Vintage Port Tasting at The Wine Watch

"... Mr. Tulkinghorn sits at one of the open windows, enjoying a bottle of old port. Though a hard-grained man, close, dry, and silent, he can enjoy old wine with the best. He has a priceless bin of port in some artful cellar under the Fields, which is one of his many secrets. When he dines alone in chambers, as he has dined to-day, and has his bit of fish and his steak or chicken brought in from the coffee-house, he descends with a candle to the echoing regions below the deserted mansion, and, heralded by the remote reverberation of thundering doors, comes gravely back, encircled by an earthy atmosphere and carrying a bottle from which he pours a radiant nectar, two score and ten years old, that blushes in the glass to find itself so famous,and fills the whole room with the fragrance of southern grapes."
- Charles Dickens, "Bleak House"



Our tasting room will have the fragrance of the port wines on Friday November 9th. Like the great Charles Dickens one of my favorite types of high octane wines is vintage Port. This type of wine was created hundreds of years ago to appease the English thirst for wine during their hundred year’s war with France during the 14th and 15th centuries.

There are several types of fortified wines but Vintage Port is considered by those in the know to be among the world's finest high octane grape juice elixir. The really old ports from the Duero River Valley are incredible today and they are getting harder and harder to find making this tasting qualify for our "Once in Lifetime" status with wines like the 1948 Taylor Fladgate which there are only 6 listings in winesearcher for this wine today ranging from $900-$2260 per bottle.

A "Vintage" year is only declared 2-3 times a decade by most major port houses. This declaration happens two years after the vintage and the wines are bottled shortly after so they spend just 2 years in the oak casks. Most people consider these young vintage ports in need of more bottle age to drink them in their prime, so 10-20 years is a must but these old dogs tonight are all over 40 years old.

Join us as we experience this legendary 1948 Taylor Fladgate vintage port along with 6 other vintage ports from classic vintages like 1955, 1963 and a flight of 1970. Wine Watch Caterings Toni Lampasone will be making a few small courses to accompany the old dogs. The fee for this tasting is $195 + Tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.


Vintage Port Tasting at Wine Watch
Friday November 9th
7pm



Tasting Line-up:


1948 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port

(99 Points) I have had this numerous times and I have always been bowled over by its great quality. It is teeming with plum aromas and flavors. Deep ruby-red, with coffee, cocoa, violet and plum aromas, full-bodied, with ripe fruit flavors, medium tannins and a balanced finish. Very firm and refined, it will age on and on. –JS Wine Spectator Issue: Web Only - 1989


1955 Martinez Vintage Port

(86 Points) Very rich, delicious and silky sweet. Medium red-garnet with a lighter edge, rich bitter chocolate nose, medium-bodied, with lovely, balanced, sweet chocolate and fruit flavors and a very long, silky finish. –JS Wine Spectator Issue: Web Only - 1989


1963 Quinta Do Noval Vintage Port

(84 Points) It is surprising Noval could not make a better '63. It is still nice on the palate for those who want a mature vintage. Medium red-garnet, with smoky plum aromas, medium-bodied, with sweet, mature tobacco and cherry flavors and light, velvety tannins. –JS Wine Spectator Issue: Web Only - 1989


1970 Fonseca Vintage Port

(96 Points) Some people may enjoy this wine's rather fat, rich and powerful fruit now, but I still find it too young for drinking. Deeply colored, with smoky mint, tar and fruit aromas, full-bodied, with concentrated fruit flavors and plenty of tannins. –JS Wine Spectator Issue: Web Only - 1989


1970 Grahams Vintage Port

(94 Points) This is an extremely full-bodied, powerful wine, but it still retains a classy balance. Deep ruby, with chocolate and berry aromas, full-bodied, with anise and dried cherry flavors, full, hard tannins and a long finish. Good now but a few more years of bottle age would improve it. Best from 1990 through 1993. –JS Wine Spectator Issue: Web Only - 1989


1970 Quinta Do Noval Vintage Port

(89 Points) I have had this wine numerous times. Bottles vary from outstanding to disappointing. At its best, it is medium ruby-red, with a ripe fruit and tobacco nose, sweet, fresh plum flavors, a round mouth-feel and a silky finish. –JS Wine Spectator Issue: Web Only - 1989


1970 Cockburn Vintage Port

(86 Points) This is ripe and ready to drink. It is slightly more forward than many of the '70s from the other top houses. Medium ruby-red, with rich aromas of cherry and marzipan, medium-bodied, with ripe cherry flavors, balanced tannins and a solid finish. –JS Wine Spectator Issue: Web Only - 1989


Menu

Assortment of Cheese: Stilton, Epoisses, St. Andre, Reggiano Parmesan

Black and Blue seared NY steak with port risotto and onion rings

Chocolate covered bacon with mixed nut brittle





Ports Available for Sale:

We are just now starting to stock up on ports and other dessert wines for the holidays but Wine Watch has a great selection of these wines year round. Here is what we currently have in the store.


