, med to long finish. With time the fruit gets darker, pruny-y and blackcurrant with a bit of fig as well.
  Outstanding quality, start drinking in a couple of years, this should turn up nicely

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• 1997 Ramos Pinto Porto Vintage 90 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  The nose is quite strange, there is a heavy milky nuance in the wine, coffee and chocolate, ripe blackberry. The nose is a bit blunt and neutral.
  The palate is quite alcoholic, the fruit is brighter than the nose, more clear and clean, red fruit, quite grapey, red berry, cherry and currants, balanced with nice sweetness. It feels a bit more sweet with a nice refreshing acidity while ending with a med finish.
  Very good and not outstanding quality due to nose, drink now or hold (but not too long). Maybe a I got an off bottle.

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