S. Leonardo 20 Year Old Tawny Port
Color: Medium tawny color with lots of orange, both in tints and in highlights.
Nose: Confectioner's sugar, some "bite" like orange marmalade, and some ripe apricot. Also some vanilla, but it's faint.
Palate: Very smooth and creamy on entry. The initial impression is almost too sweet - the confectioner's sugar from the nose carries over here - but that is quickly tossed out and the Port's power and elegance show through. Good acidity, but it seems slightly overpowered by the sugar in this instance. The flavors are predominantly light caramel, butterscotch, ripe apricot, and possibly marzipan.
Finish: One of the hallmarks of this Port, at least to me, as it is very long and pleasant. There's a hint of heat to back up the slowing fading flavors from the palate. The tail resolves as tart apple skin.
Score: 92 points. I toyed with one more point, but this particular bottle seems just slightly out of balance acidity-wise from past experiences. Nevertheless, another excellent offering from Quinta do Mourao.
