2015 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port – Dark fruit on the nose with some subtle floral notes underneath. Tart blueberry with bright acidity. Black plum and dark fruit on the very long finish. 93 points. 8/29/2017
2015 Alves de Sousa Vintage Port – Crushed blueberry on the nose. Bing cherry, honey and a touch of clove on the approach. Full-bodied, with pronounced tannins on the very long finish. 92 points. 8/29/2017
2015 Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port – Cassis and a touch of violet on the nose. Cranberry and boysenberry on the approach with aggressive tannins on the mid-palate. Full-bodied with a long finish. 94 points. 8/29/2017
2015 Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port – Slightly subdued nose with a touch of spirit. Raspberry and red fruit on the approach with pronounced, but well-balanced tannins on the mid-palate. Very long finish. 92 points. 8/29/2017
2015 Niepoort Vintage Port – Subdues nose of red fruit. Cola and red fruit on the palate. Medium-long finish with barely noticeable tannins. 90 points. 8/29/2017
2015 Dalva Vintage Port – Mocha notes on the nose with underlying dark fruit and spirit. Red fruit with well-structured tannins on the mid-palate and a very long finish. 93 points. 8/29/2017
S. Leonardo 60 Year Old Tawny Port – Cola and toasted coconut on the nose. Unctuous with vanilla, pralines and burnt sugar on the palate. Great acidity and very long finish. 94 points. 8/29/2017
Revisiting The Wines 2 Days Later
2015 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port – Re-tasting this bottle two days after opening. Dark fruit, blueberry and boysenberry and a touch of cocoa on the nose. Medium-full bodied with dusty tannins and a long finish. 93 points. 8/31/2017
2015 Alves de Sousa Vintage Port – Re-tasting this bottle two days after opening. Dark fruit on the nose with a slightly funky note underneath. Blueberry with big tannins that roll through the mid-palate and expand after the swallow. Very long finish with pronounced tannins. 93 points. 8/31/2017
2015 Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port – Re-tasting this bottle two days after opening. Cassis and blue fruits on the nose. The fruit has receded a little in face of the tannins, but they seem to be playing together more mildly that when I tasted this bottle two night ago. Great structure on the long finish. 94 points. 8/31/2017
2015 Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port – Re-tasting this bottle two days after opening. Dark fruit with some subtle chocolate notes on the nose. Purity of grape on the approach with pronounced tannins and red fruit on the palate. Very long finish. 93 points. 8/31/2017
2015 Niepoort Vintage Port – Re-tasting this bottle two days after opening. Touch of spirit on the austere, tight nose. A hint of Grape Nehi with pronounced tannins on the mid-palate. Pleasant drinking with a medium-long finish. 91 points. 8/31/2017
2015 Dalva Vintage Port – Re-tasting this bottle two days after opening. Red fruit on the nose. Good, balanced structure with mocha notes on a very full-bodied mid-palate. Massive fruit on the very long finish. 93 points. 8/31/2017
2015 Vieira de Sousa Vintage Port – Nose reminiscent of a Washington State Syrah. Some mocha notes green pepper and a touch of creosote on the nose. Chalky tannins overwhelm the cranberry and red fruit on the mid-palate. Very long finish with a touch of spice. I suspect that this was re-fermentation in the bottle, which can occur when a wine is bottled before it is stable and the yeast cells re-ferment the remaining sugar in the bottle. 90 points. 8/31/2017
Rare Wine Company Imperial Malmsey Old Reserve Madeira – Produced by Henriques & Henriques and bottled in 2008. Cedar, mahogany, and caramel on the nose. Vanilla and caramel on the palate with great acidity and balance. Long, well-balanced finish. 95 points. 8/31/2017
Rare Wine Company Porto Moniz Malvasia Special Reserva – Bottled in 2011. Meyer lemon with some notes of pancetta. Surprisingly balanced, which I didn’t expect given the piercing acidity and playful nose. Subtle lemon notes on the long finish. 93 points. 8/31/2017