2009 Croft Vintage Port
List Price: $85.50
Quantity in Stock: 2

(95 Points) Redolent of blackberry and dark fruits, this also features a fascinating mix of mocha, graphite and tobacco flavors. Very juicy as well, which figures into the finish of fine-grained tannins and spice. An exuberant and refined Vintage Port. Best from 2020 through 2050. 5,000 cases made. –KM Issue: Apr 30, 2012


2000 Croft Vintage Port
List Price: $85.50
Quantity in Stock: 6

(90 Points) A striking, individualistic nose of spring flowers, blackberries, blueberries, and lead pencil shavings emerges from this saturated purple-colored 2000. Evolved yet expansive, sweet, and generous, it admirably conceals moderately high tannins under a wealth of fruit and glycerin. The aromatic profile and attack merit a score in the mid-nineties, but the finish is short, thus lowering the overall rating. My instincts suggest there is more to this port than it revealed the days I tasted it. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025? Wine Advocate #143, Oct 2002


1985 Dow Vintage Port
List Price: $120.00
Quantity in Stock: 1

(87 points)This is an extraordinary house that seems to have been particularly successful with its vintage port since 1977.The 1985 is dark-ruby/purple with a rather closed one-dimensional aroma. On the palate, this Dow is restrained, but rich, tannic, and full-bodied, yet not nearly as concentrated as one would expect. Have I missed something? Wine Advocate Buying Guide, 2nd Edition (1989)


1997 Dows Vintage Port
List Price: $69.00
Quantity in Stock: 2

(94 Points) Blackberry and plum character. Full-bodied, velvety and balanced. Lovely velvety tannins, sweet and long. Soft-textured yet fresh and racy. A beauty. This is would be better with a little more age, but already pretty. '77/'85/'97 blind Port retrospective. Best after 2009. 10,000 cases made. –JS Wine Spectator Issue: Web Only - 2008


2000 Dows Vintage Port
List Price: $70.00
Quantity in Stock: 2

(93 Points) Very grapey, with lots of black licorice and blackberry character. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long, exquisite finish. Refined and well-made. Best after 2012. 9,000 cases made. –JS Wine Spectator Issue: May 15, 2003


2003 Dows Vintage Port
List Price: $84.50
Quantity in Stock: 13

(93 Points) Aromas of blackberries and licorice follow through to a full-bodied palate, with lots of sweetness, fine tannins and a caressing, textured finish. A refined Dow. Best after 2012. 8,500 cases made. –JS Wine Spectator Issue: Apr 30, 2006


2006 Dows Late Bottled Vintage Port
List Price: $23.75
Quantity in Stock: 2

(91 Points) Supple, with intense blueberry and dried raspberry flavors that are accented by luscious notes of allspice and hints of mint. The concentrated finish features dark chocolate and white pepper. Drink now. 4,500 cases imported. –KM Wine Spectator Issue: Jun 30, 2012


1963 Fonseca Vintage Port
List Price: $425.00 Sale $374
Quantity in Stock: 2

(98 Points) A grand slam. Deep ruby with a slightly red edge, intense black cherry and raspberry nose, full-bodied, with masses of fruit, full tannins and an extremely long finish. This can age indefinitely. –JS Wine Spectator Issue: Web Only - 1989


1970 Fonseca Vintage Port
List Price: $250.00 Your Price: $220.00
Quantity in Stock: 1

(93 Points) Fonseca is one of the great port lodges, producing the most exotic and most complex port. If Fonseca lacks the sheer weight and power of a Taylor, Dow or Warre, or the opulent sweetness and intensity of a Graham, it excels in its magnificently complex, intense bouquet of plummy, cedary, spicy fruit and long, broad, expansive flavors. With its lush, seductive character, one might call it the Pomerol of Vintage ports. When it is young, it often loses out in blind tastings to the heavier, weightier, more tannic wines, but I always find myself upgrading my opinion of Fonseca after it has had 7-10 years of age. The 1970, of course, is a powerful Fonseca with an exotic bouquet and lush, creamy, multidimensional flavors. Buying Guide, 2nd Edition, Jan 1989


