May 8, 2023 - Opened bottle for an hour then drank over 90 minutes. Tawny color lots of evolution there. Nose of dark berries, garrigues, nutmeg, some game, ground coffee, almost like an evolved Rhône whether a Chateauneuf or an Ermitage. Medium and dense on the palate, great acidity and decent although not stupendous complexity, finishes long and supple with tannins fully integrated. A very interesting wine if anyone can find it. Would love to drink that alongside my La Mouline 1995.
October 10, 2022 - Expected more from this lord of Portugal and my advice is to slow ox rather than decant. Deep ruby red color with some bricking, nose of plums, spice cake, raisins and black currants and licorice. Very delicate on the palate, very soft texture, good acidity and a complex finish. However for the price point slightly disappointed frankly.
October 25, 2019 - Nez, un peu sur les épices, beaux fruits mûrs. En douche tout est en rondeur, tanins bien fondus. Belle longueur.
October 18, 2019 - Aromas of smoke, tobacco and raisins. Big and concentrated, but quite rustique and coarse. I expected some more complexity from this famed wine.
November 25, 2018 - The bottle mirrors my last note on this from 2016, stands out as quite young in the expression. Such a perfect balance, elegance, long and complex. Would not worry at all saving these a few more years, but these are drinking just great now.
May 26, 2018 - BBQ & Wines (BBQ @ Oegstgeest NL): Deep color, solid acid structure with pronounced tannins, bright fruit and sweet spice. Big and powerful!
May 12, 2018 - Leiden spring dinner: Iconic Portugese wine. Nose is difficult, a bit floral. Taste fullbodied, a bit Bordeaux like. Although this is a 1991 wine, it gives the impression that it is still in a closed phase. In time in the glass it gets better and better.
January 28, 2018 - Restaurant decant - drunk over 2 hours. 12.5%. Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa.
There comes a time in the life of any serious drinker of Portuguese wine (or is that drinker of serious Portuguese wine?) when, if they can afford it, they must try a Barca Velha. Last night was my night (people that know me know why). It was suggested that I go in with no expectations (somewhat strange since, is it not the expectations which make one spend this much on a single bottle). I was prepared to be disappointed, and, yes, I was. To be sure, after a while this opened up and became a decent wine (thank goodness!), but, to be absolutely frank, I found nothing special in here - nothing particularly moving, nothing particularly yummy, nothing particularly different. Perhaps, in the cosmic scheme of expensive wine prices in the world, this isn't that much, and is worth the money if that's where you drink - less than your Petrus, your Grange, your Screaming Eagle - but this is THE most expensive Portuguese wine and, to me at least, not even close to value for money - my wife and I could drink enough of more enjoyable wines to both get alcohol poisoning and still have money left over. But I don't regret it - I no longer wonder - but this is the last of these for me with MY money.
October 8, 2016 - Must be the youngest bottle of the ones I have had of this vintage, tempted to say mainly primarily, fresh and not the mature elements had in other bottles although they are present. Great balance, good finish, and a perfect match towards porcini risotto with some pork elements. Complex and approaching nirvana.
Best bottle so far; no fear of saving the last bottle further - but no shame at all drinking these now, they are great.
February 14, 2014 - At pop and pour, mature and fuzzy red berry fruit aromas. sun off the cement. lots of mineral in the nose, but a solid pronouncement of fruit, cherry and ripe cranberry. a beautiful rose color to the rim. On the palate, medium/- tannin. Clean with substantial red fruit. Floral notes lingering in the background. More fresh than earthy with a rainwater snap to the palate. Drinks with such ease after 5 to 6 hours open, but at this point, I stopped paying attention and just drank it.