Royal Oporto Velha Tawny Port -- Quinta das Carvalhas Real Campanhia Velha

[Kurt Wieneke]

2 bottles found lurking at the back of a bottom shelf. The old dusty yellow price tag says $15.99. Bottle is housed in a cardboard box with markings of the producer and quinta. It has a T-cork. No bottling date on the label. The letters "XT" are marked above the IVDP number; I have not seen that before.

1st night:
The color is mostly caramel/amber throughout, with faint magenta at the core. Reminds me of a 20 or 30 yr as far as color. Nose is all toffee and cedar chest, with a hint of asphalt. The palate is surprisingly intense and expressive, with a long savory finish. This is a great tawny, especially at this price.

[Kurt Wieneke]

3rd night:
Still hanging in there after a couple of days under vacuvin. Butterscotch and dried cherries, and then later had brown sugar and plums. Quite nice indeed.

[Andy Velebil]

Kurt,

Its always fun to find those old obscure bottles and give them a go. Sometimes you win and sometimes you don't...glad you got a winner.

[Kurt Wieneke]

My wife likes the tawnies better than LBV's or Ruby's, so you are right it was a winner.