2012 Quinta do Crasto Douro Reserva Old Vines, Portugal, Douro, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is and has been a go to value in outstanding wine for a long time now.  The winery makes all different price ranges and this one is in the middle.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries, slight black olives, spice and a bit of earthiness.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  It still has light tannins with plenty of black cherry fruit.  Lovely texture.  Nice finish.  It is drinking well but can still probably improve a bit as it gets to peak.  Let's say three to five more years until peak and another ten to twelve of prime drinking after that.  It drinks well

2007 Cálem Porto Vintage, Portugal, Douro, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This was a new Port house for me.  Purple in color, some brown swirls.  The nose is dusty with cherries and slight milk chocolate.  On the palate, more black cherries.  Slightly sweet.  Viscous.  Some warmth, not hot.  Nice finish.  This worked very well with a molten chocolate cake for dessert.  

1994 Warre Porto Vintage, Portugal, Douro, Oporto, Port, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1994
Score: 
94
Grade: 
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is drinking quite well.  Opened (it needed a Durand) and poured.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is great with black raspberries, slight coffee grounds and dark chocolate.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Chocolate covered raisins with raspberries and black raspberries.  A touch of char.  Full bodied.  Deep and complex but most of all delicious.  Slight warmth on the finish.  It went quite well with a brownie.  No hurry, this has at least a decade.  

NV Graham Porto Six Grapes Reserve, Portugal, Douro, Wine Review

Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

This is a great value in Port wines.  Is it an amazingly complex Port?  No, but its also less than $20.  It is a tasty and warming beverage that is a crowd pleaser.  Purple in color.  The nose has chocolate, raspberries and slight raisins.  On the palate, this is more like chocolate covered cherries.  It is viscous and slightly sweet.  There is some depth and complexity.  Warming on the finish.  This is great on its own, but use a small pour as there is a lot of alcohol.  It will also work great with a chocolate dessert.  

1970 Borges & Irmão Porto Alto Douro, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1970
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This was a new producer for me, but 1970 was an excellent year for vintage Port and they need to be drunk.  Garnet in color with some browning, a bit hazy and dull.  The nose is nice with tart cherries.  A little bit of smoke as well.  On the palate, this is nice but past prime.  Cherries with some alcohol.  A hint of raisins.  OK finish.  Certainly worth drinking and a nice wine to have a small glass of at the end of an evening.  

2000 Cockburn Porto Vintage, Portugal, Duoro, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2000
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

This is in a great place right now.  Mature but still fresh with good fruit.  Purple/ruby  in color.  The nose has chocolate, cherries, raisins and slight alcohol.  On the palate, the chocolate covered cherries predominate but some raisin and a but underneath char.  slight heat but just barely.  Sweet but not a lot.  Long finish.  No hurry on this, it has a while but at a very pretty stage.  Great on its own, it will work with cheese, or chocolate desserts.

NV Orlana Vinho Verde Rosé, Portugal, Wine Review

Score: 
72
Grade: 
C-
Current Price: 
$8.00USD

This is an inexpensive Rose that will not be for everyone.  It is sweet and easy and drinks best cold.  Deeper salmon pink in color.  The nose is like watermelon candy.  On the palate, this is like strawberry powdered kids drink.  It is very sweet.  Slightly viscous.  Probably a difficult food match.  For your friends who like sweet pink wines this is an alternative.  Normally, vinho verde has some spritz to it but, at least this bottle, lacked that quality.  

NV Sandeman Porto 30 Year Old Tawny, Portugal, Wine Review

Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

This is a very nice Tawny that, considering it is a 30 year, is a nice value.  Light brown with orange swirls in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some toffee, figs and slight raisin notes.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Viscous.  Enough acidity.  Long finish.  This will, of course, last a long time.  It is great on its own but would work with dried fruit desserts that are not too sweet.  

1991 Graham's Porto Vintage, Portugal, Douro, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1991
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

From a 375ml bottle.  A bit of Port at the end of a nice dinner with a bit of chocolate is a lovely treat.  Since I didn't plan ahead, this was pop and pour and really deserved better, but so it goes.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Even from this format, this bottle was not showing much age at 28 years from vintage.  The nose has cherries, milk chocolate covered raisins and slight dried cranberry notes.  On the palate, this is sweet, but not as much as expected given the producer.  Lively acidity.  Nice cherry fruit.  Some heat on the finish (air will help this).  Probably at its peak

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