Port wine
Churchill’s 2017
Vintage Porto
(Bottled in 2019) The nose is fruity, elegant, a bit tight and offers a fine grain, intensity as well as power (but well controlled). It reveals notes of blackberry, black plum and small notes of wild berries associated with small touches of Cuben pepper, berries, sense of the place as well as fine hints of licorice, cardamom and with a very discreet hint of tonka bean. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a juicy / acidulous frame, a beautiful juicy / acidulous fruit, gourmandize, precision, tension, a fine richness (in the background), elegance as well as a certain delicacy. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy / juicy blackberry, juicy cherry and small notes of juicy strawberry associated with a touch of juicy blueberry as well as a subtle hint of cherry blossoms, licorice, toasted, almond caramelized, chocolate and an imperceptible hint of coffee (in the background). Tannins are fine and elegant. Good length.
Score : 17.25/20 (94-95 /100)
Butler Nephew & Co 2017
Vintage Porto
(Bottled in 2019) The nose offers a small power, a small intensity, a fine deepness as well as a fine and slightly tight grain. It reveals notes of wild blackberry, small wild black berries and small notes of violet associated with touches of camphor, crunchy cassis as well as a subtle hint of tea, black pepper and a very discreet hint of toasted almond. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, well-built and offers juiciness, tension, dynamism, a small gourmandize as well as a very fine and slightly tight richness. On the palate this wine expresses notes of blackberry, fleshy black berries and small notes of cassis associated with small touches of strawberry, fresh crushed raspberry as well as hints of black tea, tonka bean, cardamom as well a subtle hint of nutmeg, hazelnut and a very discreet hint of roasting. Tannins are racy. Good length.
Score : 16.25+/20 (93 /100)
Pintas 2017
Vintage Porto
(Bottled in 2019) The nose is a bit tight and offers power (in finesse). It reveals notes of blackberry, cassis and small notes of Quetsche plum associated with fine touches of black cherry, sense of place / olive as well as hints of gray pepper and spices. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, slightly tight and offers a juicy / slightly acidulous frame, precision, tension, gourmandize, dynamism as well as a good definition. On the palate this wine expresses notes of acidulous Quetsche plum, acidulous blackberry and small notes of violet associated with crunchy strawberry touches, small touches of nutmeg, tea, fine hints of olive tree as well as very slight hints of chocolate and crème brûlée. Tannins are fine and well-built.
Score : 16.25/20 (92-93 /100)
Quinta das Carvalhas 2017
Vintage Porto
(Bottled in 2019) The nose is fruity, aromatic and offers power as well as a very fine intensity. It reveals notes of blackberry, fleshy strawberry and small notes of violet associated with touches of fleshy cassis as well as hints of liquorice, camphor, Brazilian pepper and a discreet hint of black olive / grove local. The palate is well-balanced and offers freshness, gourmandize, a mineral frame as well as precision. On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy / fresh blackberry, juicy / fresh cassis and small notes of violet associated with touches of crunchy strawberry, fresh raspberry as well as hints of liquorice, tonka bean and very slight hints of caramelized almond. Tannins are well-built. Good length. Presence of a very discreet hint of coffee and chocolate truffle on the finish / persistence.
Score : 15.75/20 (91-92 /100)
Sequera 2017
Vintage Porto
(Bottled in 2019) The nose offers freshness as well as fine power. It reveals notes of fresh violet, wild blackberry, purple plum and small notes of rose associated with fine touches of fresh / crunchy raspberry as well as slight hints of licorice stick and spices. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, very discreetly tight and offers a fresh frame, a good definition, juiciness as well as minerality. On the palate this Porto expresses notes of fleshy / juicy blackberry, fleshy / juicy black cherry and small notes of raspberry associated with small touches of fleshy / juicy strawberry, slight hints of violet, cornflowers, black olive as well as very discreet hints of tea and liquorice stick. Tannins are very discreetly firm. Good length. Presence of a hint of mocha on the persistence.
Score : 15.5/20 (90-91/100)
Reccua – 2004
Vintage Porto
The nose is aromatic and offers a fine intensity and a fine power. It reveals notes of ripe blackberry, violet and small notes of blue berries associated with a hint of incense, liquorice stick and a discreet hint of pâtisseries/almond. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a good structure, juiciness, a good definition as well as a juicy/slightly acidulous frame. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy blackcurrant, crushed cassis and small notes of Quetsche plum associated with fine touches of crushed raspberry as well as hints of violet, rose and a subtle hint of liquorice and tonka bean. There is a hint of walnut on the finish/persistence.
