Blandy's Sercial 1910

19.0 / 20

Producer: Blandy's

Region: Madeira

Country: Portugal

Light amber to the eye, this 112 years old wine is a remarkable, amazingly fresh Madeira. Toast notes and dried prunes in the nose, along with toasted almonds and hazelnuts in a austere but very precise bouquet.

Nicely structured in the mouth - remarkable for its age - the usual dryness associated with Sercial is still there in vast amounts, along with a citrus, lemony acidity that give this wine an astonishing life. Toast notes and dried fruits fill the palate during the taste finishing in a very long, strong and lemony way.

This is another eternal Madeira, still young after a hundred years - an experience not to be missed.

Tasted on 2012-02-26

Ramos Pinto Vintage 1970

19.0 / 20

Producer: Ramos Pinto

Region: Porto

Country: Portugal

Garnet with a brownish tinge, this 1970 vintage is an imposing, complex and lively wine.

Although subdued at first, the nose quickly grows and becomes amazing, with dried orange skin, some coffee, almonds and hazelnuts and a healthy dose of spices. Layered and complex, it has the kind of bouquet that will keep you swirling the glass for hours.

As expected, very round and inviting in the palate. In the mouth, it still shows some nice red fruits, but it is mainly driven by spices, dried fruits, cocoa and some honey in the finish. Incredible acidity for its age, this is an astonishingly elegant and sophisticated wine, with an huge persistence that leaves notes of honey and caramel on the mouth.

Tasted on 2011-12-24

Graham's Vintage 2007

19.0 / 20

Producer: Graham's

Region: Porto

Country: Portugal

The latest vintage from Graham's from what is said to be one of the greatest years in Vintage Port. This wine is a brilliant Port, exuberant in its youth and power. It's almost black in color, filled with black fruit and flowery aromas, and hints of spices and almonds. The taste is superb, complex and structured with a lot of tannins, great acidity and sweetness. This power is matched by an equally impressive elegance, finishing off in a extremely long aftertaste. This wine is still very young and it should age well, becoming a great Vintage Port.

Dark chocolate by itself would a great match for this Vintage.

Dow's Vintage 1980

19.0 / 20

Producer: Dows

Region: Porto

Country: Portugal

The 1980 Dow's vintage is rumored to be one of the secret best vintage ports in recent years. Although the year was not an excellent Port Vintage year, it still brought to the world some excellent wines. Like this one. Red in color, it does not show its age. The nose has notes of cocoa, almonds and sweetness, like honey or caramel. The mouth is intense, complex, with a lot of red fruit and alcohol. Not very sweet, it still has a great acidity, telling us it can and will grow for some more years.

I would try this one with something like a pumpkin or orange pie. Or by itself.