MonkeyK
New Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2003
- Messages
- 578
I got to thinking about how to sample vintage port. If I just start buying it, it would be like 10-15 years before I find out if the brand is one that I like. Since late bottle vintage is made mostly the same way, I figured getting lbv ports would be a good way to sample the styles of each house before I jump in with the much more expensive vintage ports.
To this effect, I recently purchased a Quinta Do Noval 1998 LBV at a local store for $22. This is an tradicional (i.e. unfiltered) lbv port, which means that it stands a chance of improving with age.
This port was superb. Up to now, the ports that I have tried are Warre's 1977 vintage, Grahams 2000 lbv, and Hardys Blake Whiskers Tawny. The Noval is my favorite so far.
The color is a very dark red. You can barely see through it to a light source. I gave the wine an initial swirl to release some smells and looked at the glass again. The lip of port stayed up. I've heard people talk about legs, this port defies gravity, it did not start trickling down until a few seconds after I stopped swirling and then it was still quite slow. The smell was faint (however since I was smoking a cigar my smeller was probably quite affected) and I got the impression of plums and nuts.
I tasted it and it was nice, a little drier than the other ports that I have had to date, and therefore a little more wine like, which was a very good thing. The taste followed the nose and I could taste plum oak and nuts along the lines of a cabernet. But the finish is where it excelled. Layers of each flavor that I had tasted in the initial sip peeled off of my tongue as I thought about the drink.
Highly recommended decadence.
To this effect, I recently purchased a Quinta Do Noval 1998 LBV at a local store for $22. This is an tradicional (i.e. unfiltered) lbv port, which means that it stands a chance of improving with age.
This port was superb. Up to now, the ports that I have tried are Warre's 1977 vintage, Grahams 2000 lbv, and Hardys Blake Whiskers Tawny. The Noval is my favorite so far.
The color is a very dark red. You can barely see through it to a light source. I gave the wine an initial swirl to release some smells and looked at the glass again. The lip of port stayed up. I've heard people talk about legs, this port defies gravity, it did not start trickling down until a few seconds after I stopped swirling and then it was still quite slow. The smell was faint (however since I was smoking a cigar my smeller was probably quite affected) and I got the impression of plums and nuts.
I tasted it and it was nice, a little drier than the other ports that I have had to date, and therefore a little more wine like, which was a very good thing. The taste followed the nose and I could taste plum oak and nuts along the lines of a cabernet. But the finish is where it excelled. Layers of each flavor that I had tasted in the initial sip peeled off of my tongue as I thought about the drink.
Highly recommended decadence.