For The Love Of Port

Opened on Boxing Day, 2010

2003 Taylor Fladgate LBV

Color: Very dark red with some purple overtones. Opaque in the center of the glass.
Nose: Juicy red fruits, a bit grapey, and some floral/perfumed alcohol. Boysenberry and mellow raspberry.
Palate: Medium to medium-light body with good tannins and good acidity. Hints of blackberries and/or black currants quickly overwhelmed by tart red flavors. Possibly some blueberry. Slight edge late.
Finish: Some chocolate, good tannins, and some heat. Good length. Slight edge in the middle. Some grape skin as it tails off.

Score: 91 points. Excellent, as usual. I don't recall the slight edge in previous bottles, which pulled this bottle down a point or so.

There's been such a change on day 3 that I thought I'd better come back and update this TN.

The nose has lost the grapes and picked up some blackberry, which makes it seem richer and deeper. But the big change is that the palate and finish have both completely lost the slight edge that was showing up late, and are now mellow and pleasant throughout. I'd have given it 92 for sure today, and possibly 93. This is much more like I remember from previous bottles... so word to the wise, give it at least a 24-hour decant!