1997 Fonseca Vintage Port MAGNUM
List Price: $225 Your Price: $198
Quantity in Stock: 1

1997 Fonseca Vintage Port
List Price: $90.00 Your Price: $79.20
Quantity in Stock: 31

(93 Points) Somewhat of a lightweight for Fonseca, but undeniably charming, this dark ruby/purple-colored wine offers a floral, exotic, flamboyant bouquet, a sweet, fleshy style, but not a great deal of weight or massiveness. Heady alcohol, sweet tannin, and a velvety texture make for a gorgeous finish. While I would have preferred to have seen more weight, structure, and intensity, this is an outstanding, albeit lighter than normal Fonseca. Anticipated maturity: now-2020. Wine Advocate # 126 Jan 2000


2003 Fonseca Vintage Port
List Price: $101.25 Your Price: $89.10
Quantity in Stock: 18

(96+ Points) Sporting an opaque, black-colored robe with dark purple trim, the 2003 Fonseca Vintage Port exhibits a nose of profound depth. Its sweet black mass of dark fruit and spice aromas leads to a character of immense depth, richness, and weight. Full-bodied, viscous, and almost impenetrable, this dense, backward port is powerful and exceptionally long in the finish. Possibly the most masculine Fonseca I’ve ever encountered, it coats the taster’s palate with licorice, jammy black fruits, and notes of chocolate that last for over a minute. This blockbuster will require at least three decades to fully blossom. Anticipated maturity: 2035-2060.Wine Advocate # 161, Oct 2005


2007 Fonseca Vintage Port (375ml)
List Price: $45.00 Sale Price: $38.25
Quantity in Stock: 23

Cooked raspberry, with hints of lemon peel and leaf. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with a beautiful density and a sweet fruity and tannic aftertaste. Balanced yet muscular. A little disappointing, but clearly outstanding. Score range: 92-95 –JS Wine Spectator Issue: Web Only - 2009


2005 Ramos Pinto Port LBV
List Price: $30.00
Quantity in Stock: 12

(90 points) Very grapey, with dense, concentrated flavors of dark plum, chocolate, cherry and spice. Mocha and dark chocolate notes, with raisin hints, linger on the finish. Drink now through 2018. 4,600 cases made. –KM Issue: Dec 15, 2010


2000 Sandeman Vau Vintage Port
List Price: $75.00 Sale Price: $50.00
Quantity in Stock: 10

(90 Points) The dense purple-colored, seriously-structured 2000 Vau Vintage reveals outstanding ripeness in addition to abundant amounts of black currant, cassis, and mineral characteristics as well as firm tannin in the finish. Fuller-bodied, richer, and significantly more impressive than its sibling, it will drink well between 2007-2020. Wine Advocate # 143 Oct 2002


1937 Quinta do Noval Colheita Old Tawny
List Price: $559.00 Sale $491.92
Quantity in Stock: 3

(92 points) One of the wines Quinta do Noval produces that was never exploited by previous importers are their Colheitas, which are essentially single vintage Tawny ports that are kept in barrel until the winery is ready to sell them. These impressive wines are one-hundred percent from the vintage shown on the bottle. Considering their ages, they are reasonably priced. The 1937 Colheita was superb, with its high alcohol amazingly well-covered by the wine's flesh and richness. The medium amber color was representative of its age. The huge nose of orange marmalade, jammy cherries, tobacco, smoke, and white chocolate was followed by a dense, rich, drier style of single vintage tawny that was full-bodied, rich, and spicy. This wine was a thrill to drink. Wine Advocate #107 (Oct. 1996 issue)


1994 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port
List Price: $225.00 Your Price: $198.00
Quantity in Stock: 2

(100 Points) In a word, superb. It's full-bodied, moderately sweet and incredibly tannic, but there's amazing finesse and refinement to the texture, not to mention fabulous, concentrated aromas of raspberries, violets and other flowers. Perhaps the greatest Taylor ever, it's better than either the '92 or the '70, though it's very like the '70 in structure. Best after 2010. 10,000 cases made. –JS Wine Spectator Issue: Apr 30, 1997, Top 100: 1997, Rank: 1, Designation: Cellar Selection


1997 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port MAGNUM
List Price: $225.00 Your Price: $198
Quantity in Stock: 1

1997 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port
List Price: $90.00 Sale Price: $79.20
Quantity in Stock: 45

(96 points) Saturated black/purple-colored, with stunning aromatics of blueberries, blackberries, licorice, and iron, this spectacular vintage port is one of the stars of the vintage. Extremely full-bodied, with silky tannin, spectacular concentration and purity, multiple flavor levels, and an evolved, forward personality, this is an exquisite yet precocious 1997 vintage port. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2030. Wine Advocate #126, Jan 2000


2003 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port
List Price: $101.25 Your Price: $89.10
Quantity in Stock: 12

