Douro

Opened at a 40th birthday party as this was bottle in 1979.  This bottle seemed tired and over the hil but it was pop and pour.  Sometimes, older Port's need a bit kinder treatment.  Perhaps some slow oxidation would have put this in a better place.  Ruby in color.  The nose shows a lot of alcohol but also some dried fruit.  On the palate, this is shrill.  Tart cherries, slight tannins.  Really not pleasurable at this point.  Not sure how representative this bottle is at age 42, but if opening a bottle, it's probably a good idea to check it first and give it time to revive.  

This house makes some great wines that are quite expensive.  This is there base value wine that retails for around $15.  It is a very nice wine for the money as well.  Purple/ruby in color though a bit flat.  The nose has cranberries and boysenberries.  On the palate, the fruit shifts more toward black cherries.  Slight tannins.  Good finish.  Drink over the next five years.  Will work with medium and heavier foods.  

Light brown/ruby in color.  The nose has a lot of volatile acidity and alcohol which is unpleasant.  There is some soy sauce, and a slightly nutty quality as well.  Better on the palate.   Thick texture.  Slightly sweet.  Nutty.  Heat on the finish.  This is for after dinner and food pairings might be a bit difficult.  Perhaps some nuts.  It's possible that this was not a proper bottle or had been mis-stored at some point.  It is not bad, but one would expect a bit more.  

From Portugal, a source of some of the best values in red table wine today.  This is an equal parts blend of Tinta Barroca, Touriga France, and Tinta Roriz.  It retails for $10.  Purple in color.  The nose is dusty with boysenberry fruit.  On the palate, this has medium tannins.  Black cherries and raspberry fruit.  Some underlying dry earth.  Good balance.  Will work with a wide variety of foods but also as a nice wine on its own.  Great for parties.  

Pop and pour, this may have benefited from a decant.  From a 375ml.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, some dust and a bit of chocolate.  On the palate, the black cherries and chocolate carry thru.  Nice texture.  Finishes a bit hot but that was saved by serving it with vegan salted caramel pecan ice cream and a brownie.  Over all this is very good if not at the top level of vintage ports.  

Purple in color.  The nose is dusty with plum.  On the palate, one dimensional plums.  Tasty.  For under $20, there is good value here.  Easy drinking.  Very modern, fruit forward wine.  

From a 375ml.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with black raspberries.  On the palate, this has sweet black raspberry fruit.  Still drinking young.  Layers of fruit along with char.  Long finish.  Not overtly sweet but a bit sweet.  Plenty of time based on this bottle.  

Ruby in color.  This was pop and pour.  The nose is nice with raspberries and milk chocolate.  Slight alcohol.  On the palate, this is very good if not great.  Milk chocolate covered dried raspberries.  Some heat.  Not the depth or complexity of other vintages for this house.  Heat on the finish. 

Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is custy with clay, cherries, cocoa and a bubble gum note.  On the palate, this is sweet black cherry fruit.  Slightly disjointed at first, it came together in the glass and continued to put on weight.  Very nice red and black cherries.  Good complexity.  Slight tannins.  At this point, this seems at or close to peak, yet given that it took time to come together, perhaps not.  It would be interesting to revisit this in a few years.  

Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is nice with dark cherries, black raspberries and cigar.  On the palate, soft dark cherries with good acidity.  Tight layering that unwinds in the glass.  Lovely texture.  Nice finish.  Worked well with food.  While not quite as good as the Maria Teresa, it is also one third the price.  This will probably improve a bit in the cellar and certainly has a nice decade or two left.