Douro

Nice to be able to try this at this age.  I had my concerns but it is drinking nicely.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has sour cherries, slight cherries, slight black olive and spice.  Medium bodied.  Tannins resolved.  On the palate, this is fully mature.  Nice black cherry fruit.  Moderate finish.  This is nice on its own but will be better with food.  It will work well with Roasted chicken or Root Vegetables.  Drink up.  

This bottle was decanted about six hours prior to drinking.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is deep with black cherries, chocolate, raisins and slight black licorice.  Full bodied.  Nice texture.  On the palate, this is complex and deep.  Flavors of black cherries, dark chocolate and raisins.  Long finish with slight alcohol.  This is delicious and contemplative on its own.  It will work well with chocolate.  Still plenty of life left, well stored bottles should have another ten to fifteen years.  

Purple in color, mostly opaque and slightly flat.  The nose is nice with black cherries, plums, and slight chocolate.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is mature and complex.  Flavors of chocolate covered raisins with some plums.  A bit of heat on the finish.  This was nice with a bite of chocolate cake.  Drink now.  

Decanted for three hours prior to serving.  Deep garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, black licorice, slight milk chocolate, raisins and a bit of alcohol.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has some sweetness.  Flavors of black cherries with milk chocolate, char and some alcohol especially on the finish.  Tasty.  This is nice on its own and worked well with blue cheese.  Seems to be at peak now but should go another decade. 

From one of the top producers of vintage Port, this was an extremely hot vintage across Europe.  Taylor handled it beautifully creating a VP that really needed twenty plus years to be ready to start drinking.  Purple in color, ruby rim, opaque and bright.  This still looks youthful.  The nose is great with chocolate covered raspberries, char, and a slight espresso bean note.  Full bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is sweet, not cloying.  Delicious.  Flavors of chocolate, raspberries, slight dark chocolate, and char.  Long finish.  This is complex if still

This is drinking younger than 24 years.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is very nice with chocolate covered cherries and raisins.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  On the palate, this is showing some complexity.  Good acidity.  Sweet but not overtly.  The chocolate covered cherries and raisins carries thru to the palate.  Long finish.  Tasty.  This is nice on its own and would be nice with a chocolate dessert.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years. 

This is a single vineyard wine from Portugal.  It is only made in the best vintages. Garnet in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is expressive with black cherries, black olives, spice and a bit of dark chocolate.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is tasty.  Deep with some complexity.  Black cherries, cherries, slight anise and spice.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own, but better with food.  It worked well with a "Mexican" pizza.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  

Dow has a long history with Port wines, but over the last few decades they have been making great strides with still red and white wines. They have consistently produced quality still wines that I have reviewed for several vintages. Their “everyday” red and white wines from Vale do Bomfim - line priced at a mere $15 - are terrific quality for the price. This red, a blend of traditional Port grapes not made into a sweet wine, includes Touriga Nacional (40%), Tina Roriz (30%) and smaller amounts of Tinta Franca and Tinta Barroca.

My first time trying this producer.  Very pale ruby in color, clear and bright.  An interesting nose of cranberries with Kirsch.  Viscous texture.  Light tannins.  On the palate, a bit more nutty than the nose.  Good acidity.  Sweet not cloying.  Flavors of craisins with slight Snickers Bar.  Nice finish.  A nice way to end a meal.  Perhaps serve with some nutty or chocolate pastry.

Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has raising, black raspberries, milk chocolate and char.  Full bodied.  Viscous texture.  On the palate, black raspberries, black cherries, kirsch, milk chocolate and raisins.  Deep and complex.  At or near peak but probably another ten to fifteen years left.  Great with Blue Cheese, this would also work with a chocolate dessert.