1995 Barros Colheita Port -- (bottled 2005)

[Todd Pettinger]

Barros Colheita [1995 bottled 2005]

This will be my very first Colheita ever sampled… another giant leap for mankind (or at least Todd.) Not knowing whether to decant or not, I decided NOT and went with it straight out of the bottle, a la Aged Tawny style.

This wine is a dusty rose colour in the glass, but when turned to a 45 degree angle, oranges and browns jump out at the eye. Does not stick to the glass as much as I expected and the tears are fairly fast-running.

Nose is a tad astringent with alcohol, not too bad. I detect a bit of brown sugar or melted white sugar mixed with a subtle spicy note (cloves perhaps? AllSpice?) No fruit to speak of in the nose.

This has a nice, balanced entry with a thicker mouthfeel than an LBV, but not as viscous as some of the Aged Tawnies I have had of late. Again, the spice notes detected in the nose are in the mid, but is replaced by an alcohol on the very short finish. This wine has a smoothness that does not seem to be present in most of the tawnies I consume, but I cannot tell if I am enjoying this more or less.

I have resolved to do a side-by-side of this and several of my favourite aged Tawnies when I get the chance. For now I will enjoy this for what it is, an aged off-vintage that is complete and satisfying without knocking my socks off.