1995 Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port

[Bradley Bogdan]

Cork 2/3rds soaked, good neck fill, decanted 6 hours.

Still very dark, but with some bricking around the edges. The nose is all raspberry and cinnamon, with warmth, but not outright spirity-ness. The palate is more along the lines of those "mixed berry" flavored gummi candies and a hint of brown sugar, with a slight medicinal quality, which seems to push the fruit into that slightly concocted realm. Overall, definitely on the riper side of VP, but with very good alcohol integration and some moderate-low grip left. Seems to be pretty in tune now, and I don't see it getting any better with time, though no rush to drink them up if you have them.

The rest of the wine, while tasty, isn't mind blowing, but the alcohol in this example is so wonderfully integrated I had to boost my score a bit.

91 pts.

[Andy Velebil]

Was this bought on release or aftermarket retail/auction?

[Bradley Bogdan]

Was this bought on release or aftermarket retail/auction?

Aftermarket, from a guy in Boise who bought on release. $35. I've got another couple bottles from winebid that went for a similar end cost.

Forgot to come back and mention this after as well, it gained a good amount of power, heat and forceful flavor a couple hours after my note. The score was about the same or the experience, but it struck me as much more in line with the longer drinking windows mentioned in other notes.

[Andy Velebil]

I asked as your note about the cork and body seemed to indicate it was a bit more mature than it should be. As if it had been slightly tawny'd. Sounds like things got a bit better on the follow up note.

[Bradley Bogdan]

Yeah, cork had a funny seam in it which I don't think helped, but the storage was good.