As you may have read recently, I’m on a Port kick and looking to try as many styles as possible.  This one is labelled Reserve, no info on Tawn, Ruby or LBV.  It is dark purple, almost inky.  The nose is rich with fig, blueberry paste and chocolate dust.  On the palate it is refreshingly vibrant with plum, blueberry and a bracing acidic component.  I sense a warmth on the mid palate that I attribute to tannins mingling with the 19.5% alcohol.  The heat doesn’t bother me, it is well integrated as are the tannins.  On the finish I am reminded of this wine’s youth, the mouthfeel is fresh and dry. More plums and blueberry pie show up on the tail end.  The wine is tasty and well made, 89 points from me.  On sale for $15 it is a good deal- 4 stars.

Rich, thick purple in the glass- youth with power.  Nose of plum extract, coupled with blackberry jam.  Powerful and unctuous for a red dessert wine.  On the palate, pure Port expression of dark fruits meeting iodine, old oak cask and blackberry jam.  A stunning display of power, elegance and drinkability all wrapped up in one tight package.  A hint of well hidden tannins leave the midpalate with a slightly dry sensation while the acidity offsets the very slight tannins.  The finish is shorter than hoped for but who cares?  It has a definitive bitterness that I find intriguing.  This is a really good wine worthy of 92 points.  I’m not going to lie, I just ordered a bunch for $21.  If you like Port, give this 5 star effort a go.  Salut….

I love Port, but never seem to have any lying around so I only drink it when out to dinner.  I bought two bottles of this Vintage Port before Christmas and gave one to my parents, they love the stuff.  I opened my bottle last week and have been sipping on it every so often.

Gorgeous stuff is all I can say.  Dark flowing purple in the glass it explodes with aromas of blackcurrant, cassis and earth.  Slippery smooth on the palate make this a treat to drink.  Dark plum compote and blackberry tart come to mind with some leather and sweet candy- like twizzlers.  A generous use of wood is balanced out with loads of fruit weight.  The wine is somewhat tannic, which I thoroughly enjoyed along with a balance of fine acidity.  I did not decant the wine but the bottle showed signs of residue in case you have one lying around.  The cellaring potential for this wine is long, perhaps until 2030 at the least.  The back label has a ton of information relating to maturation, varietals, etc.  I won’t bore you with the details, suffice to say it’s a delectable wine that finishes a nice meal in grand style.  93 points from me and a retail price of $60 make this a 5 star wine to be brought out for special occasions (mine happened to be a delayed Christmas season!).  Salut….