Score : 16.25+/20 (93/100)
Reccua – 2003
Vintage Porto
The nose is aromatic and offers a small freshness as well as a fine intensity. It reveals notes of Boysen berry, wild cassis and small notes of zan associated with fine touches of violet, iris, fine hints of small crushed red fruits, a discreet hint of pepper, cocoa as well as an imperceptible hint of local grove and tobacco. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a fine juicy/acidulous frame, tension, straightness and a small linear side. On the palate this wine expresses notes of very ripe raspberry, ripe cassis and small notes of small red berries associated with fine touches of violet, iris as well as discreet hints of graphite, liquorice and subtile hint of cocoa. Tannins are very discreetly marked
Score : 15+/20 (89-90/100) Ramos Pinto – Quinta de Ervamoira 1994
Vintage Porto
The nose is fruity, racy and slightly tight. This wine needs to be put in carafe. It reveals notes of blackberry, cassis and small notes of violet associated with touches of black plum as well as a subtle hint of lily, strawberry and discreet hints of toasted hazelnut. The palate is fruity, wellbalanced and offers an acidulous frame, a good definition, freshness as well as small tension. On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy/fleshy blackcurrant, juicy black plum and small notes of violet associated with small touches of raspberry, fine hints of crunchy blueberry, chocolate, caramelization as well as a discreet hint of creme brulée, graphite and toasted hazelnut. Tannins are elegant. Good length. A fine hint of cocoa on the persistence.
Score : 17.5+/20 (95-96/100)
Quinta da Côrte 2017
Vintage Porto
(bottled in 2019 ) The nose is elegant, powerful, frank and offers intensity, tension as well as freshness. It reveals notes of jammy blackberry, plum jam and small notes of crushed strawberry associated with a touch of jammy cherry, fresh flowers (violet, rose), hints of liquorice, cardamom, sense of place / local grove, black olive, dark chocolate as well as an imperceptible hint of cedar and hazelnut. The palate is beautifully elegant, fine, beautifully balanced, harmonious, very discreetly tight and offers an acidulous frame, tension, a good definition, precision, an aerial side (despite the richness), fat, suavity, freshness, a fine creaminess as well as a beautiful gourmandize (in finesse). On the palate this Porto expresses notes of fleshy cassis, blackberry jam, strawberry jam and small notes of crushed blueberry associated with touches of chocolate, morello cherry, fine hints of black olive, coffee, toasted hazelnut as well as a subtle hint of roasting, an imperceptible hint of sense of place and salinity. Tannins are elegant, racy and fine. Beautiful persistence with fine notes of dark chocolate, caramelized almond, jammy blueberry as well as an imperceptible hint of acidulous redcurrants (in the background).
Score : 17.75/20 (95-96/100)
LBV & COLHEITA
Churchill’s – 2015
LBV Port
The nose is fruity and offers elegance, a fine intensity as well as a fine dynamism. It reveals notes of strawberry, cherry and small notes of cassis associated with fine touches of violet as well as fine hints of liquorice, sweet mild tobacco and discreet hints of sweet spices. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers minerality, a good definition, a fine suavity as well as tension. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy blackberry, juicy plum and small notes of juicy/fleshy strawberry associated with touches of cornflower, blueberry, nutmeg and a very discreet almost saline hint. An imperceptible hint of coffee on the persistence.
Score : 16.25+/20 (93/100)
Bulas – 2015
LBV Porto
(Bottled in 2019) The nose is fresh, fruity and offers concentration, intensity (but full of finesse), deepness as well as a very fine grain. It reveals notes of blackberry, violet and small notes of cassis associated with touches of crushed redcurrants, Cuben pepper and hints of spices. The palate is fruity, mineral, well-balanced and offers freshness, a mineral frame, dynamism, a small power as well as tension. On the palate this Porto expresses notes of fleshy / juicy blackberry, fleshy / juicy raspberry and small notes of violet associated with touches of crunchy / juicy blueberry, hints of plum, cornflowers, nutmeg as well as very discreet hints of sweet spices and an imperceptible hint of vanilla. Good length. Presence of slight hints of hazelnut on the finish / persistence.
Score : 16+/20 (92-93 /100)