Quinta do Castelinho Late Bottled Vintage 1994

15.5 / 20

Producer: Quinta do Castelinho

Region: Porto

Country: Portugal

An older late bottled vintage, this Quinta do Castelinho was made in an excellent year for Port. 1994 was probably the best year for Port Vintage in the last decade of the twentieth century. The color on this LBV showed some signs of age, being a bricky red/orange veering into light brown.

Very old Port on the nose, sweet, yellow sugar, some spices, dried plums and raisins. Correct and pleasant, if not very exciting.

Feels very light and round in the palate, with lots of yellow sugar and honey notes. Although it feels like it has starting to go downhill, it has a good, inviting presence with dried plums and rasins appearing in an ending that still manages to show some life.

I would not wait anymore to start drinking this one.

Tasted on 2012-08-07

Ramos Pinto Vintage 1994

17.0 / 20

Producer: Ramos Pinto

Region: Porto

Country: Portugal

Garnet with a slight brownish tinge, this vintage from probably the best year in the 1990s still shows a good amount of sweet red fruit on the nose, along with sweeter, jammier notes. Some almonds and hazelnuts also appear, along with some spices.

Good body, with a sweeter approach, this is a balanced, already tamed by time vintage. In my opinion, it has a profile close to some Colheitas, with dried fruits, some sweetness and tamed tannins that make it very approachable.

Tasted on 2012-01-19

Blandy's Malmsey 1994

17.0 / 20

Producer: Blandy's

Region: Madeira

Country: Portugal

Amber colored, this Madeira has a nose of dried almonds, burnt sugars, english cake, orange skin and a vague iodine feel, along with some exotic woods.

Rich and half sweet on the palate, as expected, this has a nicely balanced acidity and a good structure. Notes of crystalized fruit, wood and orange skin fill the mouth, finishing long and strong.

A good Madeira destined for after meals.

Tasted on 2011-12-13

Quinta do Canto Garrafeira 1994

16.0 / 20

Producer: Dores Simões

Region: Bairrada

Country: Portugal

Made from Baga and Tinta Pinheira, this 17 year old bairrada shows a nice clear ruby color with just the slightest touch of brown - very nice for its age.

Composed in the nose, with touches of leather, old cupboards and dry leaves, a balsamic feel in the background and some faint but really nice oak notes that bring to mind chocolate and cocoa.

Elegant and soft in the palate, keeping up with the leather notes, it still shows some life, with a balanced acidity that keeps the taste interesting.

Average persistence, with a nice ending that still manages to show some astringency and black pepper notes.

Really interesting if you are into older wines and a good starting point if you wish to explore them.

A bit overshadowed when paired with an african dish involving chicken and coconut milk, even though spices were very mild, it then paired really well with soya meatballs in a tomato sauce.

Tasted on 2011-08-09

Quinta do Vesúvio Vintage 1994

19.5 / 20

Producer: Quinta do Vesúvio

Region: Porto

Country: Portugal

One of the best recent vintage years, 1994 gave us this wine. An absolute monument to what a vintage should be. The color is a deep ruby. The nose is absolutely fabulous, giving us a complex and balanced wine, with black fruit notes, along with some spices and tobacco and a hint of vegetable notes. Tasting it, it is overwhelming in its complexity and structure, with sweet notes all the way,a great acidity and a never ending finish.

This wine is, along with the Graham's Vintage 1970, the best Vintage Port I've tasted so far.