Poeira 2007

18.0 / 20

Producer: Jorge Moreira

Region: Douro

Country: Portugal

Five years down the road, I thought it was time to start opening up some of the 2007 reds from the Douro. A great vintage by any means, 2007 brought some really powerful, intense wines that needed some time in the bottle to tame down and evolve. Although this particular wine is not known for intensity or power, relying on an amazing sense of grace and balance to deliver a really great taste.

Purple colored, still very dark, the bouquet is enticing, sophisticated and really pleasurable. Flowers and spices, cocoa and notes of chocolate and, as it opens, some really interesting ripe red berries.

Oak and spices start by dominating the palate, later losing some space to cherries. Balanced and elegant, with smooth, silky tannins that are masterfully integrated, seemingly soft but at the same time granting a great structure and complexity to the wine, this finishes long and elegant, bringing out some stronger cherry notes and showing some harder tannins that make me believe this still has a good ageing potential.

Tasted on 2012-06-10

Ramos Pinto Vintage 1983

18.0 / 20

Producer: Ramos Pinto

Region: Porto

Country: Portugal

Showing some evolution in color, this vintage has a wonderfully complex bouquet, where dried fruits mingle with burnt sugars, cherry jams and a definite smoky feel. Very refined and balanced.

Exceptional acidity and freshness in the palate, this shows a lot of spices, cherries and dried fruits in a very layered, potent and structured body that has had enough time to mellow and refine. Seems to be at a really nice drinking window, expertly balancing strength and refinement. Very long finish.

At the tasting event where I tasted this vintage, we also had the opportunity to taste the Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca varietals that went into this blend. The differences between these two and the final blend are amazing: The two varietals felt a lot more tired than the blend, having lost most of their fruit and strength. Touriga Nacional is an exceptional grape, but it cannot compete with a carefully selected blend.

Tasted on 2012-01-28

Blandy's Verdelho 1968

18.0 / 20

Producer: Blandy's

Region: Madeira

Country: Portugal

Bottled after spending 26 years in cask, this Verdelho from Blandy's is an impressive Madeira, with a bouquet that, although not very complex, conjures up walnuts and almonds, dried figs and exotic woods.

Impressive acidity in a highly structured body, with a slight hint of citrus - specially orange skin - this provides a very good taste, fresh and with notes of dried fruits. Long impressive finish finishes up a top notch Madeira, already tuned by age but still with a lot to give in coming years.

Tasted on 2012-01-23

Yacochuya 2000

18.0 / 20

Producer: San Pedro de Yacochuya

Region: Salta

Country: Argentina

A Malbec from Argentina made by Michel Rolland and highly praised by Robert Parker, this could easily be one of those wines that fail to meet expectations.

But fortunately, this is a very rewarding, deep and imposing wine that is a pleasure to all senses. Strong in the nose, with nicely tuned coffee and toast notes, a hint of spices and still showing, after 10 years in the bottle, evident notes of of opulent dark plums.

This is still a dense, layered and complex wine, supported by still lively and hard tannins and a fresh acidity. This is perfectly balanced by the spices present in the body that, along with some leather notes and some plums, make an outstanding, full and fulfilling taste, that somehow comes across as elegant. Very long finish.

Given the acidity and the tannins the wine still shows, I'm quite sure this will last for some years.

Tasted on 2012-01-21

Ramos Pinto Vintage 2003

18.0 / 20

Producer: Ramos Pinto

Region: Porto

Country: Portugal

Dark, concentrated purple in the glass, the nose on this vintage is still a bit closed, although it still manages to show lots of red fruits, some mint and a marked and intense flowery side.

Very structured and powerful in the mouth, with some very hard tannins that still are not hard enough to hide the intense red fruit notes on this. Huge persistence that almos numbs the palate.

This is a very powerful vintage that will definitely grow for some decades - hide some bottles in the cellar.

Tasted on 2011-12-30

Blandy's Verdelho 1984

18.0 / 20

Producer: Blandy's

Region: Madeira

Country: Portugal

One of a series of wonderful Madeiras tasted in October, at a special tasting celebrating the 200 years of Blandy's in Madeira, this is a very good Verdelho. Beautiful amber, dark golden color, the nose is rich, with notes of caramel and burnt sugar, crystalized orange skin, the usual exotic woods. Somehow, the bouquet manages to convey a sense of acidity.

And this acidity is present and very much alive in the palate, in a vibrant, fresh body that has a very nice structure. Notes of caramel permeate the taste, along with orange skin and dried figs. Very long finish that brings out the amazing acidity on this again.

Has decades ahead of it, so don't open all the bottles you might have. This will definitely be amazing ten or twenty years down the road.

Tasted on 2011-12-07

Barbeito Sercial 1978

18.0 / 20

Producer: Vinhos Barbeito

Region: Madeira

Country: Portugal

Dark amber, almost brown in the glass, this has an exquisite, deep, complex bouquet. Burnt sugar, caramel, exotic woods, smokier notes, dried fruits - figs - and a background of something acid, citrine. It all merges together into a deep, imposing and intense bouquet that makes you keep swirling and sniffing the glass.

