Wow, this Port tasting is just in time for the festive season!

Great port tasting downtown this week with over 24 participants. This session was a great introduction if one wanted to learn!

NV Quinta do Portal White Port.

The initial aroma reminded me of sherry, quite sharp. Palate showed ginger, burnt honey and spiced fruit. Fair balance between acidity and sweetness.
$20 Cdn.

`77 Barros Colheita.

This was hugely successful and WOTN for many? Single year tawny port is best description eh. Nice mouthfeel and drinks almost like a VP. Good lingering aftertaste, caramel, vanilla, nutty and fruit. No heat, not that sweet.
$34 Cdn for a split.

Grahams 10 Year Old Tawny Port.

I liked the almost salmon red color. Big caramel on the nose, creme brulee! More of a sweeter style, very smooth but short finish. $35 Cdn.

`95 Warre`s Late Bottled Vintage Port.

I still have the `94 but this was excellent in 750 ml bottle. Nice sweet finish, very smooth mouthfeel, orange peel but no chocolate. Great LBV for $33 Cdn.

`00 Fonseca LBV.

First time I have tasted, lovely stuff for $27. Nose had nutmeg, plum spice. Lots of black fruits here, great tannins. Prune, cocoa, its all here.

`96 Grahams Malvedos VP.

I have never been a big fan. This one was too acidic for my taste, needed some lushness. Fruit forward, mint but needs some extra grip. $52 Cdn, nagh.

`03 Quinta do Portal VP.

Watch out folks for this one,only $60 Cdn for full bottle. Roy Hersh calls this quinta a rising star. Inky black color, blueberry, anise, herbs,violets, mint on the nose. Palate follows up with plum and chewy black fruits. This is a keeper but buy a split and then decide how many to put away! The Brits should look out for this one in your supermarkets!

[James Roscoe]

Nice report, and with the American dollar and Canadian dollar about even, we can tell what price we're going to pay in the states as well, although there is always sectional variation. Too bad my wife won't let me spring for any of these beauties. She despises port (for good reason) and I have to catch it on the sly or vicariously through Bob's notes. Bob, why not an Open Mike on port so I can have some more vicarious pleasure?

Bob,

I had the opportunity to taste through a number of Barros Colheitas 2 weeks ago in Boston, including 96, 94, 83, 75, 78, and 57 (!). The most striking of them were the 78 which had an unusually viscous feel in the mouth and was delicious. The 57 was extremely well-balanced with not a rough edge anywhere, and also very flavorful. The 75 tasted younger than the 78 and was still quite aggressive. I liked the 83 a lot as well.

I also tasted Burmeister Colheitas from 90 and 89, with preference for the 89.

Charles