Cockburn's Vintage Port 2000

Potentially one of the most compelling wines of the vintage, this inky black/purple-colored 2000 exhibits notes of scorched earth, melted asphalt, blackberry liqueur, and a pungent, penetrating intensity that reverberates in the mouth as well as the head. Full-bodied, massive, and concentrated, with a 45-second finish, this thrilling effort should ... more

Taylor Fladgate Tawny Port 20 year old

It is my opinion that Taylor's tawny ports are the best of their type. When tasted against other tawnys, they all exhibit more aromatic personalities, greater fruit and ripeness, and a wonderful sweetness and length. Although I find the Thirty Year Old Tawny admirable, I prefer the richer, more vibrant ... more

Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port 2000

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. Spetacularly concentrated and enormously endowed, with sweetness allied to ripe tannin, decent acidity, and layer ... more

Fonseca Vintage Port 1997

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 ... more

Quinta do Noval Tawny Port 10 year old

This smells just like English Christmas cake. Full-bodied and very sweet, with plenty of toffee and dried fruit character on the finish. Really yummy., The legendary Noval has produced a deliciously attractive, light and poised wine, with fresh fruit and acidity. It is dry in style, with some tannins, and ... more

Quinta do Noval Tawny Port 20 year old

The 20 Year Old Tawny comes 100% from estate-grown grapes. It shows increasing characteristics of nuts, dried fruits and spices, as well as increasing complexity. Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca are the major grape varieties in the blend, all trodden by foot in the lagares at Quinta do ... more

Dow's Vintage Port 1994

The massive 1994 is unquestionably the finest Dow I have tasted since the 1977. This opaque purple-colored wine is not as developed or flamboyant as Fonseca, but it is super-concentrated and multi-layered, with huge masses of fruit and some tannin in the finish. This is a slightly drier style than ... more

Fonseca Vintage Port 2000

Dense ruby/purple colored, with an exotic, exuberant perfume of black fruits, flowers, incense and licorice, this unctuously-textured, full-bodied port is one or the most concentrated of the vintage. Sweet,expansive, and succulent, this large scaled, but remarkably well-balanced effort is surprisingly forward and accessible (by Fonseca's stndards). 2006-2025., Collectible "Fabulous nose ... more

Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port 1997

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 ... more

W&J Graham's Vintage Port 2000

Grapy, unformed, black raspberry liqueur and licorice-infused cassis notes leap from the glass of this opaque purple-colored wine. Sweet, plush, rich, and accessible, it is a forward, lush, concentrated effort that should drink well for two decades. While not one of Graham's most profound ports, it should evolve rapidly, providing ... more

Warre's Vintage Port 1994

One of the finest Warres I have ever tasted, this opaque purple-colored wine is made in a drier style (a la Dow), yet it is expressive, extremely full-bodied, with superb richness, purity, and well-integrated alcohol and tannin. It possesses a great mid-palate as well as impressive length. Tasters should take ... more

W&J Graham's Vintage Port 1994

In a port tasting, tasting Graham's is almost like tasting a big, rich, succulent Merlot after a group of blockbuster, tannic Cabernets. Sweeter and more obvious than many ports, the opaque purple-colored 1994 is fruity, powerful, and rich, with an addictive hedonistic quality. It will be ready to drink in ... more