2016 Smith Woodhouse Porto Vintage
Community Tasting Note
Motz wrote:
93 Points
Wednesday, October 16, 2019 - Tasted over three days...and I am glad I did...as the first and second days the wine featured excessive oak treatment, which overwhelmed all other elements. Had it at 91 points.
The third day revealed a very pretty wine. In no way tightly wound or reticent, but exceptionally enjoyable. Lacking the depth and structure to approach a score in the mid to high 90s. Will hold my other bottle for a while. 92-93.
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Comment posted by sm-sm:
11/8/2019 2:21:00 PM - You state "... the first and second days the wine featured excessive oak treatment". So are you really suggesting that the production of this wine was done 'incorrectly'? Or just that the combination of bottle age and time since opening on days 1-2 don't match your preferred taste for port?
Comment posted by Motz:
11/8/2019 8:23:00 PM - Hello sm-sm,
I read statements in your questions here. What exactly are you asking?
Comment posted by sm-sm:
11/10/2019 3:45:00 PM - Sorry my question wasn't clear; I'll try again.
When you say "...the first and second days the wine featured excessive oak treatment...", I supposed you were referring to the winemaking process and aging process. Do you mean that you think it was made improperly/incorrectly?
Comment posted by Motz:
11/11/2019 6:01:00 AM - sm-sm,
I will try to answer your question this way.
This is the oakiest vintage Port that I recall tasting...ever.
Oak, when used excessively, masks varietal correctness, and especially, sense of place, terroir.
This vintage of SW does not feature the power of others, and many producers, the world over, do not adjust their oak regimens to vintage conditions.
For example, Leoville-Barton offers one of the most elegant terroirs in Bordeaux, and yet the Chateau rarely adapts its oak treatment to the conditions that nature provided. Thus, in the bold vintages, the oak treatment tends to be just right, whereas in the more delicate or less vintages, overpowering.
Conversely, Pontet-Canet adapts its oak regimen to vintage conditions, which allows the wine (varietal blend and terroir) to shine.