Amazing unctuous full body, with a good, fresh acidity beautifully complementing the oak and sweet notes you can feel in the palate. Obviously dry, but not as dry as you might expect from a Sercial, this is perfectly balanced. Finish lasts forever, leaving spices, orange skin and caramel in the aftertaste.

A great wine by any standards.

Try not to pair with anything too sweet. The dryness and acidity will stand out negatively.

Tasted on 2011-09-03

Chryseia 2003

18.0 / 20

Producer: Prats & Symington

Region: Douro

Country: Portugal

The second vintage for Chryseia tasted at Essência do Vinho in March, this was probably my favorite from the lot (and it is a really tough choice, believe me).

Dark ruby, the nose brings to mind dark ripe plums, along with chocolate impressions and coffee and vanilla notes. All very fresh, elegant and multi-layered. A wine you swirl around in the glass again and again since each new swirl seems to bring new aromas to the bouquet.

In the mouth, a full bodied wine, showing some toasted notes in the first attack. Again, a beautifully structured wine, helped along by a crisp acidity but still managing to come along as elegant with soft velvety tannins and a deeply satisfying ending that leaves a oaky, toasty aftertaste.

Judging by this example, I would say the 03 will still grow in the bottle for quite some time. Although it is quite an experience right now.

Tasted on 2011-04-04

Quinta de Santa Eufémia White 30 years 1980

18.0 / 20

Producer: Quinta de Santa Eufémia

Region: Porto

Country: Portugal

Old white ports are not that easy to find, but this producer has a whole range of them, from 10 years to 30 years old. I had the chance to taste the 20 and the 30 years old last sunday and was blown away by them, specially this one (although the 20 year old is also a great wine and will have a taste note later on).

Golden brown in color, the nose is extremely rich and complex. Some smoky impressions combine with sweeter notes, along with dried fruits (almonds) and coffee. To me, it brought to mind some old madeiras due to the smoky feel.

The taste is equally impressive, as the wine has an impressive structure. Sweet but balanced, never going overboard, it summons to mind figs, almonds and honey in a complex and layered taste, with a finale that seems to go on forever.

By itself, for sure. I wouldn't match it with food or anything else.

Tasted on 2010-12-04

La Rosa Reserva 2005

18.0 / 20

Producer: Quinta de La Rosa

Region: Douro

Country: Portugal

Great red from the douro. A dark coloured wine, showing flowers (violets), some black fruit and spices in the nose, it is a complex and elegant wine, with the tannins already well integrated and a great and long finish.

We drank it with Roast Lamb with honey and rosemary and a pumpkin risotto on the side. Great pairing.

Quinta do Crasto Vinhas Velhas 2005

18.0 / 20

Producer: Quinta do Crasto

Region: Douro

Country: Portugal

A great Douro from a renowned producer. Made from old vines, it is a powerful yet elegant wine, filled with black fruit aromas, combined with spices and wood. The mouth shows a young wine, filled with fruit and spices and, above all, showing that it has a lot of great years ahead.

Roast lamb, maybe. Or, if in season, stewed fava beans with pork and chorizo. It must be a strong flavored dish or it won't stand up to the wine.

Graham's Vintage 2000

18.0 / 20

Producer: Graham's

Region: Porto

Country: Portugal

A really young vintage from Graham's. It's a dark, deep ruby colored vintage. The nose is very subtle, giving us some cocoa and coffee scents, as well as some flowers. But nothing very concrete. In the mouth, it has some mint and plum notes, with a very high acidity and alcohol. It is an extremely powerful and complex wine but, in my opinion, it should age at least some five years before being tasted.

Whatever dessert you try with this one, be sure to choose a strong flavored one. I would try it with something based on dark chocolate.

Dow's Vintage 1997

18.0 / 20

Producer: Dows

Region: Porto

Country: Portugal

Deep ruby, the nose is still closed, telling us this Vintage is still very young. Even so, some nice black fruit, alongside with spices and a vegetable touch, appeared during the tasting. In the mouth, it shows red fruit and some chemical notes. The tannins are still very present, although they do not steal any of the elegance and complexity of this wine.

I would try this one with a dessert based on chocolate. Maybe a dry chocolate cake.

Graham's Vintage 1985

18.0 / 20

Producer: Graham's

Region: Porto

Country: Portugal

Deep red in color, it shows black fruit, cocoa, almonds and honey aromas. Full bodied in the mouth, it is a complex and intense vintage port. The fruit is very much still there, alongside with a great acidity, telling us this wine still has a lot to grow.

Some kind of dessert, obviously. Maybe a dry cake with spices and/or fruit.

Warre's Vintage 1966

18.0 / 20

Producer: Warre's

Region: Porto

Country: Portugal

Aromas of dried fruit, honey and some spices.

Still has a great acidity, showing the great Port year this was made in. In the mouth, it shows some honey, caramel and dried fruit, with a strong and long finish.

Definitely, a 1966 to track down if you can.