(98 points)The 2003 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port improved each time I raised it to my nose or mouth. It displays a black color and a salty, graphite-laced nose packed with sweet black fruits that is reminiscent of a stellar vintage of Chateau Latour. With air, notes of molasses, burnt sugar, spices, and jammy plums emanate from the glass. Full-bodied, hugely dense, immensely rich, as well as thick, this behemoth is also amazingly balanced and harmonious. Raisins, molasses, licorice, black cherries, plums, and a distinctive note of violets are found in its complex, seamless character. Its interminable finish reveals additional notes of chocolate, kirsch, red as well as black currants, dark cherries, and rose blossoms. Armed with exceptional power, depth, and purity, this Taylor will proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with the finest ever crafted by the Fladgate Partnership. Projected maturity: 2035-2060. Wine Advocate #161 (Oct. 2005 issue)


2000 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port Magnum
List Price: $425.00 Your Price: $374.00
Quantity in Stock: 1

(98 Points) Among the most saturated blue/purple/black-colored examples of the vintage, Taylor's 2000 tastes like a young vintage of Chateau Latour on steroids. Aromas of graphite, blackberry liqueur, creme de cassis and smoke jump from the glass. Spectacularly concentrated and enormously endowed, with sweetness allied to ripe tannin, decent acidity, and layer upon layer of fruit and extract, this is the leading candidate for the port of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2040.


2005 Taylor Fladgate Quinta De Vargellas Vintage Port 375ml
List Price: $25.50 Your Price: $22.44
Quantity in Stock: 13

This is a ‘single quinta’ wine, made in exactly the same way as Taylor's Vintage Port, but using only the grapes from this individual property, trodden on the estate. Only small quantities are made, and only in very good years. Many experts believe Taylor's Single Quinta Vintage Ports to be better than other companies’ declared years. The name of Taylor's is more of an assurance than the year.

Taylor's has owned the beautiful estate of Vargellas for over a century, and it is acknowledged as one of the great vineyards of the world. It has the highest percentage of old vines of any quinta in the Douro, 60% being over 75 years old. Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Ports are ready to drink from ten years, but will go on developing for another twenty years or so - almost as long as Taylor’s declared Vintages.

Records show the Quinta de Vargellas being sold at Christie's auction house in the 1820´s.

Quinta de Vargellas vintage ports are one of a small handful of single estate ports to have achieved the stature and reputation of the great 'declared' vintages and to be traded regularly at auction. Still as prized today as they were over 180 years ago, these distinctive wines are one of the longest established of all single estate ports.


Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Tawny Port
List Price: $56.75 Your Price: $49.94
Quantity in Stock: 3

Taylor’s blends its magnificent 20 year old tawny Ports from its extensive reserves of old cask aged Ports matured in the firm’s cool and tranquil cellars (known as ‘lodges’) in Oporto on Portugal’s Atlantic coast.

In the 20 Year Old tawny, the fruit has mellowed further than in the 10 Year Old, and the spicy, nutty aromas of ageing are more powerful and intense.


NV Taylor Fladgate 30 Year Tawny
List Price: $141.25 Your Price: $124.30
Quantity in Stock: 1

Taylor’s is one of the few remaining houses to produce a 30 Year Old aged tawny Port. Selected red Ports produced in the eastern areas of the Douro Valley, including Taylor’s own estates, are matured in seasoned oak casks in Taylor’s cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia. Here the cool and damp coastal climate encourages a slow and gentle ageing process, producing aromas of great complexity and finesse.


2000 Warres Vintage Port
Price: $72 Sale $63.36
Quantity in Stock: 11

(91 Points) Straightforward yet intense, ripe black raspberry liqueur and cassis scents are followed by a medium to full-bodied, elegant, restrained, balanced port with moderately high tannin as well as outstanding purity. It is a vintage port with impeccable finesse. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020. Wine Advocate # 143, Oct 2002



American Port?

There are a few producers of fortified wines in this country and we have two great ones here the Justin is a nice value and the Black Bart is a little blockbuster.


2003 Black Bart Syrah Port Napa (375ml)
List Price: $46.25 Sale $40.70
Quantity in Stock: 5


2009 Justin Obtuse Port Paso Robles (375ml)
Price: $14.00 Sale Price: $9.75
Quantity in Stock: 39

2008 Justin Obtuse Port Paso Robles (375ml)
Price: $14.00 Sale Price: $9.75
Quantity in Stock: 19

These two wines are very different the 2009 is very port like syrupy with a darker color and sweeter fruit. Both are made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2008 is not quite as syrupy and dark with more of a red berry fruit and a bit more savory on the finish. Both of these Justin wines are an exceptional value for a domestic fortified wine under $10.